Gov. Bob McDonnell’s plan to privatize the retail side of Virginia’s state-run liquor monopoly will not be heard in the House – effectively killing the measure for this session, the Richmond Time-Dispatch reports.
House General Laws Committee Chairman Chris Jones, R-Suffolk, whose panel has jurisdiction over the liquor bill, cited the year’s short session as reason to not hear the bill, while also noting his support for some of the governor’s other initiatives on economic development, pension reform, higher education and transportation.
“To refuse to consider this conservative proposal that has been thoroughly studied is beneath the good standards of the legislature,” said McDonnell spokesman Tucker Martin. “This is a highly disappointing development in the pursuit of limited government.”
It was introduced in the House of Delegates by Del. Robert Brink, D-Arlington, who took to the House floor Wednesday to push for a hearing on the matter. While Brink denied politics had a role in introducing the bill, others have contended that it was part of a wider effort to deflect political blame away from Democrats should the plan — which has been met with skepticism on both sides of the aisle — end up failing.
