The Virginia General Assembly’s conservative wing on Wednesday outlined its plans to fight aspects of both Gov. Tim Kaine’s budget proposal and the Democrats’ legislative agendas. Meanwhile, House Democrats vowed to defend education funding and advance renewable energy as part of their plans for the 2009 session.

The Virginia Conservative Caucus announced its opposition to a Democrat-initiated statewide ban on restaurant and bar smoking, as well as the governor’s cost-saving proposal to allow early release of up to 90 days for nonviolent felons. The caucus also said it would oppose bills that would write sexual orientation protections into anti-discrimination law and reinstate the estate tax, the repeal of which Kaine signed in 2006.