RICHMOND -The Virginia General Assembly began what promises to be its gloomiest legislative session in years Wednesday, swearing in a sizable class of freshman lawmakers and voting to let House Speaker William J. Howell keep his job.
The kick-off of the 2010 session comes just a day after a special election that bolstered Democrats’ majority in the Virginia Senate and two months after a general election that expanded the Republicans’ control of the House. One-fifth of the 100-member House is made up of new delegates.
The day was capped by Gov. Tim Kaine’s final State of the Commonwealth address before the Republican administration of Bob McDonnell takes over on Saturday. The outgoing governor thanked Virginians, state employees and lawmakers, touted the commonwealth’s economic accolades and boasted that — despite the downturn — “no state in America has enjoyed the success we have seen in recent years.”
On transportation, he offered a parting shot to House Republicans, who have continually thwarted efforts to raise taxes for roads and rail projects.
“Eventually, we need leadership in this collective body to find a path toward responsible advances in road investments,” Kaine said.
For the freshman class of delegates, there could hardly be an uglier time to join the legislature. The session is certain to be overwhelmed by fiscal concerns, with a $4.2 billion shortfall looming over the next two fiscal years as the recession drains state revenues.
“It’s no secret that the recession has and continues to cast a tremendous pall over our commonwealth,” said Howell, who was re-appointed by a unanimous vote. “People across Virginia are struggling. The distress caused by the current fiscal crisis, and the lack of jobs and opportunity, is real, personal and painful.”
The opposing chambers will almost certainly struggle to reach a compromise on what will likely be a historic round of cuts. The results of Tuesday’s election — in which Democratic Del. Dave Marsden won a Fairfax County Senate seat over Republican Steve Hunt — means Senate Democrats increase their once-vulnerable majority to 22-18. Marsden replaces Republican Ken Cuccinelli, who won election as attorney general in November.
Kaine called a March 2 special election to replace Marsden in the House, which he said would give voters enough time to learn about the candidates and for overseas ballots to be returned. The deadline to file for that vacancy is Jan. 29.
