RICHMOND – Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell warned his party Tuesday not to overreach with their new majority in the General Assembly even as Republican lawmakers weigh how to use their increased legislative clout to their greatest advantage.
McDonnell and most of the state’s Republican lawmakers presented a united front on the steps of the capitol on the eve of the assembly’s opening, laying out a 2012 agenda that includes making the state’s right to work laws part of its constitution and fights over Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority contracts that favor union workers.
The governor on Wednesday night will deliver the annual State of the Commonwealth address, in which he will “identify four or five specific problems that I’m going to ask them to fix without delay, without excuses, this session.”
Those likely include expanding the use of charter schools, increasing economic development opportunities and changing the state’s grossly underfunded pension system. He insisted his focus would remain on jobs and improving the state’s fiscal standing in a tough budget year.
McDonnell spoke of the “clear message” voters delivered in last November’s statehouse elections in which they awarded two additional state Senate seats to Republicans, evenly dividing the 40-seat chamber between the parties. But he cautioned fellow Republicans not to overstep.
“I’m asking Republicans: don’t be arrogant, don’t overreach, don’t fight,” McDonnell said. “And I’m asking Democrats: don’t be angry, don’t be petty and political. ”
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