Virginia lawmakers kicked off their 2009 session Wednesday with more procedure than pomp, focusing more on the loose ends of Brian Moran’s departure from the House than the looming $3 billion budget gap.
The day was the first in a month-and-a-half marathon of intense legislating, the most dismal in years as the national recession continues to pummel state tax revenues. Not long after the session began at noon, lawmakers quickly descended into traditional partisan squabbling.
A panel in the Republican-led House advanced a bill that would tighten restrictions on elected state leaders attending fundraising events during the regular session, to the protest of minority Democrats, who called the move “nothing but political posturing.”
“It’s a very bad choice on their part if that’s the way they want to lead off the session,” said Del. Bob Brink, D-Arlington. “We got a lot of other things to worry about.”
On the floor, House leaders quarreled over whether to seat a narrowly elected delegate in Virginia’s 46th District, who would fill a vacancy left by Brian Moran, who resigned from the legislature to campaign full time for governor. The House Democratic caucus, which had been led by Moran, appointed Del. Ken Plum, D-Reston, that morning to replace him as chairman.
The coming days will see lawmakers begin to delve into the budget crisis. Gov. Tim Kaine laid out a plan in December to close what he estimates to be a $2.9 billion shortfall in the two-year spending plan, including about $400 million in cuts to Medicaid and school spending and a 30-cent increase in the cigarette tax.
Lawmakers have pledged to limit the number of bills they file this year in recognition of the severely limited scope of the session. Republican Attorney General Robert McDonnell, also a candidate for governor, proposed a truncated legislative package Wednesday that seeks to streamline elections, increase oversight of mortgage lenders and expand identity-theft laws.
Virginia’s fortunes hinge largely on the performance of income and sales taxes. How the recent holiday season affected tax revenues won’t be known until January data is filed, Virginia Finance Secretary Richard Brown told appropriators.
