As I mentioned, I sat in the House chambers yesterday at the opening session. I listed as Speaker Bill Howell made his acceptance speech and spoke about how we are all Virginians and that the legislators are sent to do the people’s business (or something to that effect). Got all warm and fuzzy.
After the election of the clerk and sergeant-at-arms, the next order of business was taking up the rules. Well, it didn’t take long for that warm and fuzzy feeling to go away. Leading the charge was Majority Leader Morgan Griffith (R-8). House Republicans voted to kill an amendment offered by Del. Ken Plum (D-36) to record subcomittee votes and another amendment by Minority Leader Ward Armstrong (D-10) to broadcast the House sessions. I guess”transparency” is not a Republican value.
At the time I left Richmond, I still hadn’t gotten a copy of the committee assignments, something that I knew was eagerly anticipated, especially by the freshman members. I saw the list on line last night but it wasn’t until this morning that I realized what had happened. It seems that the Republican leadership has decided to retaliate for gains made by the Democrats – 10, soon to be 11, seats since 1991 – and have done so through committee assignments. Some of the changes:
- Democratic Caucus Chair Brian Moran, under whose leadership these gains have been made, has been removed from the Transportation and Health, Welfare and Institutions committees. Instead, he has been assigned to the Finance and Militia, Police and Public Safety committees, moves designed to get Moran to vote on taxes and guns.
- Democratic Caucus Vice-Chair Lionel Spruill, who has been active in campaigns across the Commonwealth but particularly in Hampton Roads, was removed from the Appropriations committee. Spruill, of Chesapeake, had served on this committee for eight years.
- Del. Ken Plum was removed from the Science and Technology committee. Plum has served on this committee for 20 years, including time as chair.
- Del. Jeion Ward was removed from the Education committee. Ward, of Hampton, is an educator and treasurer of the Democratic Caucus.
These are just the ones that jump out. I’m sure there are others.
So much for looking out for the people of Virginia.
UPDATE: The Washington Post blog has more on this.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
And yet, anonymous, your example is flawed. You point out a topic on which I have not voted — Vivian seems to be afraid of what he will vote on. Curious.
No, I don’t think he was, eileen.
Mouse – his example is not flawed, not in the sense that voting records are mischaracterized. If last year’s election didn’t show you that, you weren’t paying attention. There will be committee votes on bills that stand no chance of passing the legislature, yet those votes will be touted in 2009 campaign lit.
Note that I’m not the only one who picked up on this. The Washington Post blog post I linked above in the update shows the same thing.
It creates a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don’t situation that is quite often not reflective of a person’s stances. Kinda like what we’re seeing with Obama’s votes of “present” on certain bills.
So why is this an issue on the new subcommittees, but not on the old? Why should you be afraid of his votes on taxes and guns if you want him to be governor?
It’s not subcommittees (where votes aren’t recorded, btw), it’s committees. And who said anything about being afraid?
Are you being deliberately antagnostic or do you truly not understand the nature of politics? Wedge issues such as taxes and guns? C’mon. It’s a setup, pure and simple.
Committees, then. Yes, taxes and guns are wedge issues. If he is to be governor, should be not know his positions on these issues? This is why we like candidates with experience — not just candidates who give good speeches.
I’m as serious as a heart attack, Eileen. I had previously been under the assumption that a split GA might encourage some more bipartisanship in both chambers, and yet the House GOPs first actions of the session are to demonstrate partisan antagonism towards anyone who might disagree with them–even if public opinion happens to be on their side.
So in my opinion, game on. Vivian’s a much more restrained person than I am, though. 🙂
AEM – when a gun or taxes bill gets to the floor for a vote, you would have his record. How many of the bills are going to get there? And in the meantime, they are building a portfolio of garbage to use against him. Like I said, if you don’t get this, then you don’t get politics.
anon – I knew you were serious. But when you get to be an old person like me, you’ll be more restrained, too 😆
Thank you, Vivian, for mentioning Tom Moss. I was going to point that out, but you got to it first. Unfortunately, what goes around, comes around. I agree with anon that redistricting is the answer here. Democrats can’t practice restraint if the House Republicans continue to behave like this.
No, Vivian, I really don’t get it. Why are you afraid to have Moran vote on such bills?