Virginia House Democrats participated in an act of civil disobedience today by refusing to vote on a bill that House Republicans brought to the floor even though its sponsor, Del. Adam Ebbin, had requested it be withdrawn. This behavior on the part of the majority resulted in a refusal by the minority to vote. Assembly Access, as always, was there, and provides this video of Majority Leader Morgan Griffith reading the name of each Democratic member and requesting that their non-vote be recorded as a “no” vote:
I had the chance to talk to freshman Del. Joe Bouchard this evening about this. He said this was his first act of civil disobedience and that he was “proud to be a Democrat today.” Bouchard said this was a manipulation of the voters by the Republicans, who engaged in “suppression of democracy to make a political point.”
As The Shad Plank said, today was a “banner day” for partisanship. The AP report on today’s events leaves no doubt as to what the goal of Republicans was:
Griffith acknowledged a measure of payback in making an issue of Democrats’ ties to labor. Unions have helped Democrats gain House seats in every legislative election since 2003.
And this maneuver helps Republicans exactly how? Are the unions now going to support Republicans?
Let me remind you of what Speaker Howell said in his acceptance speech:
On a Tuesday in November every two years, the people of Virginia go to their local polling places to express their views, their concerns, and their aspirations for the future of our Commonwealth.
We are here today as a result of those Virginians, and that, above all else, should be our main focus as we convene this 2008 Session of the General Assembly and this House.
The citizens we are elected to serve have given each of us a great honor, and they have every right to expect us to act in a manner recognizing that honor as we fulfill our responsibilities.
This year, Virginia faces many great challenges. But these challenges will not overwhelm — and must not overcome — our shared ability to work constructively on the legislation that we will consider.
What was honorable about today?
UPDATE: The Pilot’s Warren Fiske reports on this.
UPDATE2: Waldo provides us with a list of Republicans who have pulled their bills this session. “Every request was, of course, granted without fuss.”
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
I couldn’t care less who Brandon Bell is. He’s still wrong.
Other’s neglecting their duty does not excuse his neglecting his. Yes, I assume he did not read his bill. If he had, he would not have submitted it, because it “did not reflect his intentions.”
As you pointed out, they do not write their own bills, either. If they neither write them nor read them, why are they submitting them?
BTW, the Democrats have apparently pulled the same trick.
Personally, I think the whole thing is pretty funny. I can tell you that the public employees I know are really, really tired of being used as a political football by both parties, Democratic and Republican. They pay attention to these issues, and they vote.
As for those who want to froth about unethical Republicans clinging to power by any means, behaving like tyrants, etc., etc., I have two words: Tom Moss.