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 Adam Ebbin, had requested it be withdrawn.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 
Fred2Blue:
“After proposing a bill (on behalf of some police departments, allowing government workers to unionize) Del. Adam Ebbin’s susbsequent request to pull the bill, to add to it language that government employees would be prohibited from striking, was rejected by Republican House Leadership.”
http://fred2blue.wordpress.com/2008/01/25/va-house-of-delegates-what-in-h-is-going-on-down-there/
I’ve looked for Del. Ward’s reasons on Assembly Access. No luck. All I found was her saying, “Mr. Speaker, you and the gentleman from Salem are fully aware that I am an officer of a union, and that I would have an unfair economic advantage to see this legislation passed. However, if it is your will, you may vote for me if you please.”
(I think she meant that she would have an unfair economic advantage IF this legislation passed. That is, after all, the point of a union.)
Do you have a link to the video you mentioned?
All this whining is rich indeed. I suppose that House Dems are learning what it was like to be a Repub in that body for about 100 years. I wonder if the old tradition that first timers in the minority party get no appropriations will be revived.
Just more evidence that in both Richmond and DC, the pugs cannot govern and all government is politics.
As a result, Dems will just keep winning elections at state and local elections and we will drive them to their richly deserved placement to a few generations in minority status. Death, decits and destruction are the only result of GOP rule.
Look, I’m a state employee at a local university. WHY shouldn’t I have the right to join a union if I so chose? And what the hell is wrong with collective bargaining? Why, why, why….is the Fringe GOP (there are some moderates, so I’m talking about the fringe) so afraid of workers rights?????
Must the GOP ALWAYS remain the pimp of the anti-worker movement?????
AEM – yes, that video was what I was referring to.
Brian – since when does two wrongs make a right? Besides, show me where ever in the history of the GA this recording of a non-vote was ever done.
By the way – I hope y’all looked at the update2 I posted. Seems only Ds have to vote, while the Rs continue to be able to pull their bills.
By the way, this comment shows just what a setup this whole thing was.
Look, I’m a state employee at a local university. WHY shouldn’t I have the right to join a union if I so chose? And what the hell is wrong with collective bargaining?
Join a union all you want, but collective bargaining is something else. I would hope that a university employee wouldn’t need an explanation as to why that shouldn’t be allowed for state workers.
Brian – since when does two wrongs make a right? Besides, show me where ever in the history of the GA this recording of a non-vote was ever done.
Vivian,
Since when did your “two wrongs don’t make a right” standard ever have any standing in modern politics? It is all hardball. Your precious Dems are no better (or worse probably) than their Repub counterparts. Spare me the outrage.
Brian – I can only assume you have completely ignored when I have called out Ds for doing the wrong thing (for example); otherwise, you wouldn’t be making such a statement. At the end of the day, my concern is for the voters of Virginia, another point that I make over and over. If there is outrage, it is directed at those of you who think that “politics as usual” is the way things should always be. It is not.
Yes, the political system in this country is screwed up. But we don’t make any changes by accepting the status quo. As for me, I’m willing to call it like it is, whoever is in the wrong.
So who set him up, Vivian? If Ebbins had read his own bill, and not submitted it because it was not what he intended, he could not have been “set up.”
Vivian,
Maybe I should have been clearer. My point is that neither party plays by your rules. That said, you’re willingness to “call it like it is, whoever is in the wrong” is overblown.
AEM – take a look at comment. The bill was sent to the wrong committee.
Brian – so you are saying the rules should stay the same and not be changed? Well, we’ll just have to agree to disagree on that one.
I much prefer to believe that the system can be changed that to accept the status quo.
That it was the “wrong” committee or not is a matter of opinion. Why you think it should have been sent to the Cities, Counties and Towns committee when it deals with STATE employees is beyond me, and does not change the fact that the bill, as submitted by Ebbins, did not reflect his intentions. The only explanation is that he does not read the bills he submits. That is dereliction of duty.
Actually, did you see who made that comment? It wasn’t me, it was Brandon Bell. Do you know who Brandon Bell is?
And if it is dereliction of duty, why did the Republicans allow their members to pull their bills? Is that dereliction of duty, too? No, it is simply that mistakes are made in the drafting of bills and the representatives may not catch them. Sometimes, all angles are not taken into consideration. (Take the abuser fees bill for example.) To say he didn’t read his bill is an assumption on your part, purely because that’s the only answer you can come up with.
In any case, Ebbin (no s) did what was proper – ask to have the bill stricken. Just like all of the Republicans who came to the same conclusion about bills that they asked to be stricken.