House and Senate Democrats this morning unloaded on Republicans, who now control both chambers, for pushing social legislation that has dominated much of the legislative session's first half.
The 17 Democratic legislators decried dozens of bills that they claim target the poor, limit women's choices, discriminate against immigrants, suppress the vote and expand gun rights.
House Minority Leader David J. Toscano, D-Charlottesville, noted that Gov. Bob McDonnell in his State of the Commonwealth Address at the start of the session had asked Republicans not to overreach.
"But what we're seeing here in Richmond right now is classic overreach in the social arena," he said.
Specifically, the group focused on legislation to repeal of the state's longstanding one-handgun-a- month law, require an ultrasound before abortions and require drug screening for welfare recipients.
Sen. Mark R. Herring, D-Loudoun, said Republicans are "spending way too much time on mean-spirited legislation" while "ignoring the problems that real Virginians face."
Democrats said the legislature's focus should be on the economy, transportation and education funding.
“They went to great lengths to mislead the public,” said Del. C. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, the deputy majority leader in the House, noting that only about 3 percent of what the House has passed relates to the social issues described by Democrats.
“Frankly, we’re not doing anything new or novel,” he said, noting that much of the legislation Democrats object to has cleared the House many years in a row.
“I think they’re only crying about it louder this year because they are fearful that some of those bills may well become law,” Gilbert added.
That did seem to be the concern of some top Democrats.
"It is now easier to get a gun in Virginia – and as many as you want effective July 1 – than it is to vote," said Senate Democratic Leader Richard L. Saslaw, D-Fairfax.
Asked after the news conference why two Democrats supported the one-gun-a-month repeal bill in the Senate, Saslaw replied: "Can't pick your relatives, can you?"
Saslaw also said McDonnell's proposed budget, which will dominate the second half of the legislature, is at this point a nonstarter in the Senate, where it will need at least one Democratic vote to pass.
"Right now, there's probably not 21 votes," he said.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement