The Latest: Virginia General Assembly opens in Richmond
(AP) – The latest on the General Assembly’s first day in session in Richmond (all times local):
8:01 p.m.:
Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe gave a warning to Republican lawmakers that he would veto any legislation he thought would curb abortion rights or expand gun rights in a way he thinks is unsafe.
McAuliffe issued the warning during his State of the Commonwealth address to the legislature Wednesday evening.
The governor has been an outspoken advocate for abortion rights and signed an executive order last year banning the open carry of guns in some state-owned buildings.
Republicans in the GOP-controlled General Assembly have introduced legislation that would curb McAuliffe’s gun control efforts and expand restrictions on abortion. There are not enough Republicans to be able to override a governor’s veto on a party-line vote.
The 2016 legislative session kicked off Wednesday will last 60 days.
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7:52 p.m.:
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe wants state lawmakers to continue to tighten the state’s ethics laws.
The Democratic governor wants make it illegal for elected officials to use their campaign accounts for personal use, and prohibit fundraising while the General Assembly is in special session.
McAuliffe made the proposals in his annual State of the Commonwealth address to the legislature Wednesday. His Republican predecessor, Bob McDonnell, was sentenced last year to two years in prison for a gifts scandal, but is appealing his convictions to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Lawmakers passed new laws in the last two sessions passing new limits on gifts they can receive from lobbyists, but have shown little enthusiasm to take up ethics reform legislation for a third year in row.
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7:15 p.m.:
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe is enthusing over his economic development record at his mid-point in office.
McAuliffe declared in his annual State of the Commonwealth address to the legislature Wednesday evening that Virginia had closed 561 new projects resulting in $9.3 billion in new investment since he took office in 2014.
The Democratic governor also took credit for Virginia having the lowest unemployment rate in the Southeast and increasing the average weekly wage from $878 to $941.
McAuliffe added that his frequent trips overseas have helped expand Virginia’s economy, including new sales of apples to India and poultry to Oman.
The 2016 legislative session kicked off Wednesday and will last 60 days.
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7:08 p.m.:
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe is asking state lawmakers to avoid partisan squabbles and expand Medicaid during the 2016 legislative session.
The Democratic governor touted his accomplishments and outlined his goals in his State of the Commonwealth speech before the GOP-controlled General Assembly, kicking off its 2016 legislative session.
McAuliffe is entering his third year in office, which is typically when Virginia’s single term-limited governors push for an ambitious legislative agenda. But McAuliffe and top Republicans have repeatedly clashed on the governor’s top priority: expanding Medicaid to Virginia’s able-bodied poor adults. McAuliffe has included expanding Medicaid in his $109 billion biennial budget, something Republicans say is a non-starter.
The 2016 legislative session will last 60 days, and so far about 2,000 bills have been filed.
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2:30 p.m.:
Members of the media are being blocked from getting an up-close look at how the Virginia Senate operates.
The Republican majority voted Wednesday, the first day of the 2016 legislative session, to bar reporters from working directly on the Senate floor and instead designating they sit in a visitor’s gallery with a limited view.
Reporters have long worked on the Senate floor, where they had a full view of the proceedings. That view sometimes includes the quiet arm-twisting on votes that can occur in the back of the Senate floor.
Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr. declined to say why the new rules were put in place.
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2 p.m.:
Advocates on both sides of the abortion debate held events at the Capitol before the start of the 2016 General Assembly session.
Several Democratic lawmakers, including Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, joined NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia to announce at a news conference Wednesday they had signed a “statement of intent” in support of abortion rights.
Shortly afterward, several dozen anti-abortion advocates held an outdoor rally expressing support for legislation that would lessen public funding of Planned Parenthood.
Debates over social issues like abortion could be heated this session, but are unlikely to produce much movement. Republicans control both chambers of the General Assembly while Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe wields a veto pen.
Four years ago, anti-abortion lawmakers caused a national uproar after proposing to mandate medically invasive exams prior to abortions.
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Noon:
The Virginia General Assembly is officially under way.
The House and Senate gaveled into session around noon on Wednesday, kicking off a 60-day sprint that will see lawmakers wrestle over a $100 billion biennial budget, fights over abortion and guns, and whether Virginia should expand Medicaid.
Republicans control both chambers of the General Assembly, keeping narrow control of the state Senate after an expensive and bruising election last year.
Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe is looking to find compromise with GOP lawmakers over his proposed budget, which will likely be a focal point of this year’s session. The governor, entering his third year in office, a billion-dollar increase in education spending, small corporate and individual tax cuts, and a 2 percent raise for state employees.
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2:20 a.m.:
Lawmakers are returning to Richmond to kick off the 2016 legislative session and to hear Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s State of the Commonwealth speech.
The Democratic governor is entering his third year in office and will be seeking support from state lawmakers to support his $109 billion proposed budget that includes a billion-dollar increase in education spending, small corporate and individual tax cuts, and a 2 percent raise for state employees.
He delivers his third State of the Commonwealth address Wednesday night.
McAuliffe also wants to expand Medicaid and enact new gun control laws, proposals that have slim chances with the Republican-controlled General Assembly.
