The wages of a split Senate
By Norman Leahy | Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 | Politics, VirginiaVirginia’s Senate Democrats threw a tantrum today, blocking all business in the upper chamber over a dispute on judicial elections. For a time, all business was brought to a halt. But now, there seems to be at least a bit of movement:
Both house have agreed to postpone consideration of judicial appointments until Thursday. So normal legislative business will resume this afternoon, a little behind schedule.
Senate Democrats haven’t budged from their position on judicial vacancies. They only want to hold a vote on 47 incumbent judges who are up for reappointment. They don’t want to vote on filling two vacant judgeships — posts that would be filled by former House members Clay Athey, R-Front Royal, and Clarence “Bud” Phillips. D-Dickenson County.
We can argue whether the General Assembly should be electing judges (I think not). We can discuss whether slamming the breaks on all Senate business — during a budget year — serves to burnish or tarnish the Democrats’ image.
But one thing that’s beyond doubt? The session is barely underway, and it’s already had more fireworks than any gathering since 2004.
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About the author
Norm Leahy has written about Virginia and national politics online since 2002, beginning with One Man's Trash (OMT), and continuing through Bacon's Rebellion (both the blog and the e-zine), Sic Semper Tyrannis, NBC12's Decision Virginia, Richmond.com and Tertium Quids. He is the chief blogger at "The Score" and a producer of "The Score" radio show as well as being a Washington Post contributor.
Comments
3 Responses to "The wages of a split Senate"
When will they head to Maryland?
If only the Dems new what crop they were sowing to reap. How inconvenient, that they should be abandoned to the results of a reprobate mind.
Taking a little more objective view: Senate Republicans changed the normal procedure, in which incumbent judges and new judges are elected in seperate special orders. Does that make enough of a difference to justify holding up the Senate for a day? Probably not. One of the new judges is a former Democratic Delegate, the other a former Republcian. Generally, former members of the GA go on the bench without much dispute.
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