Sen. Ralph Smith tells it like it is:
The first part of doing any job right is showing up.
The people of Southwest Virginia twice entrusted me with their votes to represent our region in the Senate of Virginia and I take it as my top responsibility over any business opportunity, vacation, or my personal health to be in the Senate chamber whenever called. Even if I have to be carried in on a gurney.
Some Democratic leaders recently announced lengthy vacations that would prevent the Senate from meeting until right before the deadline to pass a budget. Those who would take a vacation at this time have lost all sense of their sacred responsibility to Virginia and have broken faith with the taxpayers.
This morning a Democratic Senator from Southwest Virginia resigned giving the Republicans a new 20-19 majority. Immediately all 20 Republican Senators signed a letter to the Clerk of the Senate to call the Senate back into session as soon as possible. Democratic Senator Chuck Colgan crossed the aisle to join us in this effort and the Senate will be convening this Thursday, the earliest time allowed by the Senate’s rules.
I have rearranged my personal business plans to make it to the Senate on Thursday and will continue to work with all parties to pass a budget for Virginia.
