Lots of people blinking over this, I reckon:
State Sen. Phillip P. Puckett- D-Russell has resigned his seat, leaving Democrats one vote shy of the majority they need to control the chamber.
Puckett’s stunning resignation throws Democratic budget strategy into chaos and opening the way for Republicans to seize control of the chamber and reorganize its committees with GOP majorities, the Richmond Times Dispatch said in a report issued late Sunday.
Despite brave Democratic rhetoric to the contrary, this puts McAuliffe’s entire Medicaid expansion plan in jeopardy. While the state Senate still technically has a two vote majority (including three Republicans) in place for expansion, the new Republican majority now has a potential tool to reel in recalcitrant members. Given that Puckett was essentially bought off* with a judgeship for his daughter and a nice tobacco commission spot for himself, be rest assured that events will, as they say, continue to proceed. Should be a thing!
Via
Virginia giving NY a run for its money in “As the World Turns”-level state Senate drama > http://t.co/dBFz6ngnD0
— Alex Burns (@aburnspolitico) June 8, 2014
Moe Lane
*Please note that the term ‘bought off’ is not intended to be representative of the moral or legal conditions involved in any deal between state Senator Puckett and the Republican party. Besides,the Democrats do it all the time.
*popcorn*
“This, coupled with the fact that both Senate Minority Leader Dick Saslaw and Senate budget conferee Janet Howell are both on vacation (and Howell is out of the country), Norment apparently has enough votes to pass a budget over Democratic objections.”
http://bearingdrift.com/2014/06/08/breaking-republicans-regain-virginia-state-senate-after-puckett-resignation/
Saslaw is going back to the minority.
From your lips to God’s ear.
I’ve long had kind of a FOAD attitude about the Old Dominion, if only because of the radar-detector ban and general Gestapo mentality regarding traffic enforcement.
Of course, I’m in California where the climate nutcases run wild, but at least motorcycles can legally engage in the libertarian practice of lane-splitting…
I’ve lived in both states. I believe a world class state could be assembled from the various parts… and one truly horrible state. That said, VA was by far the saner place.