Tag: phillip puckett

Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D, VA): condemned [Puckett] judgeship deal in public, made his own offer in private.

Let me refresh your memory: once upon a time (well, June) Virginia state Senator (and Democrat) Phillip Puckett suddenly resigned, which essentially handed control of the state Senate back to Republicans (the Senate was previously evenly divided, with the Democratic Lt. Governor breaking all ties). Turns out that said state Senator wanted a nice tobacco commission job for himself and a judgeship for his daughter – and lo! Such things then came to pass.  Horrible, horrible corruption and attempts to evade Virginia nepotism laws, of course – and I had only this thing to say in its defense*:

Besides, the Democrats do it all the time.

Indeed they do.  Indeed, they do.  Via Hot Air comes this report that the Democrats, in fact, tried to do it here: “Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s chief of staff left a voice-mail message for a Democrat who was on the verge of quitting the General Assembly in June, saying that the senator’s daughter might get a top state job if he stayed to support the governor’s push to expand Medicaid, according to descriptions from three people who heard the recording.” Continue reading Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D, VA): condemned [Puckett] judgeship deal in public, made his own offer in private.

Annnnnd there goes Virginia Democrats’ state Senate majority.

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

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.