New Virginia state lawmakers took the oath of office as the 2012 General Assembly session convened.
The veterans and freshmen were quite cordial early yesterday, apparently avoiding discussion over power-sharing in the evenly-divided Senate. After several recesses in both chambers, business at the Capitol came to a halt late in the afternoon while interested parties on both sides of the political aisle sparred over the issue.
The very first vote in the Senate resulted in a tie. It was a Democratic motion to replace a resolution which determined how power should be shared. That motion failed and a lengthy debate followed. In one volley, Democratic Senator John Edwards reminded Republican Senator Tommy Norment of a memorandum sent by Lt. Governor Bolling about his limitations:
“Which he acknowledges he is not a member of the Senate and indeed cannot be both Lt. Governor and a member of the Senate at the same time and was not elected to the Senate of Virginia. Is the Senator aware of that memorandum of the Lt. Governor?”
Norment countered:
“I would say to you, I am aware of what the Constitution says and I just respectfully have a different understanding than the interpretation that you are trying to bootstrap through your VERY decisive and incisive questioning.”
Senator Donald McEachin, who filed a power-sharing lawsuit, then asked for yet another recess to discuss a resolution with his caucus.
-by Tommie McNeil
Virginia Public Radio 