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| Democrats look to history as Virginia’s General Assembly opens its session | Democrats look to history as Virginia’s General Assembly opens its session |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| RICHMOND — Democrats had history in mind Wednesday as they convened this year's General Assembly session. | RICHMOND — Democrats had history in mind Wednesday as they convened this year's General Assembly session. |
| “It is our time,” state Sen. Jennifer L. McClellan (D-Richmond) proclaimed as she stood with members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus to outline legislative priorities. | “It is our time,” state Sen. Jennifer L. McClellan (D-Richmond) proclaimed as she stood with members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus to outline legislative priorities. |
| With an all-time high of 23 members — one-sixth of the entire legislature — the black caucus will wield unprecedented influence in the new majorities that Democrats have won in both the House of Delegates and Senate. | With an all-time high of 23 members — one-sixth of the entire legislature — the black caucus will wield unprecedented influence in the new majorities that Democrats have won in both the House of Delegates and Senate. |
| Once the session gaveled in at noon, jubilant Democrats swore in a new slate of leaders. Del. Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax) was unanimously elected House speaker, the first woman to serve in that role in the body’s 401-year history. | Once the session gaveled in at noon, jubilant Democrats swore in a new slate of leaders. Del. Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax) was unanimously elected House speaker, the first woman to serve in that role in the body’s 401-year history. |
| “A new torch is being passed today,” Filler-Corn said. “One that ushers in a modern era, representing all Virginians, learning from our shared experiences and moving forward in our collective prosperity.” | “A new torch is being passed today,” Filler-Corn said. “One that ushers in a modern era, representing all Virginians, learning from our shared experiences and moving forward in our collective prosperity.” |
| Though both sides of the aisle applauded her remarks, Republicans quickly mounted a series of parliamentary challenges to trip up the new leader - a sign that this could be a contentious session. | |
| In the Senate, members voted unanimously to make Sen. L. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) president pro tempore, the second highest-ranking office in the chamber. The Republican who held that position last year, Sen. Steve Newman (R-Bedford), offered an extended tribute to Lucas’s fitness for the post, noting that she is the first woman and first African American to hold it. | |
| “The Senate of Virginia will get a new face, and it’s a beautiful face and an improvement on the old face,” Newman said. | |
| Overall, the House swore in 18 new members, the Senate five. After years in the minority in both chambers, Democrats hold a 55-45 majority in the House and 21-19 in the Senate. | Overall, the House swore in 18 new members, the Senate five. After years in the minority in both chambers, Democrats hold a 55-45 majority in the House and 21-19 in the Senate. |
| Among the new members were the state’s first two Indian American lawmakers and its first Muslim senator. Both chambers gaveled in with record numbers of women, who now make up about 30 percent of the legislature — 29 in the 100-member House and 11 in the 40-seat Senate. | |
| Most of the women are Democrats, although their numbers grew in both parties. In the House, 25 of the women are Democrats and four are Republicans, while in the Senate, seven are Democrats and four are Republicans. Women make up 45 percent of the Democratic Caucus in the House and 33 percent in Senate. | |
| Gov. Ralph Northam (D) was set to deliver his annual State of the Commonwealth address Wednesday evening, laying out his priorities for the 60-day session. Northam, who less than a year ago almost resigned over a controversy about a blackface photo from his 1984 medical school yearbook, now has a chance to become one of the most consequential governors in modern Virginia history. | Gov. Ralph Northam (D) was set to deliver his annual State of the Commonwealth address Wednesday evening, laying out his priorities for the 60-day session. Northam, who less than a year ago almost resigned over a controversy about a blackface photo from his 1984 medical school yearbook, now has a chance to become one of the most consequential governors in modern Virginia history. |
| With consolidated Democratic power, he has set an ambitious agenda of gun control; passage of the Equal Rights Amendment; criminal-justice reform, including decriminalization of marijuana; removing restrictions on access to abortion; adding LGBT protections; increasing the minimum wage and more. | With consolidated Democratic power, he has set an ambitious agenda of gun control; passage of the Equal Rights Amendment; criminal-justice reform, including decriminalization of marijuana; removing restrictions on access to abortion; adding LGBT protections; increasing the minimum wage and more. |
| Northam also has proposed a $135 billion, two-year spending plan that makes big investments in environmental cleanup and early-childhood education. | Northam also has proposed a $135 billion, two-year spending plan that makes big investments in environmental cleanup and early-childhood education. |
| What promises to be a busy session began relatively quietly, with lawmakers holding news conferences and lobbyists finding their way around to new offices. | What promises to be a busy session began relatively quietly, with lawmakers holding news conferences and lobbyists finding their way around to new offices. |
| The first burst of activity focused on the Equal Rights Amendment, or ERA, as dozens of activists favoring passage rallied outside the entrance to the Capitol, cheering wildly as legislators friendly to their cause walked by. | The first burst of activity focused on the Equal Rights Amendment, or ERA, as dozens of activists favoring passage rallied outside the entrance to the Capitol, cheering wildly as legislators friendly to their cause walked by. |
| “Get it done!” and “Women’s rights, human rights!” they chanted. | “Get it done!” and “Women’s rights, human rights!” they chanted. |
| At the same hour, the conservative Family Foundation and others warned that ratifying the ERA would be a setback for women, erasing distinctions on sports teams and in locker rooms, bathrooms and the military. | At the same hour, the conservative Family Foundation and others warned that ratifying the ERA would be a setback for women, erasing distinctions on sports teams and in locker rooms, bathrooms and the military. |
| “Things may have changed around here, but we still have a voice,” said Del. Kathy J. Byron (R-Bedford). | “Things may have changed around here, but we still have a voice,” said Del. Kathy J. Byron (R-Bedford). |
| Virginia would be the 38th — and arguably final — state to ratify the amendment, which prohibits sex-based discrimination. But the deadline to enact the amendment passed years ago, and the U.S.. Justice Department released an opinion Wednesday that the ratification process must begin all over again for the amendment to take effect. | Virginia would be the 38th — and arguably final — state to ratify the amendment, which prohibits sex-based discrimination. But the deadline to enact the amendment passed years ago, and the U.S.. Justice Department released an opinion Wednesday that the ratification process must begin all over again for the amendment to take effect. |
| Republican leaders were adjusting to the loss of power — smaller offices, fewer staffers. Former Speaker Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) walked alone through the legislative office building, just another delegate now. | Republican leaders were adjusting to the loss of power — smaller offices, fewer staffers. Former Speaker Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) walked alone through the legislative office building, just another delegate now. |
| “We are still relevant,” House minority leader Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah) said in an interview with reporters. “And we are still here and fighting for our beliefs. And we think that very quickly the voters of Virginia will begin to get buyer’s remorse about what they’ve done here.” | “We are still relevant,” House minority leader Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah) said in an interview with reporters. “And we are still here and fighting for our beliefs. And we think that very quickly the voters of Virginia will begin to get buyer’s remorse about what they’ve done here.” |
| Gilbert warned Democrats to remember that the majorities they won in November hinge on a handful of districts that could yet swing back toward Republicans. “Virginia is not deep blue yet,” he said. | Gilbert warned Democrats to remember that the majorities they won in November hinge on a handful of districts that could yet swing back toward Republicans. “Virginia is not deep blue yet,” he said. |
| Shorty after Filler-Corn took the gavel as speaker, she presented Suzette Denslow as the first woman to serve as clerk of the House of Delegates in Virginia history. Denslow has a long record in state government, including serving recently as Northam’s deputy chief of staff. She was warmly welcomed by both sides of the aisle, and a Republican delegate heartily seconded her nomination. | |
| Moments later, though, Gilbert rose and began a series of parliamentary challenges. Pointing out that Democrats failed to present new rules to govern the conduct of the session, Gilbert suggested that no other group of leaders “has ever similarly not been ready to go on opening day.” | |
| “This day is unprecedented,” responded Del. Charniele Herring (D-Alexandria), the first woman and first African American to serve as House minority leader. | |
| Privately, several Democrats said the delay in issuing rules was partly to avoid confronting a volatile issue on opening day: whether to allow guns onto Capitol grounds. | |
| Passing some form of gun control is a priority for Northam and the new Democratic leadership. The prospect has whipped up a furor among gun rights advocates, with some national groups promising to send thousands of armed protesters to Richmond later this month. | Passing some form of gun control is a priority for Northam and the new Democratic leadership. The prospect has whipped up a furor among gun rights advocates, with some national groups promising to send thousands of armed protesters to Richmond later this month. |
| On Wednesday, several groups of gun-control supporters gathered at the Capitol, many wearing the red shirts of Moms Demand Action. | |
| Filler-Corn has signaled that she intends to curtail old rules that allow guns to be carried in and around the Capitol as a security measure. | Filler-Corn has signaled that she intends to curtail old rules that allow guns to be carried in and around the Capitol as a security measure. |
| Gilbert scoffed at the prospect. | Gilbert scoffed at the prospect. |
| “A sign on the fence saying ‘no guns’ is not going to stop someone who has evil intentions. The only thing that would stop them is someone with the right to defend themselves,” he said. “Yeah, we think tensions are high, and I hope the governor is paying attention to how upset people are across the commonwealth.” | “A sign on the fence saying ‘no guns’ is not going to stop someone who has evil intentions. The only thing that would stop them is someone with the right to defend themselves,” he said. “Yeah, we think tensions are high, and I hope the governor is paying attention to how upset people are across the commonwealth.” |
| As the Senate slowly cranked into action, the only visible friction was a sharp exchange between two Republicans: Minority Leader Thomas K. Norment (R-James City) and Sen. Amanda Chase (R-Chesterfield), who last year quit the GOP caucus in a dispute related in part to payment of caucus dues. | |
| Chase rose to protest a change to the Senate rules that would prevent her, or anyone else who quits their party or caucus, from serving on any Senate committees. She said requiring caucus membership would force her into a corrupt “pay-to-play” system, relying on deep-pocketed donors to raise the money for the $10,000 yearly dues, used for staff and other expenses. | |
| “We represent the people,” she said. “We don’t represent the caucus.” | |
| “I take extreme umbrage that we’re in a pay-for- play situation,” Norment responded angrily. | |
| Once the tiff played out, senators banded together against a familiar foe: their counterparts across the Capitol in the House of Delegates. The two chambers spent hours Wednesday afternoon locked in a parliamentary conflict over how many people to send over to the governor to formally notify him that the General Assembly was in session. | |
| That, at least — on this day of historic firsts — amounted to business as usual. | |
| Democrats will control both chambers in Virginia for first time in a generation | Democrats will control both chambers in Virginia for first time in a generation |
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