The 2024 General Assembly opened at noon on Wednesday with an earnest prayer from the Reverend William Archer of Dumfries, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the members' oaths of office. We then began the process of formally organizing.
Senator L. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) was re-elected as President Pro Tempore, and Senate Clerk Susan Schaar was re-elected to her post. Back in November, Senator Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax) was elected Senate Majority Leader and Senator Ryan McDougle of Hanover was elected Republican Leader by the respective caucuses.
Down the hall in the House of Delegates, Delegate Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) was elected Virginia's 58th Speaker of the House; he is the first Black man to hold the post. The House of Delegates chose to re-elect Clerk G. Paul Nardo, who had previously served during Republican majorities. Upon taking office, Speaker Scott appointed Delegates to House committees in proportions reflecting the 51-49 Democratic majority - just as Speakers Vance Wilkins (R), Bill Howell (R), Kirk Cox (R), Eileen Filler-Corn (D), and Todd Gilbert (R) had previously done.
Associated Press: Virginia Senate Democrats decline to adopt proportional representation on committees
The US Senate, US House of Representatives, and Virginia House of Delegates all allocate committee seats in proportion to the partisan composition as elected by the voters. Unfortunately, the Virginia Senate remains an outlier. As the Associated Press reported: "Democrats who control the Virginia Senate made clear Wednesday they plan to continue the practice of stacking General Assembly committees with their own members in a proportion greater than their razor-thin 21-19 majority."
Under proportionality, each standing committee in the Virginia Senate would be 8-7. Instead, the Senate installed 9-6 supermajorities on the Courts of Justice, Education and Health, and Commerce and Labor committees, and 10-5 on Senate Finance. These supermajorities will now significantly amplify the narrow 21-19 Democratic majority at the expense of the approximately 48%citizens represented by Republican legislators. Cardinal Virginia pointed out how these artificial super majorities on committees will diminish the influence of rural Virginians - especially Southside.
Governor Youngkin's State of the Commonwealth
Governor Glenn Youngkin gave his State of the Commonwealth speech - outlining his efforts on economic development, increased education opportunity, lower electric bills, protecting children's information from predatory online companies, and other initiatives. The video of Governor's speech is available here.
Senator L. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) was re-elected as President Pro Tempore, and Senate Clerk Susan Schaar was re-elected to her post. Back in November, Senator Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax) was elected Senate Majority Leader and Senator Ryan McDougle of Hanover was elected Republican Leader by the respective caucuses.
Down the hall in the House of Delegates, Delegate Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) was elected Virginia's 58th Speaker of the House; he is the first Black man to hold the post. The House of Delegates chose to re-elect Clerk G. Paul Nardo, who had previously served during Republican majorities. Upon taking office, Speaker Scott appointed Delegates to House committees in proportions reflecting the 51-49 Democratic majority - just as Speakers Vance Wilkins (R), Bill Howell (R), Kirk Cox (R), Eileen Filler-Corn (D), and Todd Gilbert (R) had previously done.
Associated Press: Virginia Senate Democrats decline to adopt proportional representation on committees
The US Senate, US House of Representatives, and Virginia House of Delegates all allocate committee seats in proportion to the partisan composition as elected by the voters. Unfortunately, the Virginia Senate remains an outlier. As the Associated Press reported: "Democrats who control the Virginia Senate made clear Wednesday they plan to continue the practice of stacking General Assembly committees with their own members in a proportion greater than their razor-thin 21-19 majority."
Under proportionality, each standing committee in the Virginia Senate would be 8-7. Instead, the Senate installed 9-6 supermajorities on the Courts of Justice, Education and Health, and Commerce and Labor committees, and 10-5 on Senate Finance. These supermajorities will now significantly amplify the narrow 21-19 Democratic majority at the expense of the approximately 48%citizens represented by Republican legislators. Cardinal Virginia pointed out how these artificial super majorities on committees will diminish the influence of rural Virginians - especially Southside.
Governor Youngkin's State of the Commonwealth
Governor Glenn Youngkin gave his State of the Commonwealth speech - outlining his efforts on economic development, increased education opportunity, lower electric bills, protecting children's information from predatory online companies, and other initiatives. The video of Governor's speech is available here.
Posts
