With a Democratic Governor and GOP-led General Assembly Opposition was almost guaranteed in this year’s session. McAuliffe-backed gun control measures were swiftly shot down, despite a recent Roanoke College public opinion poll depicting strong support for expanded background checks. Marijuana decriminalization and a potential minimum wage hike were also crushed.
But – while it seems like most news out of Richmond was of defeat, this session has actually been relatively productive – especially in two significant areas. Dr. Harry Wilson is director of Roanoke College’s Institute for Policy and Opinion Research:
“Frankly, if you come out of the general assembly in an election year - when every one of them is up for election this fall, as everyone knows – and there are going to be a couple of hotly contested senate races – if what you get out of that is budget reconciliation and serious ethics reform – I would say that’s not bad. Those are the things I think most people would agree that had to be done.”
In the wake of the McDonnell trial, clearing up the ambiguity of office ethics is especially critical. And, with every position up for grabs come November – Wilson says by voting along party lines, lawmakers are also looking out for themselves.
“It’s not surprising to me to see any elected official, regardless of political party, doing what they need to do to keep their job.”
There are less than 3 weeks left in this year’s general assembly session.
