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VA Lawmakers Reconvene for Veto Session

AP Photo/Steve Helber

Lawmakers are back in Richmond this week to consider Governor Terry McAuliffe’s vetoes and amendments. So far, Republicans in the House have been able to overturn two of the governor but they didn't have the votes on the Senate side. So all the governor's vetoes will stand. 

Since the General Assembly session ended last month, the governor has been on a tour of sorts — wielding his veto pen and issuing a flurry of press releases. Republican House Majority Leader Kirk Cox opened today's veto session by decrying what he called “Washington-style politics” from McAuliffe.

“We’ve seen political rallies to veto a bill. We’ve seen a monthly radio show where that opportunity was used to veto a bill. And all in all 32 vetoes. The most vetoes since 1998."

But Democratic House Leader David Toscano says McAuliffe is hardly the first governor to make use of executive power. 

“Governor Gilmore in his first three years vetoed more bills than our governor. Governor Allen, in his first three years as governor made more amendments than this governor has."

Republicans don’t have the votes to overturn the governor’s vetoes, especially on the Senate side. That means most of the action today is likely to be with amendments on issues ranging from the death penalty to economic development.

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