RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Leaders in both parties are likely to claim victory when the 2017 Virginia legislative session ends this week, just as they have in years past.
Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe and leaders of the GOP-controlled General Assembly will tout passage of legislation in priorities areas, such as mental health care, drug addiction treatment, and state employee pay.
But likely to be left unmentioned is that both sides have also had their fair share of defeats, too, as numerous priorities they touted before the session began had unheralded deaths.
For McAuliffe, his efforts at reforming criminal justice, campaign-finance law and other issues went nowhere in the GOP-controlled General Assembly.
McAuliffe wanted to raise the felony theft threshold as well as ban the personal use of campaign funds, like most other states do.
At news conferences before the session started, McAuliffe highlighted his priorities and tried to put political pressure on lawmakers to pass them. Republicans, who control both chambers of the General Assembly, shrugged and quickly dispatched the bills.
Brian Coy, the governor’s spokesman, said McAuliffe had a productive session in other areas but was disappointed that Republicans killed “common-sense” legislation.
The governor has also made do in other ways. His recent veto of legislation aimed at limiting funding for Planned Parenthood had all the pomp of an important bill signing. The move highlights how many of the bills that died will likely be fodder for political ads during this year’s election season, when statewide offices and House seats are up for grabs.
More surprising than McAuliffe’s defeats were those of Republican leaders in the chambers they control. House Republicans, who have a 66 to 34 majority, saw parts of their touted priorities to reform welfare and cut business regulations fall flat.
A bill to create the “Red Tape Reduction Commission” that would find ways to limit and refine regulations, as well as legislation to reduce how long people could receive welfare benefits, didn’t make it out of committee.
House Majority Leader Kirk Cox said costs were a factor in trimming Republican priorities, as lawmakers made increasing salaries for state workers - and law enforcement officers in particular - a top goal. Cox said the House GOP caucus still had plenty of successes in what was a very aggressive agenda.
“We’re pushing the envelope on some of this stuff,” Cox said.
The top Republicans in both chambers also saw high-profile legislation with their names attached go down.
Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment’s effort to limit the governor’s ability to restore felon voting rights - a long-running and contentious issue between Republicans and McAuliffe - died in the House.
And House Speaker William J. Howell’s bill to assess fines on trespassing hunting dogs died by one vote, after it sparked widespread outrage in Virginia’s hunting community. Many in the GOP caucus used the bill’s failure to tease Howell in floor speeches when he recently announced his retirement. Republican Del. Matt Fariss even wrote “Hunting with dogs welcome” on a wall in a well-trafficked hallway in the soon-to-be demolished office building used by lawmakers.
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