VA Dems Start The Infighting

Gov. Timmy! has managed to get House and Senate Dems battling one another. Welcome to the jungle…

The internal battle between House and Senate Democrats over what taxes should be increased represents a turnaround in Virginia politics. For much of this decade, it has been moderate and conservative Republicans who have been divided, resulting in stalled efforts to enact taxes or fees to relieve traffic congestion and repair the state’s aging network of highways.

Now Democrats in the General Assembly are feuding among themselves over the $1.1 billion tax proposal Kaine (D) unveiled Monday. Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax) lashed out at House Democratic leaders Wednesday, underscoring Kaine’s limited influence with even Democrats when it comes to the transportation debate.

Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath), a likely candidate for governor next year, said, “Governor Kaine wanted the Democrats in the House and the Senate to get behind one set of proposals, and that is just not going to happen.”