House vote corrodes civility (Virginia)

The Washington Times ^ | 1-25-08 | Bob Lewis

[JZelle]

RICHMOND(AP)— What little remained of bipartisanship in the House of Delegates lay in shambles yesterday after a rare procedural move by Republicans triggered a fierce floor dispute.

The extraordinary partisan rancor arose over a delegate's routine request to withdraw a bill he sponsored and left in doubt whether the House Republican majority and the Democrats can cooperate effectively in the remaining 43 days of the 2008 General Assembly.

"It was not a good day for the commonwealth," House Minority Leader Ward L. Armstrong said after lambasting the Republicans as bullies and tyrants.

"They put a bill in, then they're too cowardly to take a vote on it," House Republican Leader H. Morgan Griffith said after the clash.

Delegate Adam Ebbin, Alexandria Democrat, had asked that his legislation to allow collective bargaining by state and local government employees be withdrawn. Such requests are often made and routinely granted every year.

But Republicans refused, intent on forcing Democrats to take a floor vote that could alienate unions, among the Democrats' most generous constituencies.

[JZelle]

Republicans with backbone?

[mrsmel]

Hahaha, the Republicans force the 'Rats to go on record so they can be held accountable, and now the 'rats are all worried about "civility"? I love it.

[maine-iac7]

Pandering without consequences - straight out of Party Play-book = but this time, not let off the hook. Make them stand up and be counted, literally.

‘bout dam* time. Do this more often - show them to the public for what they are - and they’ll be in a tizzy about how to continue these charades...They don’t like their bare faces hanging out for all to see.

[BubbaBasher]

Labor interests in 2007 gave Democratic House candidates about $208,000 compared to a total of $300 for Republican House candidates, according to the campaign finance data compiled by the Virginia Public Access Project.

Enough said!

[maine-iac7]

Hey, House Minority Leader Ward L. Armstrong, has anyone ever told you that you and your Comrades are

's?

[BubbaBasher]