RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – The House of Delegates advanced a bipartisan plan for new House boundaries Monday as Senate Democrats and Republicans began last-ditch talks toward a compromise on new Senate districts.
Stunned by the death of House Clerk Bruce Jamerson, the GOP-dominated House met for about an hour Monday before adjourning until an expected vote Wednesday on a map redrawn a week earlier.
It reflects recommendations Gov. Bob McDonnell made in vetoing the measure to split fewer communities and voting precincts. The changes were endorsed 16-0 by Republicans and Democrats on the Privileges and Elections Committee last week.
The tougher task lies with the Senate, whose plan McDonnell blasted in his veto message.
The Republican governor took aim at what he said were far too many districts contorted into odd shapes, dissecting communities and even voting precincts for the purpose of protecting the Senate’s Democratic majority.
Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw pledged immediately after the veto that the Senate would not to change one comma or period. By Monday, aware of a deadline only days away to either agree on new lines or have to postpone primaries already delayed until August, Senate Democrats adopted a more conciliatory tone.
“We know what they (Senate Republicans) don’t like. What we haven’t heard from them is what they want,” said Sen. Janet Howell, D-Fairfax and chairman of the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee responsible for advancing any new Senate redistricting legislation to a floor vote.
She said she and fellow Democrats Saslaw, George Barker of Fairfax and Donald McEachin of Henrico would huddle privately Monday night, Tuesday and into Wednesday with Senate GOP counterparts Jill Vogel of Fauquier, Ryan McDougle of Hanover, John Watkins of Powhatan and possibly others to reach an accord.
“I know we’re not going to get everything we want,” said Vogel, an election law attorney who was part of the Republican legal team sent to Florida in 2000 during the recount of disputed ballots in the election that made George W. Bush president.
“Everybody is motivated now in a way they weren’t a week ago,” she said.
The House reconvenes at 2 p.m. Wednesday and the House returns three hours later.