The newly sworn legislators proceeded with the niceties of a new session, with veterans rising to formally introduce freshmen — and their spouses, children and other relatives.
House delegates unanimously reelected William J. Howell (R-Stafford) as speaker. He promptly announced the shuffling of committee assignments — one of the most anticipated announcements as a new session begins — which unlike in the Senate, are based on proportion to the entire body.
The day kicked off with a prayer breakfast at the Richmond convention center attended by about 1,000 and headlined by McDonnell, Bolling and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II.
Prayers were offered for lawmakers and others, including Virginia’s judiciary, which is likely to be drawn into the Senate battle.
A few dozen protesters rallied in the rain off Capitol Square, saying they hoped to remind legislators to represent their constituents, not lobbyists and campaign donors. They chanted and held homemade signs that said: “Listen to Voters . . . We are Virginia.’’
Among the rules changes Republicans were pushing: doing away with a requirement that committee membership reflect, as nearly as possible, the proportional party makeup of the Senate as a whole.
An even more arcane but potentially consequential change would remove a requirement that motions be phrased in the affirmative. That way, a motion that might die on a 20-20 tie vote could be cast in the negative and fail on a tie vote.
“Even a non-math major like myself can figure out that 20-20 means equally divided,’’ Sen. J. Chapman “Chap” Petersen (D-Fairfax) said.
The last time the chamber was equally divided, Democrats, who had 20 senators and the lieutenant governor, intended to rely on it to control the chamber. But Sen. Virgil H. Goode Jr., a Democrat who later switched parties while serving in Congress, would not agree to the reorganization unless Republicans shared power in the chamber. The two parties shared control for four years.
Senators spent hours Wednesday arguing over the legality of Bolling’s vote, but Norment said he would not engage in a constitutional debate on the floor.
During the last few weeks, the squabbling had already prompted the clerk to postpone decisions on office space and seating arrangements in the chamber. It even delayed the selection of which schoolchildren would serve as pages.
“We are going to try to work cooperatively and fairly but we are not going to abdicate the responsibility given to us by the voters of Virginia,’’ Norment said.
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