McDonnell, Republicans gear up for legislative session

RICHMOND — Before the November elections, Gov. Robert F. McDonnell predicted expectations would be high if fellow Republicans took control of both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly.

He was right.

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As legislators return to the Capitol for the General Assembly’s annual session Wednesday, McDonnell and Republican lawmakers say they are under pressure to tackle kitchen-table concerns, such as job creation, and not be tripped up by social issues like gun rights.

Republicans are eager to capi­tal­ize on their newfound strength while not turning off independent voters who will be critical to this year’s presidential and U.S. Senate races.

“It’s tougher,’’ Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel (R-Winchester) said. “We have way more opportunity to demonstrate that we can deliver in a rational, measured way.’’

McDonnell, kicking off the most important legislative session of his term, has an agenda that would pump billions of dollars into the state’s retirement system, unclog roads, award more college degrees and spur job creation.

At a news conference Monday, he unveiled several proposals intended to raise academic standards, improve teacher quality and promote charter and virtual schools.

McDonnell will push for the repeal of a 30-year law that sets the first day of school after Labor Day. He has proposed establishing an annual contract and evaluation process for teachers, replacing the tenurelike job protections afforded by traditional multiyear contracts. The measure is intended to strengthen school divisions’ ability to remediate or remove poorly performing teachers.

“We have a large number of big ideas and big problems that I want to fix this session,’’ McDonnell said in a recent interview in his Capitol Square office. “We’re not taking a pass on fixing these big problems and kicking those cans down the road.’’

Republicans picked up two seats in the Senate, and they immediately claimed control because Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R) can cast tie-breaking votes in the equally divided chamber. And they will hold a hefty 68-seat majority in the 100-member House of Delegates — the highest in Virginia history.

McDonnell will join with Republican legislative leaders Tuesday to talk about their priorities — making government smaller and more efficient, boosting the fragile economy and saving money for a rainy day.

Brian Moran, chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia, said the Republican plan is anything but aggressive — perhaps all the more surprising since they will hold both the legislature and Governor’s Mansion for only the second time since the Civil War. “We expected a bolder vision,’’ he said.

Focusing on the budget

McDonnell, one of the nation’s most popular governors and a possible vice presidential contender, hopes new allies in the General Assembly will help him leave a lasting mark on the state.

“This session is one where he can certainly have an imprint on government,’’ said Sen. Ryan McDougle (Hanover), chairman of the Republican caucus. “Virginia is a fairly well-run state, but there are things we can do better — absolutely.”