Va. Republicans assert themselves

By Anita Kumar and Laura Vozzella,

RICHMOND — A day after they took control of all of Richmond, Virginia Republicans began to assert themselves: The House wasted no time redrawing state congressional districts, and Gov. Robert F. McDonnell again recommended that state employees pay more into the commonwealth’s retirement system.

As the GOP flexed its muscle, Senate Democrats abandoned hopes of seeking a court injunction to block the GOP takeover of the state Senate, which is evenly split between Republicans and Democrats. Sen. A. Donald McEachin (D-Henrico), who on Wednesday had threatened that lawyers were “on standby” for his party’s next move, said Thursday that he wasn’t heading to court anytime soon.

Republicans and Democrats have clashed over control of the Senate since the GOP picked up two seats in November’s elections, leaving the chamber with 20 Republicans and 20 Democrats. Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, a Republican, can cast tie-breaking votes, giving effective control to the GOP.

On Thursday, House Republicans hurriedly passed a plan to redraw the state’s 11 congressional districts in a way that Democrats said fails to properly represent minorities in the state. Despite pleas by Democrats, the full House tentatively approved the proposal, which protects the 11 sitting congressmen.

“Some of us are concerned why this is being rushed through on the second day of the session,’’ Del. Jennifer L. McClellan (D-Richmond) said.

A final vote is expected Friday. The Senate will take up the bill early next week.

Last year, the House passed virtually the same map, which was drawn in consultation with the incumbents and reflects population shifts documented in the 2010 Census. The House plan, like Virginia’s current map, includes one majority-minority district.

The Senate, at the time controlled by Democrats, approved a competing map that would have created a district in which black voters are a sizeable minority, in addition to a district in which they hold a majority. Almost 20 percent of Virginia’s population is black, and only one of the state’s members of Congress is African American.

No new court action

Bolling’s vote on organization of the Senate on Wednesday not only allowed the GOP to have its way with crucial committee assignments but also gave Mc­Eachin an opening to try again for an injunction.

McEachin had been widely expected to seek an injunction to block Bolling from voting on matters of Senate organization. He had sought such an injunction in December as part of a larger lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgment that Bolling lacks authority to vote on organization and a number of other matters. A Richmond Circuit Court judge turned down the injunction request then, saying the matter was not “ripe” because Bolling had not cast such a vote.

McEachin said Thursday he would let the existing lawsuit play out in court. State law protects Bolling, like members of the General Assembly, from being compelled to appear in court on a civil case during the session.

That immunity had not stopped Democrats from making noise about heading for the courthouse as soon as Bolling voted. But McEachin said Thursday that he had never planned to try again for an injunction.

“Now we’ll do the declaratory judgment action, and we’ll see what happens,” he said.

McEachin’s decision was a pleasant surprise to many Republicans, though some indicated they’d always thought the senator was bluffing.

“I am encouraged that my friends in the Senate Democrat caucus have decided not to pursue an injunction against the continued operation of the Senate,” Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment (R-James City) said. 

Meanwhile, McDonnell told state employees Thursday that he is recommending they increase their contributions to the pension system from 5 percent to 6 percent over the next two years.

Pension proposal revived

The governor proposed a similar plan last year, but a Democratic-led Senate killed it. McDonnell said he hopes to have “a few more allies in both houses that can help us get things done.’’

He also recommended Thursday changing the formula for cost-of-living adjustments and creating a new optional hybrid plan that would give employees a choice to move toward a defined-contribution system instead of the current defined-benefits program.

If the proposal is passed, the Virginia Retirement System would see an average of between $160 million to $170 million annually in cost savings and additional contributions. Over the next 21 years, VRS would gain $3.6 billion in contributions or cost savings, all of which could go toward reducing unfunded liabilities.

From 2009 to 2011, the gap between VRS liabilities and assets on hand to pay liabilities increased 69 percent, from $11.8 billion to $19.9 billion, according to a recent legislative audit.

“The simple truth is our state retirement system just will not work without both sides of the equation, the employer and the employee, contributing more in the years ahead,’’ McDonnell said. “We must act today to ensure our state employees’ retirement accounts are there for them, in full, tomorrow. It’s a promise that must be kept.’’