The heated showdown — coming just weeks into the session and over two judicial nominees not considered the least bit controversial — raised concerns that it will be a rocky session for Richmond’s evenly split upper chamber.
“This is a residual consequence of bruised political egos,” said Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment (R-James City), suggesting that Democrats were using “political extortion” to get back at Republicans after they declined to share power in the 20-20 chamber.
The battle began shortly after the Senate started its daily session at noon. Senators were asked to vote on a joint resolution needed to reappoint 47 incumbent judges around the state to new terms and to appoint two new judges. The resolution had just passed in the House.
Democrats voted against allowing the matter to come up for a vote. That not only held up the resolution but threatened to put the Senate into an indefinite state of limbo. The resolution was subject to a continuing joint order, which dictates that no other business may be conducted while it is under consideration.
“We cannot proceed with any further business at any time — tomorrow, next week, next month,” said Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R), who presides over the Senate.
Each party blamed the other for the impasse. Both sides called each other “obstructionists” in impassioned floor speeches.
This was the type of deadlock political observers had feared when the Senate split evenly, with 20 Republicans and 20 Democrats, in November’s elections. The legislative dysfunction and heated rhetoric emerged at a time when Democrats are still angry with the Republicans, who took control of crucial Senate committees this month with help from Bolling’s tie-breaking votes. Democrats, claiming that Bolling lacked authority to vote on organizational matters, had sought a power-sharing agreement.
Democrats still have sway over judicial appointments because Bolling cannot vote on those.
Norment said Democrats were holding the Senate hostage, demanding that members go their way “or we are prepared to shut down the operations of the Senate.”
Saslaw accused Republicans of reneging on a deal to pull the names of two judicial nominees.
“We are no more guilty than they are,” Saslaw said.
The judicial appointments take the form of a joint resolution, one that both the House and Senate must pass. The House passed a resolution that formally created judicial vacancies on benches across the state. That step must be taken before sitting judges can be reappointed to new terms.
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