GOP Rift Swells in Va. General Assembly

Conservatives are gearing up to try to purge the Senate of its moderate Republicans, who often form a coalition with Democrats to block many House initiatives. Five moderate Republicans already face challenges in the June primary.

"They haven't run in four years, and I hope they find out this summer and in November how interested people are in these bills," Del. John S. "Jack" Reid (R-Henrico) said of his Senate colleagues.

Potts, who alienated many members of his party when he launched a bid for governor as an independent in 2005, refers to House conservatives as the "God squad crowd."

"I have a strong faith, too, but I don't wear it on my sleeve," said Potts, who is considering retiring this year instead of running for reelection against two conservative primary challengers.

Griffith said Potts's comments "show his level of intolerance of others' beliefs."

One of Potts's challengers, Mark Tate, said that Republican voters need to make a statement this year that the party is pro-family.

The differing opinions among Virginia Republicans mirror the party's split on the national level, where moderates and conservatives frequently clash on social issues, including illegal immigration.

House Republicans have advocated a get-tough approach, saying that the state should tackle the issue instead of waiting for Congress to act.

"The Senate has demonstrated time and time again it's pro-illegal immigration," said Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick (R-Prince William). "It's unfortunate -- the people want you to do something about this issue, and the House sent over a whole lot of ideas, and the Senate rejected them in a span of about 60 minutes."

Frederick, who noted that more than a dozen House Democrats also supported the GOP-sponsored immigration bills, said that illegal immigration is not a partisan issue.

But Republicans largely control the agenda in the General Assembly. And Friday, the divide between the House and Senate was on display when they couldn't agree on one of the only immigration-related bills still up for debate.

Last month, the House approved a bill denying in-state college tuition for illegal immigrants. The Senate approved a separate version of the bill that makes exceptions for those in the process of becoming citizens. The House voted Friday to reject the Senate bill, meaning that a conference committee will be needed to sort out the differences.

Potts isn't optimistic that the two sides will agree on a compromise. He referred to a hypothetical story about a family that crosses the Mexican border with a child.

"What happens to the little child that comes across the border with his mother and father, and they have two children [in the United States], and the oldest child is a valedictorian? We are not going to let her go to James Madison, but we are going to let the other two go to James Madison?" Potts asked. "What am I missing here?"

Del. Terry G. Kilgore (R-Scott) said that conservatives are frustrated by the Senate. "I guess we just have to keep trying," he said.