Democrats Savor New Majority Status
Va. Senate Leaders Seek Centrist Route

By Tim Craig and Sandhya Somashekhar
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, January 23, 2008

RICHMOND -- Midway through their second full week on the job, Democrats are rediscovering what it's like to hold the power in the Virginia Senate.

Lobbyists swarm outside the Democratic senators' offices, waiting to be heard. Campaign contributions pour in. And the Democrats are finding that they can muscle some of their priorities through committees, including a vote last week to repeal the abusive-driving fees.

"We are still trying to enjoy this," said Sen. R. Edward Houck (Spotsylvania), referring to the Democrats' success in regaining control of the Senate after more than a decade of GOP rule. Republicans control the House.

But as the hard work of the General Assembly begins, Senate Democrats will probably discover that it's not easy being in charge. Because they hold a narrow majority, 21 to 19, the slightest dissension within their ranks could stall their agenda, embolden the Republican opposition and expose sharp ideological differences between wings of the party.

The divisions showed last month, when a flurry of backroom deals helped quell tensions between senators over who should sit on which committees. Since then, Democratic senators have gone out of their way to present a unified front.

"We realize we have to stay unified to accomplish anything," said Sen. Janet D. Howell (Fairfax). "We are determined the Democrats in the Senate are going to make a difference, and the only way to do that is sticking together."

The Democrats' agenda includes more money for transportation, reforms to the state mental health system, an expansion of subsidized pre-kindergarten and new efforts to promote alternative energy.

All 21 Senate Democrats also agreed to wade cautiously into the debate over illegal immigration, endorsing bills to address residential crowding, to make it easier to check immigration status and to deny bail to people in the country illegally who commit serious crimes.

But Senate Democrats say Virginians should not expect bold policy initiatives and extensive debate on controversial social issues this year. "We will lead from the center," Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple (Fairfax) said recently.

A centrist course is a necessity for a group that has deep geographical and ideological differences on such issues as gun control, gay rights and abortion.

The Democrats are evenly divided among African Americans from Richmond or Tidewater, Northern Virginia liberals and Democrats from southwestern Virginia, some of whom represent districts that favor GOP candidates in statewide races. When the Democrats last held power in the Virginia Senate, in the 1990s, the rural faction controlled many of the key committees.

"I think the group of Democrats who now hold power in Virginia look far more like national Democrats than at any time in Virginia history," said Robert D. Holsworth, a political science professor at Virginia Commonwealth University. "Right now, when you talk about the Northern Virginia delegation, it wouldn't look very different than the Democratic delegation in Pennsylvania or Maryland."

The division among Democrats on some issues is already apparent.

Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw, a pro-business Democrat from Fairfax, has urged a go-slow approach in cracking down on the payday loan industry. But the five black Senate Democrats, four of whom are committee chairmen, are pushing for aggressive reform of the industry, which advances people money against their paychecks at high interest rates.

Some rural Democrats have also announced that they oppose Democratic Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's proposal to close a loophole that allows people to buy firearms at gun shows without a background check.

And even though Senate Democrats are unified in calling for money for transportation, they have yet to come up with a unified stance on how to pay for it. There could also be strain when the Senate begins considering Kaine's proposed budget, which may have to be cut because the economy shows signs it could be headed into a recession.

"Are we going to be on the same page on every single bill? Of course not," said Saslaw, a 30-year veteran of the House and Senate who is respected by Republicans and Democrats alike -- even though he can be fiercely partisan.

The Senate has long been a civil and collaborative body, especially compared with the more informal House of Delegates. But Saslaw is facing a new dynamic in the Senate that may make his job harder.

Under GOP control, then-Senate President John H. Chichester and a group of moderate GOP senators aligned with Democrats to battle conservatives in the House over taxes and social issues.

Saslaw vowed he will try to maintain those relationships with Senate Republicans. But conservative senators, who added to their numbers after the Nov. 6 election, are looking for ways to sharpen the ideological differences between the two parties.

Party line votes have traditionally been rare on Senate committees. But on Wednesday, all seven Republicans on the Courts of Justice Committee voted against a proposal to raise the state's gasoline tax by 2.5 cents a gallon. The eight Democrats supported the proposal, which now goes to the Finance Committee.

With partisanship expected in the weeks to come, Saslaw may discover he doesn't have as much influence as some previous Senate leaders.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, Democratic Sen. Hunter B. Andrews wielded enormous clout because he was the majority leader and chairman of the powerful Finance Committee. Earlier this decade, Chichester, as Finance Committee chairman, held the real power in the Senate, even though Sen. Walter A. Stosche (R-Henrico) was majority leader.

In the current leadership structure, Sen. Charles J. Colgan (D-Prince William) chairs the Finance Committee. Saslaw chairs the Commerce and Labor Committee.

"Colgan runs the Finance Committee, but I don't think he wants to run the Senate," Holsworth said. "So Saslaw is charged with being responsible and accountable for the political influences of the majority when he doesn't have the direct influence of the key committee."

For Democrats in economically depressed southwest Virginia, bringing money home for projects is a critical part of their jobs -- and reelection campaigns. Now, some of the newly elected senators from Northern Virginia, including J. Chapman Petersen (D-Fairfax), have said they think too much of Northern Virginia's wealth has been redistributed to other parts of the state.

"Some of us in the rest of Virginia are watching with very attentive interest how Northern Virginia will make their presence felt in the Senate," said Senate Minority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr. (R-James City).

Besides governing, Saslaw and other Senate leaders will have to develop a strategy for maintaining their one-seat majority after the 2011 election. "If Democrats stick together too much, they are going to have a very short majority," said Del. Terry G. Kilgore (R-Scott).

Senate Democrats say they are ready for the challenge of governing and holding on to their majority in future elections.

"I don't think we will have any problems putting up 21 votes on the issues that really define the party," said Sen. A. Donald McEachin (D-Richmond).

K. Clayton Roberts Jr., president and executive director of the Virginia Foundation for Research and Economic Education, is not as confident that the various interests among the Senate Democrats won't start clashing.

"I think you will see the beginning of it this year, and next year it will really come to a boil," Roberts said. "I think everyone has made up their minds to try to get through this session without too much animosity."