April 23 we returned to Richmond for the one-day "veto session." Veto session is where the legislature takes up Governor McAuliffe's vetoes and amendments.
I was disappointed that the Governor vetoed several important measures, including:
House Bill 1040, which would give defendants a right to appeal to circuit court when found guilty of a red light camera violation.
Senate Bill 236, which would protect the free speech rights of public school students.
Senate Bill 555, which would prohibit state government from censoring sermons given by chaplains in the Virginia National Guard.
Despite the fact that each measure passed garnered the needed votes to pass during regular session, all three were defeated as there were not enough votes to override the Governor's action. If we wish to see these measures become law, they will have to be brought back in a future session.
We also took up dozens of the Governor's amendments, many of which were non-controversial. I am happy to report that the Governor did not veto or amend any of the legislation I worked to pass this year. Each has been signed into law.
Unfortunately, there was no progress on the largest outstanding issue, the state's biennial budget. Governor McAuliffe continues to demand that the House agree to his Obamacare Medicaid expansion before he will let any of the rest of the budget pass.
In addition, 71% of Virginians support the General Assembly coming to a compromise in order to avoid a State Government shutdown. House Republicans have offered the clearest path to compromise - pass a clean budget to avoid a government shutdown and debate Medicaid expansion during a special session. This would ensure that the core functions of state government, including teachers and school boards, police departments, firefighters, and transportation crews, will receive funds to continue serving the public.