David Toscano

Commentary on Virginia and U.S. Politics & Culture

David Toscano
  • Home
  • About David
  • States Matter
  • The Legislative Years
    • General Assembly Updates
      • 2019 General Assembly Session
      • 2018 General Assembly Session
      • 2017 General Assembly Session
      • 2016 General Assembly Session
      • 2015 General Assembly Session
      • 2014 General Assembly Session
      • 2013 General Assembly Session
      • 2012 General Assembly Session
      • 2011 General Assembly Session
    • Press Releases
  • Search

The Upcoming Veto Session

April 6, 2016 by David Toscano

Vetoes and Two-Thirds Majority Rule

If you read statewide news, you might have noticed that Governor McAuliffe has been vetoing a bill sent to him from the General Assembly almost every day. We have another two weeks before we return on April 20 for our so-called “veto session.” This is officially referred to as “Reconvene Session” and is the day we assemble back in Richmond to consider vetoes and any changes proposed by the governor to certain bills. In Virginia, we have the “line item veto,” by which a governor can propose changes in portions of individual bills passed by the legislature, including the budget. Sustaining a governor’s line-item change requires a simple majority. If a governor vetoes a bill, the only way it becomes law is for a two-thirds majority in each chamber to vote for the bill “notwithstanding the Governor’s veto.”

Vetoes

Among Gov. McAuliffe’s vetoes are bills that would:

  • Defund Planned Parenthood;
  • Undermine efforts of the Commonwealth to produce a Clean Power Plan;
  • Extend inefficient and costly tax credits to coal producers;
  • Deny localities the ability to contract with private companies that pay a living wage;
  • Allow gender discrimination under the guise of religious freedom;
  • Would reverse the Governor’s executive orders to keep guns out of administrative buildings;
  • Remove the discretion of Sheriffs and local law enforcement officers in handling immigration detention requests from the federal government;
  • Place additional barriers on citizens’ ability to register and vote; and
  • Limit the ability of localities to determine the status of monuments in their cities and counties.

These items are being vetoed by the Governor because they reflect policy choices embraced by a small minority of Virginia citizens or are arguably unconstitutional, or both.

As of April 6, the Governor has signed more than 750 bills and has vetoed over 25 bills from the 2016 Session. By contrast, former Governor Bob McDonnell vetoed a total of 18 bills during his four year administration, and Governor Tim Kaine vetoed a total of 30. One reason for Governor McAuliffe’s numbers rests in the present composition of the House of Delegates and the state Senate, which are both controlled by conservative Republican majorities. By contrast, Governor George Allen, a Republican confronted with Democratic majorities in both the House and Senate, vetoed a total of 51 bills during his administration. Republican Jim Gilmore vetoed a total of 50 bills over four years, despite narrow Republican majorities in the House and Senate during the last two years of his administration. Until recently, many conservative measures passed by the House were then defeated in a more moderate Senate. That dynamic is no longer the rule as conservatives now have a majority in both the House and Senate. The only thing standing in the way of some of this socially-conservative legislation becoming law is Governor McAuliffe’s veto.

Two-Thirds Majority Rule

Overriding a Governor’s veto takes a two-thirds majority in each chamber. That is 67 votes in the House and 26 votes in the Senate. Most observers believe that all of the vetoes will be sustained and that none of these measures will become law, but this will all be determined on April 20.

Share

Filed Under: General Assembly 2016

Topics

2016 presidential election (5) 2017 Virginia election (12) ABC law enforcement procedures (5) Adoption (3) Affordable Care Act - Virginia (21) Affordable Health Care (61) Anti-Discrimination (18) Charlottesville and Albemarle County (14) Charlottesville sidewalk funding program (3) Climate Change (12) Coal Tax Credits (14) DNA Database Expansion (11) Domestic Violence (6) Education (40) Educational reform (4) Environmental Protection (48) Equal Rights Amendment (4) Ethics reform (11) Financial exploitation of elderly (6) Foster Care (3) Gun Safety (34) Immigration (15) Job Creation (11) Judicial Appointments (8) K-12 Education funding (30) Legislative Redistricting (23) Medicaid expansion (52) Mental Health Policy (17) Pre-K Education Funding (7) Religious Freedom (4) Renewable Energy (31) Reproductive Choice (16) Same-Sex Marriage (4) Senator Creigh Deeds (3) Sexual Assault Policy (10) Special Session (11) State Employee Compensation (16) University of Virginia (7) Virginia budget (34) Virginia General Assembly Process (28) Virginia Health Insurance Marketplace (11) Virginia Higher Education Funding (19) Virginia Retirement System funding (5) Virginia transportation (12) Voting Access (12)

Join My Email List

Topics

2016 presidential election 2017 Virginia election ABC law enforcement procedures Adoption Affordable Care Act - Virginia Affordable Health Care Anti-Discrimination Charlottesville and Albemarle County Charlottesville sidewalk funding program Climate Change Coal Tax Credits DNA Database Expansion Domestic Violence Education Educational reform Environmental Protection Equal Rights Amendment Ethics reform Financial exploitation of elderly Foster Care Gun Safety Immigration Job Creation Judicial Appointments K-12 Education funding Legislative Redistricting Medicaid expansion Mental Health Policy Pre-K Education Funding Religious Freedom Renewable Energy Reproductive Choice Same-Sex Marriage Senator Creigh Deeds Sexual Assault Policy Special Session State Employee Compensation University of Virginia Virginia budget Virginia General Assembly Process Virginia Health Insurance Marketplace Virginia Higher Education Funding Virginia Retirement System funding Virginia transportation Voting Access

General Assembly Updates 2011-18

  • General Assembly 2018
  • General Assembly 2017
  • General Assembly 2016
  • General Assembly 2015
  • General Assembly 2014
  • General Assembly 2013
  • General Assembly 2012
  • General Assembly 2011

Contact Me

211 E. High Street
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Phone: 434-220-1660
Fax: 434-220-1677
david@davidtoscano.com

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Email list
Donate to the Virginia First PAC

Help me bring more common sense to the General Assembly by helping elect candidates that share our views in other districts across the Commonwealth. Make a contribution to my leadership PAC, Virginia First, where funds go directly to support candidates across the state. - David

Authorized by David Toscano
© Copyright 2006-20 · DavidToscano.com · All Rights Reserved ·