Editorial: Caucusing for the commonwealth
The Senate's newest caucus takes bipartisanship as its mantra. Now, if only the House follows suit.
Four first-term Virginia senators are bucking staunch party ideologues by forming a new caucus. They call themselves the Commonwealth Caucus and believe that lawmakers ought to put the interests of Virginia ahead of party entrenchment.
The two Republicans -- Richard Stuart of Westmoreland and Jill Vogel of Winchester -- and the two Democrats -- Ralph Northam of Norfolk and John Miller of Newport News -- have opened the caucus to all state legislators who wish to set aside partisan politics. It's a bold reversal of recent practices in Richmond where the rank-and-file rarely deviate from leadership's wishes, and it comes with some risk to the mavericks. Leadership could punish them by failing to support their bills or with crummy committee assignments.
By forming the caucus, the foursome have already placed Virginia's interest above their own personal ambitions. They are right to do so.
The caucus has chosen three issues to start: redistricting, electing judges and protecting the Chesapeake Bay. Reasonable minds, whether thinking leans right, left or center, can find common ground to plow on each of these.
Yet on redistricting and judicial appointments, not enough reasonable minds have begun to engage in the discussion. Generally, the issues revert to party posturing and recriminations for past wrongdoing. That is poor governing and bodes ill for Virginians.
That freshman senators see the need to cut through the partisan bickering is indeed refreshing. With the retirement of several senior members who understood consensus-building, the Senate last term began to be tainted by the undesirable obstructionist qualities of the House of Delegates.
It is good that these four senators recognize the error of that way and are forming an alliance to place Virginia above party affiliations, at least on selected issues. We wish them a growing membership.
Delegates should consider a similar alliance in the House. Elections are at hand. It's easier to win votes on a record of accomplishments than on a litany of blaming the other side for shared failures.
Published in the The Roanoke Times on January 16, 2009