In its annual review of the General Assembly, the business coalition Virginia Foundation for Research and Economic Education penalized each legislator for failing to pass a transportation plan during this summer's failed special session.

Virginia FREE's 24-page report opens with a statement on the partisan bickering that left the General Assembly unable to pass a plan to provide money for roads and transit.

"We have not only a shortage of transportation dollars, but also a shortage of courage and leadership needed to elevate good governance above short-term partisan gain," it says.

The group rates legislators using their voting records on key bills and business lobbyist evaluations.

Republicans scored on an average rating of 59; Democrats scored an average rating of 46. Delegates scored an average rating of 53; senators scored an average rating of 52.

The Virginia Campaign for Change, an offshoot of Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign funded by the Democratic National Committee, will register voters at gas stations across the state today.

State Sen. Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax) and Charlottesville Mayor Dave Norris will participate in the events, which will take place in Arlington, Charlottesville and Richmond.

"Motorists who are fed up with sky-high oil company profits made on the backs of consumers paying higher prices at the pump will have the opportunity to register to vote -- and help Barack Obama put in place a new energy policy that will give relief to middle class families and break our addiction to foreign oil,'' according to a press release.

Obama has talked about providing families with a $1,000 middle-class tax cut and spending $150 billion in renewable and other clean sources of energy.

Details of the events are below:

Thousands of people withstood the 90-plus-degree heat today for the unveiling of a monument outside the state Capitol that commemorates those who helped bring about the end of school segregation across the state and nation.

They included NAACP Chairman Julian Bond, actor Blair Underwood, poet Nikki Giovanni, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, former governor Mark R. Warner, Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell, House Speaker William J. Howell and several other members of the General Assembly.

But L. Douglas Wilder, the nation's first elected black governor, who now serves as Richmond's mayor, was noticeably absent.

If you are eagerly awaiting a breakthrough in the standoff over transportation between Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) and House Republican leaders, you should probably go onto the next posting.

They haven't even been talking.

When state legislators left Richmond June 26 after failing to reach a consensus on transportation funding, Gov. Kaine called Howell (R-Stafford) and Majority Whip M. Kirkland Cox (R-Colonial Heights) into his office to talk. But the meeting lasted only a few minutes, according to Cox and Howell, both of whom described it as a waste of time.

LIUNA, the Laborers' International Union of North America, began radio ads today in several area across the state "urging progress on the state's transportation crisis that negatively affects working people every day."

The ads will run in Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, Richmond and Fredericksburg through Wednesday when the General Assembly returns to the state Capitol to try once again to find money for road and transit projects.

"Investing in Virginia's transportation system will dramatically improve safety and quality of life, while creating 50,000 good jobs in local economies," said Terence M. O'Sullivan, LIUNA General President. "Delegates in the Virginia House must take care of Virginia's basic priorities - the roads, highways, bridges and transit systems that the working men and women of the state rely on every day. It's time to build Virginia so Virginia works."

Shortly after Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) called a special session to try to tackle transportation funding issues, the governor gave a blunt assessment of what he hoped to accomplish by advocating a tax increase even though he didn't have the support of the Republican-controlled House of Delegates.

"It will be very productive to either try to find a solution or make it plain to people who are standing in the way," Kaine said in an interview with The Washington Post in May. "We are going to make something happen or let the public see who is obstructing, and frankly, that is one of the reasons why Democrats have won elections in Virginia."

But 10 days into the special session on transportation -- legislators have been on vacation for six of those days -- it remains uncertain whether any solution will be found or whether the governor will score any of those political points.

Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath) will pick up law enforcement endorsements for his 2009 gubernatorial campaign tonight in Northern Virginia - the home of his rival for the Democratic nomination, Del. Brian J. Moran of Alexandria, a former prosecutor.

Tonight's event is likely to be a boost for Deeds, who narrowly lost his bid for statewide office in 2005 and is already well known around the state. If Deeds can secure the Northern Virginia vote, he would be heavily favored to win the nomination.

The event at the Fairfax County Police Association Hall will include Sen. J. Chapman "Chap" Petersen (D-Fairfax), Prince William County Commonwealth's Attorney Paul Ebert, Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Ray Morrogh and former Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Bob Horan.

Senate Majority Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax), part jokingly but mostly serious, is urging his moderate Republican colleagues to leave the GOP and join the majority party in the Senate.

Speaking to reporters today, Saslaw made the public offer because he thinks the Republican Party has drifted to far to the right for some moderates. He singled out two moderate GOP senators - Minority Leader Thomas K. Norment (James City) and Kenneth W. Stolle (Virginia Beach) - as potential party switchers.

"They can leave that caucus and come over to our caucus," Saslaw said. "We don't have the rigid vote with your base 100 percent of the time or your fired rule."

After three days of bickering during the special session on transportation, legislators are starting to dispense with the niceties.

In debating a bill at the Rules Committee this morning, Del. R. Steven Landes (R-Augusta) started to use the term "Democrat friends" when he was quickly interrupted.

"Excuse me, did he say Democrat?'' House Minority Leader Ward L. Armstrong (D-Henry) asked. "I believe it's Democratic."

Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) defended Landes. "Friends was the important word,'' he said.

"Actually grammar matters. Sorry, Mr. Speaker," Del. Kristen J. Amundson (D-Fairfax) said.

When Landes resumed talking, he stayed away from the word and used the safer term "friends from the other side" instead.

As part of the General Assembly's ongoing special session, Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee will try Wednesday to push through proposals to increase Virginia's 17.5 cent a gallon gas tax to raise money for transportation.

Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax) wants a 6 cent a gallon increase, which will be phased in over six years. Sen. Charles J. Colgan (D-Prince William), chairman of the Finance Committee, wants the tax raised 1.6 cents per year for 10 years. Saslaw notes Virginia's gas tax is far below the national average of 28.5 cents a gallon. Republicans, along with Democrats in the House, argue its irresponsible to raise the gas tax because consumers are already being hit with record fuel prices.

Former Democratic governor Mark R. Warner, a candidate for U.S. Senate, appears to be siding with the GOP and House Democrats in this debate.

Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick of Prince William, who vowed not to run for re-election next year if he was elected chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, said he may reconsider that pledge.

"A lot of guys around here are trying to convince me,'' Frederick said during a House recess. "I really don't want to (run)...But if there's this huge call and everyone in the world wants me to run for re-election, I guess there is some chance. If the whole world says we're going to relieve you of your pledge."

Frederick said he is 99.9 percent sure he will not run but that he is continuing to raise money to help his wife, Amy, if she decides to run for his seat and to continue to pay for costs to serve his district over the next 18 months.

"I'm not relieving myself of my responsibilities in representing the people of the 52nd district,'' he said. Frederick said in May that he made his decision not to run for re-election because of concerns from party leaders that it would be too hard for him to be both a delegate and the leader of the state party. His most recent fundraising letter can be read below.

A poll commissioned by House Republicans in April found widespread opposition to higher taxes to pay for transportation, but it also includes responses that my make Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) optimistic about his own plan to raise additional revenue.

The survey, which House Republicans are using to help justify their resistance to a statewide tax increase, found that 68 percent of likely voters oppose of a five cent hike in the state's 17.5 cent a gallon gas tax. (This was in April, before the latest surge in gas prices.)

Residents in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads hold different views about paying more for gas.

Just last week, Del. William R. Janis (R-Goochland) criticized Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) for spending too much time on Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) presidential campaign, which included traveling to Texas to speak on his behalf at a Democratic party convention.

Today, Janis was one of the legislators picked by House Speaker William J. Howell to escort Kaine into the House chamber for his speech to the General Assembly on transportation.

"Are you sure he's not in Texas?'' Janis said as he left the House floor to meet Kaine.

Updated 5:38 p.m.

Del. Phil Hamilton (R-Newport News) and Sen. Jill Vogel (R-Winchester) responded to Kaine's remarks this afternoon.

Meanwhile, the list of bills introduced, continued to grow - considerably.

Updated 2:30 p.m.

Gov. Kaine addressed lawmakers, following a morning appearance with the Virginia Business Council.

"In Virginia, we don't make our reputations or improve our communities by delay or inaction," Kaine said in prepared remarks. "We rise and fall by our results. In the words of Cervantes, 'good actions ennoble us and we are the children of our deeds.'"

New bills introduced today...

Days before the General Assembly returns to Richmond for a special session on transportation Monday, many legislators still say they have little or no hope of reaching an agreement on how to fund road and transit projects.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) will address the Democratic caucuses of the House and Senate Sunday night and Monday morning and then the entire 140-member General Assembly at 1 p.m. to encourage them to pass a bill.

Republicans, and even many Democrats, are skeptical.

So what's going to happen next week during the special session on transportation? Probably not much, but who knows? So we are not even going to try to make a prediction. We'll leave that to others. Here is a sampling of predictions -- as a well as a few partisan shots -- from current and former state legislators and lobbyists.

As the 2008 Virginia Democratic Party convention draws to a close, here are eight observations about the weekend's events at the Hampton Roads Convention Center in Hampton.

1) If the Democrats' goal was to leave the convention united behind Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), they still have a lot of work to do. Surprisingly, numerous supporters of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY.) said they weren't sure if they would vote for Obama in the fall.

Charlie Kelly will become executive director of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's political action committee, Moving Virginia Forward, replacing Matt Felan, who announced today that he is launching his own independent fundraising company.

Kelly has served Kaine in various roles since 2005 and most recently has been the PAC's political director, facilitating campaign operations for legislative and local candidates across Virginia.

"I am pleased that Charlie will be serving as the new executive director of Moving Virginia Forward," Kaine said in a statement. "During my campaign and in our coordinated efforts that won back the state Senate, Charlie has served with great distinction and proven himself time and again. He has shown leadership and a real knack for getting the job done."

Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick (Prince William), the newly elected chairman of the Virginia Republican Party, continues to shake up the leadership of the state party.

Since defeating former lieutenant governor John H. Hager for the chairman's job last weekend, many of the state party's senior staffers have resigned or been dismissed.

Frederick plans to announce today that Walter M. Curt, owner of Power Motors Inc, a Harrisonburg-based technology firm, will be the party's new finance chairman. Curt replaces Fred Malek, who resigned from his finance role at the state party last week. Malek still serves as the deputy national finance chairman for Arizona Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign.

Jeffrey Frederick, a conservative state delegate from Prince William, was elected chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia today at the state convention, defeating incument John H. Hager.

The vote tally was not announced this afternoon. Instead, Hager asked that Frederick be elected by acclamation after it became evident the incumbent had lost.

"The Republican Party is strong in many places around our great Virginia, but statewide we've got some issues," Frederick said.

Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling celebrated an early birthday with hundreds of supporters tonight at the state Republican convention in downtown Richmond.

The state's two top Republicans have been appearing frequently together in recent weeks to promote their ticket for governor and lieutenant governor in 2009. They offered drinks and cake with the words "2009 Winning Team" written in icing to toast their shared birthday of June 15.

"Bill and I don't just share a birthday, we share the same beliefs,'' McDonnell said to a packed room.

Del. Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria) hasn't even announced that he is running for governor next year but two of his colleagues are eyeing his leadership position as Democratic caucus chairman, the second-highest ranking Democrat in the House.

Del. Kristen J. Amundson (D-Fairfax), caucus political director, and Del. Lionell Spruill Sr. (D-Chesapeake), caucus vice chairaman, are vying for the job if -- and when -- Moran choses to step down.

Moran is expected to run for the Democratic nomination for governor against Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath) but he does not have to resign from his House seat or his leadership post.

In honor of Memorial Day, the state's top Republicans, Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, paid tribute in a ceremony at the state Capitol to Virginia soldiers who died in the last year. A pair of F-18 fighter jets and Blackhawk helicopters flew overhead.

It was the second year that McDonnell - a likely candidate for governor next year - has organized the event.

Last year, people in downtown Richmond were alarmed by the loud noise made by the fighter jets so this year, the Attorney General's Office tried to make sure more people knew about the event.

Del. Brian J. Moran of Alexandria, who is expected to run for the Democratic nomination for governor next year, has opened an office in downtown Richmond.

Moran, who is chairman of the Democratic caucus in the House of Delegates, had all his staff (about seven people) working out of an office in Alexandria until last month. Now, one staffer who is raising money has been located a few blocks from the Capitol in Richmond. That office is likely to expand in the coming months.

The two candidates running in an increasingly bitter race to be chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia will debate in Northern Virginia next week.

John H. Hager, chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, and Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick (R-Prince William) will debate at 7:30 p.m. May 22 at the Robert E. Lee High School in Springfield.

The debate is organized by the Fairfax, Prince William and Arlignton Young Republican Clubs.

As lawmakers prepare to head back to town next month to try to resolve how to finance transportation projects, it is looking increasingly like the special session might repeat of the pattern of the past two years.

That pattern goes something like this: Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D), backed by some Democratic lawmakers, pushes a big tax increase. House Republicans, most of whom have little connection to heavily congested Northern Virginia, kill the proposal. Lawmakers leave town knowing full well it's only a matter of time before they return to repeat the entire exercise.

House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) sent a letter to Virginia Republicans encouraging them to re-elect John H. Hager chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia on May 31.

Unfortunately, one of the recipients was the wife of Hager's opponent, Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick (R-Prince William).

A clearly angry Amy Frederick sent letter back to Howell today, defending her husband and demanding an apology.

"I realize Jeff is a young go-getter and that rubs the old guard the wrong way,'' she wrote. "Yet, just because you've known Jeff's opponent for over 20 years, as you stated in your letter, doesn't excuse this sort of conduct."

Read below for text of both letters:

Del. Jennifer L. McClellan, a superdelegate who had endorsed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton for president, announced today that she is switching her support to Sen. Barack Obama after his strong showing in this week's primaries.

"The time has come to support Sen. Obama as our likely nominee,'' said McClellan, an African American woman from Richmond. "The time has come for us to come together as a party."

McClellan, who endorsed Clinton in December, agonized in recent weeks about her decision, calling it "the most stressful thing I've been through in my whole life." She said that she gradually changed her mind after watching Obama win recent primaries and realizing he will probably be the Democratic nominee.

Del Dwight Clinton Jones (D-Richmond) announced yesterday that he will run for mayor of Richmond.

L. Douglas Wilder, Richmond's current mayor and the nation's first black governor, has hinted that he will run for re-election despite a string of bad publicity lately.

As the political establishment reels over a bad case of deja vu, lawmakers are struggling to figure out what to do in the recurring battle over how to raise more money for transportation.

The state Supreme Court's Feb. 29 decision to toss out the regional taxing authorities in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, a cornerstone of last year's transportation deal, could soon lead to political chaos.

But as Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) and House and Senate leaders consider whether they can come up with a solution, a big question remains unresolved:

Has the window for addressing transportation closed?

Senate Democrats apparently have selective memory.

On Saturday, the Democratic caucus sent out a statement heralding its role in repealing the unpopular abusive driving fees. The statement noted that House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) and then Senate Majority Leader Walter A. Stosch (R-Henrico) stood together in July to defend the fees.

"Meanwhile, Democratic Senators were mounting efforts to repeal the legislation," the statement said.

But the statement failed to mention that Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) - who bolstered public opposition to the driving fee law by excluding out-of-state drivers - also stood with Howell and Stosch at that press conference. In fact, Kaine's role at the event was far more influential than the one played by Stosch.

Kaine, who has since changed his position, declared at the time the fees "affect poor drivers, not poor people."

During the lengthy House session Thursday afternoon, Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William) challenged House Speaker William J. Howell about whether an amendment on a transportation bill was relevant.

As Howell considered the answer, he invited Marshall and the sponsor of the amendment, House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem), to the front of the chamber to discuss the question. House Minority Leader Ward L. Armstrong (D-Henry) also joined them.

To say Del. R. Steven Landes (R-Augusta) was peeved with Armstrong's presence is an understatement.

Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William), who opposed the landmark transportation bill that the Virginia Supreme Court declared unconstitutional Friday, can't help but feel a little vindicated.

"Fours words: I told you so,'' said Marshall, one of the plaintiffs in the suit against the transportation plan. "I'm not going to say that. Look, last year when this thing was going on, I said I wanted an opinion that said this was constitutional. We never got it."

Marshall, who is running for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate this year, said there were 17 votes in the House against the bill last year but he was the only one who filed a lawsuit.

Is he the only political winner today?

"The people are the winners,'' he said. "I just stood up for them."

The General Assembly is bombarding Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) with bills.

Generally the governor will have received about 50 to 100 bills by this time in the legislative session. But as of Friday morning, he had already received 451.

What does that mean?

Any bills Kaine receives before tomorrow (one week before the legislative session is expected to end) need to be signed, amended or vetoed within seven days. Any bills Kaine receives after Saturday do not need to be reviewed for 30 days.

At 1 p.m., the House of Delegates went into a pro forma session, a formality taken so they could move a slew of non-controversial bills forward so they can be debated Monday. At 1:04 p.m., they adjourned.

A total of eight legislators showed up, some in casual clothes. House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem) took the speaker's chair.

Democrats credit an unlikely source with helping them get two judges confirmed to the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Friday: Del. L. Scott Lingamfelter (R-Prince William).

Republicans had threatened to reject Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's two judicial picks unless their party was able to fill two other judicial openings on the State Corporation Commission and the Workers' Compensation Commission.

But behind closed doors, Lingamfelter lobbied fellow Republicans to allow the appointments, which included a former Prince William County Circuit Court judge.

Del. L. Scott Lingamfelter (R-Prince William) took to the House floor Thursday to criticize his fellow Northern Virginian colleague, Del. Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria), for asking for money to fight online child predators in a tight budget year.

Moran, chairman of the House Democratic caucus and likely candidate for governor next year, responded with an uncharacteristically fiery speech that was met with cheers from his side of the room.

"Stand up for the schoolchildren of Virginia!'' he bellowed. "Let's walk the walk!"

Mark Bergman, chief of staff to House Democratic Leader Ward L. Armstrong (D-Henry), is leaving to take a position in the Capitol Hill office of U.S. Rep. Paul Hodes (D-NH).

House Caucus Policy Director Claire Wilker will take Bergman's job as chief of staff and chief spokeswoman for the House Democratic Caucus.

Del. Timothy D. Hugo (R-Fairfax), who is serving his third term in the House, has been named assistant chairman for the House Republican caucus.

"I am delighted that Tim has agreed to accept this important responsibility," said Del. Samuel A. Nixon Jr. (R-Chesterfield), House Republican caucus chairman. "I look forward to leveraging his unique legislative skills and talents."

Former governor James S. Gilmore (R) praised the House of Delegates today for their efforts to stiffen regulations on payday lenders while taking a not-so-subtle jab at his potential rivial in this year's U.S. Senate race, former governor Mark R. Warner (D).

"It is no secret that payday lending stores opened under the leadership of Mark Warner and the bill he signed into law,'' Gilmore said in a statement. "Their loans are deceptive and they should at a minimum be held to the same standards as other small-loan lenders operating in Virginia. Mark Warner's decision to adopt this policy was wrong and ultimately the people of Virginia have rejected it."

For some members of the House of Delegates, the election has already started.

Since the legislative session started last month, Democrats have been targeting two Fairfax Republicans, Dels. David B. Albo and Thomas Davis Rust, who are up for re-election in 2009.

Each year when it is time for members of the General Assembly to report what gifts, trips and dinners they have received from lobbyists and others, Del. Phillip A. Hamilton (R-Newport news) always gets a special nod.

Hamilton, a Republican from Newport News, meticulously records every gift he receives -- even though many of them fall below the $50 threshold for reporting.

As expected, a Democratic proposal to rescind a Republican-written rule was killed today by a vote of 56 to 42 in the House.

Del. Robert H. Brink (D-Arlington) had asked his colleagues to change a rule that allows Speaker William J. Howell to bypass the usual committee process and send bills straight to the House floor for a vote.

Even the introductions are partisan in the House of Delegates.

Del. Lacey E. Putney, an Independent from Bedford who caucuses with Republicans, introduced two visiting members of Virginia's congressional delegation, Republican Reps. Thelma Drake and Robert J. Wittman.

A third member, Democrat Rep. James P. Moran Jr. was sitting close by but was not recognized until House Minority Leader Ward L. Armstrong (D-Henry) stood up to introduce him.

About half of the 21 Democrats in the Virginia Senate are planning to announce today they are supporting Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) bid for the White House.

Obama's list of supporters will likely included senators from every region of the state, including Janet D. Howell and Linda T. "Toddy" Puller, both of Fairfax, A. Donald McEachin of Richmond, R. Edward Houck of Spotsylvania and L. Louise Lucas of Portsmouth, according to sources close to the Obama campaign.

A group of students from Charlottesville and Albemarle County high schools didn't exactly experience southern hospitality when they visited the state Capitol yesterday.

During the House session, Del. David J. Toscano (D-Charlottesville) stood up to introduce the students, who were sitting in the gallery. But when Toscano said the students were members of the "Charlottesville Young Liberals" club, some GOP lawmakers started booing.

After initially being taken aback, Toscano responded by saying: "They are here to witness the process. Whatever you may think of what they may think, I hope you would give them a warm Capitol welcome and help educate them on how things work down here."

GOP aides stress the lawmakers who booed were joking, which is common in the sometimes unruly House chamber. Either way, the reception probably offers a lesson for the students on how things "work" in partisan Richmond this year.

Here is a list of delegates and senators who announced today they are supporting John McCain's bid for the Republican nomination for president.

Del. Christopher B. Saxman (R-Staunton)
Del. David B. Albo (R-Fairfax)
Del. Thomas D. Gear (R-Hampton)
Del. Philip A. Hamilton (R-Newport News)
Del. Terry G. Kilgore (R-Scott)

Is Del. Timothy D. Hugo (R-Fairfax) rethinking his decision not to run for Congress in the 11th congressional district?

Earlier this month, Hugo said he decided not to seek the GOP nomination to replace Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va), who announced yesterday he is retiring after 13 years in the House. With Davis now out of the race, Hugo may be reconsidering.

"I've had a lot of calls," said Hugo, who some Republicans believe would be their strongest candidate. "I need to talk to my wife. We'll see."

Some people in Richmond are already speculating about what Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D), who just passed the midpoint of his term, plans to do when he leaves office in 2010. One option is future president of a college or university, including either the University of Virginia or Virginia Commonwealth University.

In an interview with Washington Post reporters and editors Wednesday night, Kaine wouldn't discuss what his future options are, but said he really enjoyed the "community building aspect" of being Richmond mayor and governor.

"I'm likely to do something that has a community building component," said Kaine, who said he could be interested in a job with non profit organization.

After three weeks of partisan bickering, House Democrats are asking House Republicans for weekly joint meetings between leaders of both parties.

A letter signed by House Minority Leader Ward L. Armstrong (D-Henry) and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria) was sent to Republican leaders today.

Last week, bills that would have closed the so-called gun show "loophole" died in committee, in part with the help of Sen. John S. Edwards (D-Roanoke), who on Wednesday voted against advancing the bill to the floor of the Senate.

But today, Edwards -- whose district includes Virginia Tech -- tried to reopen the debate.

Stayed tuned for more partisan rancor coming up Monday in the Virginia House.

Del. Robert H. Brink (D-Arlington) will ask his House colleagues to vote to rescind a new Republican-written rule that allows Speaker William J. Howell to bypass the usual committee process and send bills straight to the House floor for a vote.

The first time that happened was Thursday when Democrats revolted and abstained fr