Courtesy of David Englin and Adam Ebbin, here are some highlights of what's happened in the veto session so far.*Englin (7:47 pm): "is glad the House is about to adjourn "sine die." Happy Passover. "Next year...in the majority!"
*Englin (7:45 pm): "voted against letting people take firearms safety courses online. It could be anyone taking the test! Unfortunately, Gov's veto failed."
*Englin (7:30 pm): "is stunned that House Rs killed Gov Kaine's energy efficiency / climate change amendment. They must all live inland far from flood zones."
(Meanwhile, Englin and Ebbin are discussing how to celebrate the first of Passover while they're stuck in session at the General Assembly. Also debating, "Why is this night different from all other nights?")
*Englin (about 7:24 pm): "...is glad House passed amendments to include various cancer screenings in group health insurance for employees of very small businesses."
*Ebbin (about 7:13 pm): "VA House rejected taking hundreds of millions in federal stimulus aid for our unemployment fund. GOP arguments were not very compassionate."
*Ebbin (about 7:07 pm): "Senate sustained Governor's veto of three Capital Punishment expansion bills!"
*Englin (about 7 pm): "...is truly disappointed for those struggling Va families that House Rs just killed the unemployment insurances changes."
*Englin (about 5:50 pm): "Unbelievable! The Speaker killed early voting by ruling Gov's amendment "not germane" -- a nice little trick to avoid a recorded vote."
*Englin (about 5:15 pm, after a long break): "...is voting on several non-controversial, mostly technical amendments."
*Englin (about 3:50 pm): "...is appalled that House Rs killed Del. Herring's bill to improve services to minority, women, and disabled-veteran-owned small businesses."
*Ebbin (about 3:45 pm): "Charniele Herring is doing a great job defending the Governor's amendments to her small business bill. Go Charniele!...Amendments to Charniele's bill lost 48-47. Ouch!"
*Englin (about 3:31 pm): "supported amendment to make SCC consider "energy efficiency and environmental protection" when addressing power generation. NARROWLY passed"
*Ebbin (about 3:30 pm): "we are now voting on Governor's recommendations, having vetos to House bills done. Then successful Senate veto overides and amendments..."
*Ebbin: "got up to use bathroom and missed a vote... lucky it wasn't close and my side prevailed."
*"[Englin] is proud of Margi Vanderhye for getting a bill passed to create the Va. Innovation and Entrepreneurship Investment Authority. Nice work!"
*Ebbin: "Governor's Ammendment to provide COBRA availability for small businesses passes unanimously!"
*"[Englin] is shocked that House Rs killed Gov's amendment to make sure domestic violence victims who are too poor to afford PO boxes can still vote."
*"[Englin] is glad the House approved the emergency clause Gov put on bill to [rein] in payday lenders so it will go into effect immediately."
*"[Englin] is glad nobody objected to Gov's line item veto to protect budget $$$ for public broadcasting. That means it holds without needed a vote."
*Ebbin: "Gov's proposal to restore $1 million for public broadcasting meets no objection and is accepted."
*"[Englin] voted to sustain veto of bill that will interfere with local gun buy-back programs. Once again, House overturned the veto. Rough day!"
*Ebbin: "(HB 2638)-another Death Penalty bill-veto overriden in House."
*Ebbin: "(HB 2358)-Death Penalty for accomplices of actual murderers-veto overriden in House."
*"[Englin] voted to uphold veto of bill to expand death penalty to people who didn't commit murder. House overturned. I think Senate will sustain it."
*Ebbin: "(HB1851)-unlimited firearms for nonresident military members (current resident military can buy unlimited)--veto overridden in House."
*"[Englin] is disappointed that the House just overrode the Governor's veto of the bill to exempt the military from Va's "one handgun per month" law."
*Ebbin: "Steve Shannon gave a heartfelt farewell speech and Ward Armstrong is giving a tribute to Steve now."
