Day One: Fallout, analysis and video

There was an awful lot of heat but very little light during Monday's session.

Briefly, here's the lay of the land as both sides explain it to me. Democratic Gov. Timothy M. Kaine wants legislators to do something to address an endemic shortage of road and rail funding made worse by the slowing economy.

But he's having trouble getting backing for his plan, which calls for various fees and taxes to be hiked statewide and in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. He's at sea with his own caucus in the Senate, though, and can't find a sponsor to carry his plan through the legislative process.

Senate Democrats want a gas tax or some other kind of levy. House and Senate Republicans don't want to raise taxes of any kind, and are somewhat resentful of the fact that they've been brought back to Richmond with no specific plan of action to deal with. They think Kaine is just angling for a way to paint Republicans as "do nothings" to pave the way for Democrats to take over the House in 2009.

It's a lot of posturing, according to Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Woodstock. (Yes, I know the video is a touch askew, but I'm my own camera guy and this is free video. Plus, you didn't have to drive to Richmond to see it. So don't complain.)

Del. Clay Athey, R-Front Royal, assess the situation, despite being victimized by poor camera work.

Here's Kaine's speech to a joint session today.




Here's the Republican response, featuring Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel, R-Upperville.