Democrats in the Virginia Senate made plain Wednesday that they will continue to pack General Assembly committees with their members in a percentage larger than their 21-19 majority.
The action frustrated parliamentarians and government observers who wanted proportional seating in the chamber. Senate Democratic leaders improved a drastically overrepresented divide on several committees by moving closer to fairness.
Republican Sen. David Suetterlein said matters are improved, “But it’s still not right.” The legislature works mostly in committees, and unbalanced sitting can damage minority and moderate voices who may disagree with the party line.
Despite the 22-18 majority, certain committees last year were 12 Democrats to 3 Republicans or 11 Democrats to 5 Republicans. This year, Democrats hold 21 of 40 seats and GOP Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears breaks ties, meaning divides are generally 9-6 or 10-5, closer to 8-7.
Senate Democratic Leader Scott Surovell called the committee amendments “something for the good of the body” on the floor. Former Republican delegate Chris Saxman, executive director of Virginia FREE, a pro-business group that urged the Senate to alter, praised “progress.” “But let's be honest—it's unfair. They know, he said.
On all committees but one, Virginia's House of Delegates seats members in proportion to their party affiliation, a practice leaders of both parties claim has worked effectively.
The Associated Press asked all potential parliamentary leaders to respond before the November elections, before party control of the chambers was determined. Both parties' senators recognized benefit in proportionality or damage from its absence, but none would commit to it.
We receive what we sow. GOP Sen. Bill Stanley remarked on the floor that it has evolved that way regardless of who was in control. Wednesday began this year's 60-day period. Democrats barely control both General Assembly chambers after flipping the House in November.