The 2009 session of the General Assembly opened with Republicans heeding the cry for open government and allowing recorded votes in sub-committee. They still allow sub-committees to kill legislation without full committee votes, but at least now we can identify anti-worker legislators in sub-committee by their recorded votes.

The 2009 session began with the budget and ended being all about stimulus money and unemployment benefits. The federal stimulus package included 125 million additional dollars for Virginia’s 300,000 unemployed workers. To be elligible Virginia had to improve their unemployment benefits. The Governor submitted an amendment to SB 1495 to include part time workers and extend benefits to unemployed workers in training programs. Succumbing to pressure from the business community, all Republicans except two voted to refuse the money. Their reasoning was that UI taxes would increase an additional $4.50 per employee per year for employers beginning in 2011. They ignored the fact that 125 million dollars would have paid for the additional benefits until 2018.

Republicans also labor baited Democrats with two resolutions designed to put Virginia’s Right to Work Law in the state constitution. Democrats didn’t take the bait and voted against the resolution in the House HJ640 and killed it in the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee SJ347.

Once again, Republicans blocked all progressive legislation designed to help workers and reaffirmed their policies and principal that business interests trump the interest of Virginia’s working men and women. Please review the following record when it comes time to make recommendations to your members at election time.

Click above to view the 2009 State Senate voting record.

Click above to view the 2009 General Assembly  House of Delegates voting record.