Virginia's GOP-controlled state Senate hasn't begun to consider a new two-year budget following a standoff between House and Senate Republicans over health care, but senators are occupying their time in other ways before and after they return to Richmond to address the budget May 14.
They're on an annual fundraising blitz.
The General Assembly failed to complete a new budget during the regular session earlier this year. The House of Delegates came back in special session on April 17 to pass a new budget. Senate Republicans, in disagreement with House Republicans' plan to expand Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act, did not.
However, several Republican senators, including Finance Committee Co-Chairman Emmett Hanger of Augusta County, have since said they're ready to expand health care coverage in the new budget.
The Virginia Senate's return to address the budget on May 14 will be nearly a month after the House passed its version. As of now, the Senate hasn't put the House budget bill in committee.
The General Assembly's budget deadline is June 30. Local governments and school boards are waiting to find out what kind of funding they'll receive.
The cost of the special session so far is $68,679.18, according to the House and Senate clerks.
Jeff Ryer, a political aide to Senate Republican Majority Leader Tommy Norment, R-James City, and a spokesman for the Senate Republican Caucus, said it is accepted practice for lawmakers to be raising money, even with a new budget in limbo. As in previous years when budget negotiations lasted beyond the regular session, localities should assume the lowest amount of what's been proposed and budget accordingly, Ryer said.
"When we’re not in regular session, members of the General Assembly and the governor and everybody else raises money," Ryer said.
State law forbids lawmakers, the governor, the attorney general and lieutenant governor from raising money while the General Assembly is in regular session, but allows them to raise money in special session.
A government integrity commission formed by then-Gov. Terry McAuliffe recommended in 2015 that fundraising during special sessions should be forbidden. Unsuccessful GOP gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie also called for it to end as part of a broader campaign-finance reform package. But the legislature has declined to act on the recommendation.
Democrats swept statewide offices and gained 15 seats in the state House last year and will be gunning for Republican senators in 2019, especially those who represents districts in which Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam did well.
Among the fundraisers about to happen, according to the Virginia Senate Republican Caucus website:
Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin County, will host a two-day fundraiser starting Sunday at the Primland Resort in Patrick County. Norment will host his 26th annual golf tournament and clambake Thursday in Williamsburg, with a chance to win a new car with a hole-in-one.
Sen. Dick Black, R-Loudoun, hosts an old-fashioned, family friendly barbecue in Ashburn on May 5 and three days later Sen. Glen Sturtevant, R-Richmond, will host a happy hour at Circuit Arcade Bar in the hip Scott's Addition neighborhood.
Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Rockingham, hosts his annual "Oysters with Obenshain" fundraiser on May 10 at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds.
Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant, R-Henrico, hosts a "Clays at the Cavalier" fundraiser May 16 at a rifle and pistol club in Montpelier; check-in and shooting start at 4 p.m., dinner is at 5:30.
Later in May, Sen. Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, hosts a wine tasting fundraiser and Norment and Sen. Richard Stuart, R-Stafford, team up for Norment's 7th annual rockfishing invitational at a marina on the Northern Neck.
Democrats are holding fundraisers too; Sen. Lionell Spruill, D-Chesapeake, held a pancake breakfast on April 21, for example. But the Republicans control the Senate 21-19 and have full control over how and when a budget is approved.
At least one Republican senator rescheduled a fundraiser because the budget process hasn't been completed. Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield, said she has delayed a happy hour fundraiser at a Richmond lobbying firm that was slated for May 10.
Although raising money is necessary for lawmakers and doing so during special session isn't illegal, she said she'd rather wait.
"For me, personally, I just chose on my own to reschedule and wait until after we pass a budget," she said. "Because I am in the public eye and I know people are looking at what I’m doing."
After Senate Republicans announced they would return May 14, House Speaker Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights, issued a strongly worded news release lamenting the delay.
"I’m disappointed it’s taking this long to do something that could have been done nearly a month earlier. The House sent a budget to the Senate on April 17th and the Senate had an opportunity to act when we were here for the reconvened session," Cox said in the statement.
Parker Slaybaugh, a spokesman for House Republicans, had no comment on the Senate fundraising activity.