Lawmakers in Richmond are back at work this week, despite the swirling controversy surrounding Governor Ralph Northam.
Lawmakers were behind closed doors for hours Monday morning, emerging grim faced and determined to get back to the business of making laws.
Delegate Lamont Bagby is a member of the Legislative Black Caucus who says he’s already called for the governor to resign.
“I have removed all clouds. I’m only thinking about this right now.”
“But this is weighing on everybody, isn’t it? I mean you can see it on people’s faces.”
“Yes, but this is an opportunity for us to get back to the people’s business.”
Other lawmakers were not as circumspect. Here’s Delegate Lee Carter of Prince William.
“None of the ways that I envisioned this session going included a sitting governor holding a press conference to deny that he was in that specific blackface photo and that he knew it because he was in blackface so many other times and by the way here’s some tips on how to put shoe polish on your face and do you want to see me moonwalk?”
Even without all the drama surrounding the governor, this week was already going to be intense and stressful. Tuesday is the final deadline to have any bill moved through at least one house of the legislature. That means the House and Senate will be considering hundreds of bills, all while a cloud is hanging over the General Assembly.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
