Virginia-Republicans skip Kaine chat (all 5 Republican Congressmen) *nice!*

[underpants]

http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/state_regional/state_regional_govtpolitics/article/KAIN10_20090209-221609/202353/

What if Virginia's governor held his annual meeting of the state's congressional delegation and only the Democrats showed up? (nice editorializing from our hometown rag :eyes: )

That's what happened yesterday at the Executive Mansion on Capitol Square. None of Virginia's five Republicans in the House of Representatives came to Richmond to chat with Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, who used the meeting to discuss the economy and what the stimulus package will mean for the state.

The room wasn't entirely without Republicans -- Attorney General Bob McDonnell attended, as did the deputy who soon will succeed him, William C. Mims.

While some GOP representatives were elsewhere -- Rep. Eric I. Cantor, R-7th, was to return last night from a fact-finding mission to Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait -- Kaine said it was "highly unusual" that the congressmen did not send staff to monitor the discussion.

The meeting drew eight of the nine Democrats in Virginia's congressional delegation, including both U.S. senators. Rep. Rick Boucher, D-9th, could not attend but said in a letter that he had spoken with Kaine at length on Sunday.

Sen. Jim Webb called the no-shows "very regrettable," and Democratic Sen. Mark R. Warner said he was "surprised and disappointed" that Republicans were not at the table.

An aide to Rep. J. Randy Forbes, R-4th, said Kaine initially set the meeting for Jan. 13 and then changed the date on short notice. Forbes also said during a phone interview that Kaine had not pitched the meeting as a discussion of the stimulus.

Mary Springer, chief of staff for Rep. Robert J. Wittman, R-1st, said the rescheduled meeting posed a conflict for Wittman, who could not attend because he had 11 meetings with constituents yesterday in the Fredericksburg area. (Fredericksburg is an hour from Richmond :eyes: )

[abluelady]

1. And We're Supposed to Reach Across the Aisle?

I don't think so. I hope things like this make it to national news, rather than just staying in Richmond.