ThinkProgress is reporting the following:
While the eyes of the nation were turned toward President Barack Obama’s second inauguration on Monday, the Virginia State Senate managed to hurriedly pass a bill that would redistrict the state’s senate seats.The bill will next go the Republican House where it will face little opposition.The vote, 20-19, would have been a tie had Democratic Senator Henry Marsh been present. Marsh, a civil rights leader, was in Washington, D.C., attending the inauguration. Had Marsh been present, however, the state’s Lieutenant Governor would likely have broken the tie. The bill was reportedly pushed through in a matter of hours.
According to Virginia politics blogger Ben Tribbett, the move could potentially eliminate at least one Democratic seat, the 25th district, which currently belongs to former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Sen. Creigh Deeds (D).
Blue Virginia further reports that, according to a Virginia political analyst, "If VA Republicans were smart enough not to touch the already cleared VRA districts, the plan will likely stand. Dems are toast."
The great Republican election rigging continues.