Senate Democratic and Republican negotiators have reached a tentative deal on a new map for Senate legislative districts.
Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel, R-Fauquier County, one of the negotiators,cautioned that the deal still could blow up and that Senate Democratic and Republican caucuses are being briefed this afternoon. A meeting of the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee has tentatively been scheduled for Thursday morning and the full Senate could vote as early as Thursday.
Under the deal, the proposed new Democratic-leaning district in the Richmond area would be eliminated, according to Sen. John Watkins, R-Powhatan. Republicans would lose one of two senators in Virginia Beach and new districts would be created in Loudoun County and east of Lynchburg.
This has been a breaking news update.
Gov. Bob McDonnell met with the four Democratic negotiators this morning to thank them for their willingness to make changes to their plan, but whether that moved the process along was unclear.
“We are still working on a plan,” Sen. A. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico, said. But asked whether there would be a deal by 5 pm., McEachin said “I don’t know.”
Senate Democratic and Republican negotiators are searching for a compromise package to redraw new Senate district lines.
"We're making progress, but it's tough," said Sen. John Watkins, R-Powhatan, one of three Republican negotiators.
Asked whether there would be a deal before the scheduled 5 p.m. session today, Watkins said "I don't want to get my hopes up."
Gov. Bob McDonnell has vetoed one plan, primarily because he didn't like the Senate plan. Seven senators have been meeting informally since Monday to try to craft a more suitable plan.
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