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VA Republicans Claim Control Over House, So Which Conservative Legislation Would Be Presented First?

Updated: Thu 7:27 AM, Nov 10, 2011

If the republicans claim the advantage in the Senate, conservative legislation has a better chance of passing than it has in recent years.

They may start by trying to pass regulations on abortion.
Virginia republicans have not had full control over the state senate in fifteen years.

And now that they appear to have taken control, will they go for tighter restrictions on abortion?

Political Analyst Bob Roberts says it's a balancing act.
"The danger republicans face pushing a too radical agenda, comes at a time when you don't want your opposition to be mobilized."

Republicans have tried and mostly failed in recent General Assembly sessions to add abortion regulations, because they couldn't get through the senate.

But Roberts says even some of their own may not support it.
"Their are a number of moderate republican senators who might not vote for it so the fact that it even gets to the floor is going to be interesting for hanger and a few.

Roberts is talking about senator Emmett Hanger from the Valley.

So we spoke to Hanger about the potential for an abortion vote.
Hanger says, "That's been a sticking point for a lot of people with a social agenda for a long time that wanted to restrict abortion rights, that are opposed to abortion that are pro life and I count myself in that camp."

But hanger says republicans want to be responsible in the legislation they put into motion because it could affect the 2012 Presidential election.

Hanger says, "If our agenda is conservative and we want to enact conservative policies fiscally and socially then we have to do it in a reasonable manner."

Roberts says, "Unless the democrats can persuade some republican senators to go with them, the governor can get what he wants."

Other issues that will be on the table now will include guns being allowed on college campuses, state employees possibly paying into their own pensions, and will the Governor prevent state tuition from rising?

We'll have to watch and see.


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