A service of Salisbury University and University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

McAuliffe Sets Record Number of Vetoes for Virginia Governor

Governor Terry McAuliffe (D-Va)
governor's office
Governor Terry McAuliffe (D-Va)

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe has vetoed 32 bills this year, the most of any governor since 1998.

The Washington Post reports that McAuliffe, a Democrat, said he's fulfilling a promise to block restrictions to abortion, gay rights, and other liberal priorities. 

Republicans said McAuliffe's high number of vetoes shows that he and his staff are disengaged from the legislative process. Republicans control both chambers of the General Assembly.

Lawmakers are set to return to the Capitol later this month to consider McAuliffe's vetoes and amendments. With a nearly evenly split Senate, it's unlikely that Republicans can muster a two-thirds majority in both chambers required to undo a governor's veto.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.