For the first time this session, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine is about to sit down with budget negotiators from the House of Delegates and the Senate.
The state budget hole has been and will be the dominant story of the session and these folks are going to be the power players when all the bad news starts trickling out - so it's important to note the first sitdown. The House named negotiators on Monday and it is a familiar cast.
House conferees are Republicans Kirk Cox, Beverly Sherwood, Clarke Hogan and Phil Hamilton, Democrat Johnny Joannou of Portsmouth, and independent Lacey Putney.
The Senate hasn't officially named their folks yet - but the cast is likely to include Democrats Charles Colgan, Richard Saslaw, Janet Howell - we'll let you know who shows up.
According to the folks we're talking to this is going to be a simple - "meet and greet - good luck - tough times - lead Virginia forward meeting." But hey who knows - tempers can flare.
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