Virginia Budget Up for Final, Binding Vote

At last, Virginia's two-year state budget is up for a final, binding vote Tuesday with Democrats still complaining about transportation funding but not likely to block passage.

The House and Senate convene at 3 p.m., with easy passage expected in the heavily Republican House of Delegates.

The fight lies in the Senate, where Democrats unhappy with funding to allay sharp increases on northern Virginia's Dulles Toll Road hold 20 of the 40 seats.

If the Democrats unite against it, as they have twice this year, Republicans will lack the necessary tie-breaker to adopt the compromise reached last week by House and Senate negotiators.

One Democratic Senate negotiator, Sen. Chuck Colgan, signed the conference report that will be before the House and Senate for Tuesday's up-or-down, all-or-nothing vote.