House Democrats Want Regular Talks With Republicans

After three weeks of partisan bickering, House Democrats are asking House Republicans for weekly joint meetings between leaders of both parties.

A letter signed by House Minority Leader Ward L. Armstrong (D-Henry) and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria) was sent to Republican leaders today.

"In the spirit of bipartisanship, we are asking our Republican colleagues to begin a dialogue that will help foster better relations between our two caucuses," Armstrong said. "These meetings will help end the partisan bickering and allow us to do the business of the people of the Commonwealth."

"We hope that the House Republican leadership will join us next week for a bipartisan dialogue to begin to put our differences aside working towards improving the lives of middle class Virginians," Moran said.

House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem) said Tuesday that he had not yet seen the letter but that he did not know why the Democrats had to ask formally. He said he and Armstrong talked Tuesday morning about one issue in particular - animal fighting - and that Armstrong could have stayed to talk about other topics but he didn't.

"I'm always happy to talk,'' Griffith said.