State lawmakers are not all feeling the love this Valentine's Day following a long day of voting and debate as they try to meet a key deadline.
The day started with a protest of sorts from Virginia Organizing, a left-leaning advocacy group. Volunteers distributed empty chocolate boxes to members of the General Assembly along with notes that read, "Disappointed? So are we."
"They symbolize the broken hearts of Virginia voters who have been concerned the General Assembly's been dealing with non-issues rather than real issues," volunteer Jay Johnson said.
Besides empty boxes of chocolate, members of the General Assembly are exchanging some Valentine's Day gifts of their own: more than 200 pieces of legislation.
Tuesday, lawmakers in both the House and Senate finished voting on everything in their respective chambers, before sending it on to the other side Wednesday.
The most contentious bills dealt with abortion. One bill defines life as beginning at conception. Another requires women seeking an abortion first get an ultrasound. On the House floor, Republican Delegate Todd Gilbert said the vast majority of abortions are done for lifestyle convenience.
Democratic Delegate Jennifer McClellan responded, saying, "I think he just showed a great insensitivity to very difficult decisions that women have to make."
Late Tuesday, Delegate Gilbert issued a statement saying he regretted the comments he made on abortion.
Republicans say even though social issues get the most debate time, they're focused on jobs.
"That's the most important issue of the folks that contact me," Delegate Steve Landes said. "They want to make sure we have good job opportunities and a strong education system."
Delegate Landes' bill that provides tax credits to the farming and forestry industries so they'll hirer more workers passed unanimously, proving between Democrats and Republicans, there's still some love left to go around.
