Just a week after Gov. Kaine's Commission on Climate Change delivered recommendations for strong solutions, another panel is pushing to move Virginia forward:In the coming weeks, the Virginia Commission on Immigration will send Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) two dozen recommendations, most of which would help immigrants instead of penalizing them.As with the climate panel, it remains to be seen if House Republicans will allow the recommendations to even make it out of committee. Not exactly promising to hear hard-liners like Del. C. Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah) dismiss the entire bipartisan commission, saying, "It was pretty clear the fix was in from the beginning."Those on both sides of the issue say interest in immigration has waned because of the growing economic crisis, a clearer understanding of the state's limitations on a largely federal issue and backlash at the voting booth.
"I think some reality set in," said state Sen. John C. Watkins (R-Chesterfield), the group's chairman.