Senate Democrats are ready to return to budget negotiations next week, but don’t expect the likely next leader of the Senate’s money committee to bend on giving Petersburg voters a chance to approve a casino resort and blocking a second opportunity in Richmond.
Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, said Thursday that she remains opposed to allowing Petersburg to host a casino under the 2020 state law she helped adopt. Lucas “emphatically” favors giving Richmond voters a second chance on a proposed casino after they narrowly rejected it two years ago.
“There is no compromise for me on the casino in Petersburg,” said Lucas, who expects to become chair of the Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee in January.
