From the Washington Post:

– Three weeks before the General Assembly returns for a special session on transportation, many legislators say they have little or no hope of reaching an accord on how to fund road and transit projects.

The funding impasse stems from stark, philosophical rifts between the House and Senate, between Republicans and Democrats and within chambers and parties. The issue also divides regions.

Even legislators who would like to cut a deal wonder how they can overcome such steep challenges when they convene in Richmond on June 23 for the session called by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D).

“I haven’t heard much consensus. Everybody’s got a different view,” Sen. John C. Watkins (R-Chesterfield) said. “I don’t think anyone has put something out there that solves the problem.”

Even Kaine acknowledged the General Assembly could leave empty-handed. “I don’t know whether we will get a solution or not,” he said.

Legislators have engaged in one-on-one discussions in person and by telephone since March, but leaders of the Republican-controlled House of Delegates and Democrat-controlled Senate say there has been no movement toward compromise.

Del. David B. Albo (R-Fairfax), who has sought for weeks to broker a deal, called the chance of reaching an agreement “extraordinarily bleak.”

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