BY OLYMPIA MEOLA

Days before the legislature’s money committees present their proposed budgets, sniping has started between Gov. Bob McDonnell and Senate Democrats.

McDonnell sent a letter earlier this week to Sens. Richard L. Saslaw, D-Fairfax, and A. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico, pressing them for specific ideas for a budget that they will support.

He says he’s previously asked for budget ideas and that “with few exceptions I have had little feedback.”

“Thus I ask you again in writing with a renewed sense of commitment what your specific ideas are to prepare a Senate budget that you will support,” he said.

“I trust that certain comments made by some members that your caucus will not approve any budget for partisan reasons is not reflective of the statesmanship normally seen in your caucus.”

Saslaw and McEachin shot back, saying “Immediately after the election, when we could have and should have been coming together, you and the rest of your party engaged in harsh partisan rhetoric.”

“Therefore, I find your concerns about partisanship to be rather ironic,” they wrote. “Further, your release of your letter without waiting even reasonable time for a response smacks of gamesmanship and not of an effort to resolve our differences.”

McDonnell and the Democrats released their letter to reporters.

November’s elections resulted in an evenly divided chamber and unlike some legislation, Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling can’t break a tie vote on the budget.

Democrats closed their letter by stating “Our caucus stands ready to work together with you and our Republican colleagues in the General Assembly to craft a budget, in a bipartisan manner, that actually meets the needs to Virginia families in the twenty-first century.”