Governor Bob McDonnell has abandoned his plans to hold a special session of the General Assembly to privatize the Alcohol Beverage Commission. In a statement, the governor acknowledged that legislators don’t support the plan, but believes that they will come to by the time that January’s regular session rolls around. He’s pledged to introduce a bill (or, rather, have a member of the legislature introduce a bill on his behalf) that will privatize the ABC on the first day of the session.

Governor McDonnell is getting serious about a convening special session of the legislature, Rosalind Helderman writes in The Washington Post. The purpose of the fall session would be to consider his proposal to privatize the Alcohol Beverage Commission, and potentially some other proposals to modify state government. He’s reluctant to call a session without putting forward specific proposals, and without first making sure that there exist the votes in the House and the Senate to get those proposals passed, and that’s the source of the uncertainty as to whether there will be a special session. If there is one, of course, it’ll be covered here on Richmond Sunlight.

The legislature will convene for its annual session on January 12.