Stephen Farnsworth at the University of Mary Washington says a governor’s first budget is particularly important. "If a governor is able to get a lot of what he wants in the budget – that will create an environment where maybe he will be more successful," Farnsworth says. "If a governor gets basically rolled by the opposition party or by the legislature, that's a sign that perhaps the governor isn't quite ready for primetime."

State lawmakers could finally vote on a budget proposal next week (WVTF)