Democrats in the Virginia state Senate have halted one bill that would pave the way for the $2 billion proposed arena in Alexandria to be built after backlash to comments Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) made at a convention over the weekend.

State Senate Finance Committee Chairwoman Louise Lucas announced on Saturday that the chamber’s bill would not be placed on the committee’s agenda for its meeting on Monday, saying it was “not ready for prime time” and bashed Youngkin for not having respect for the legislature.

Governor’s Arena Bill is not on the Senate Finance and Appropriations docket because his proposal is not ready for prime time. This is what happens when Executive Branch doesn’t operate in good faith and doesn’t have respect for the Legislative Branch.

— L. Louise Lucas (@SenLouiseLucas) February 10, 2024

“Governor’s Arena Bill is not on the Senate Finance and Appropriations docket because his proposal is not ready for prime time. This is what happens when Executive Branch doesn’t operate in good faith and doesn’t have respect for the Legislative Branch,” Lucas posted on X on Saturday.

In a subsequent post on Saturday, Lucas further accused Youngkin of negotiating in bad faith by responding to a clip of a speech he made at the Washington and Lee University Mock Convention earlier that day.

“This is the speech he gives while wanting us to compromise with him and give him the Glenn Dome?!?!” Lucas posted on X.

Youngkin, a Republican, argued against the Democratic Party in the clip, saying they do not want a “strong America.”

“Today’s progressive Democratic Party does not believe in, nor do they want, a strong America, an America with no rivals. They are content to concede, to compromise away, to abandon the very foundations that have made America exceptional,” Youngkin said.

The $2 billion plan announced in December calls for a new arena, a 6,000-seat performing arts center, a practice facility for the Wizards, restaurants, hotels, and housing, and would be built in the Potomac Yard neighborhood of Alexandria. It would be a public-private partnership project, which Youngkin claimed would be good for taxpayers in the commonwealth, with “no upfront investment.”

The shots by Democratic leadership in the state Senate come after threats to tank Youngkin’s agenda if certain bills, such as a gun control measure, are not signed into law by the governor.

Senate Republicans cried foul over Lucas’s decision, calling it a departure from the tradition of the chamber to discuss legislation publicly.

“The unilateral decision to pocket veto a piece of legislation does not align with the Senate’s tradition of giving every bill a fair hearing,” state Senate Republican leader Ryan McDougle said in a statement on Monday.

“The only plausible explanation for this move is that there were not enough votes in the Finance Committee to defeat the bill,” Republican state Sen. Mark Obenshain said in a statement. “This departure from the traditions of the Senate is unfortunate and clearly indicates a deep division among Senate Dems.”

While the Senate bill is stalled, a separate proposal, which would create a sports authority for managing and raising funds for the arena, is currently being considered in the House of Delegates. The bill could be passed before the Tuesday crossover deadline, when the chamber must complete its work on bills that originate in that chamber. If that bill does not pass, the arena proposal could still move forward through the closed-door budget process.

Despite the turbulence, the governor’s office says they are still confident the legislature will push forward the project.

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“The Governor is confident at the end of the day that the General Assembly will come together because this project is good for the entire Commonwealth,” Rob Damschen, communications director for the governor, said in a statement to the Washington Examiner.

“It creates 30,000 jobs and unlocks billions in new revenue that can be used to fund expanded toll relief in Portsmouth, increased funding for I-81, and new money for education for rural and urban school divisions across the Commonwealth,” he added.