Va. Sen. Charles Colgan: Silver Line project doesn't outweigh other budget priorities Colgan (D-Prince William) signed off on the compromise Friday even though it meant bucking his own party and providing hundreds of millions of dollars less for one of the nation's largest public infrastructure projects. "I put a lot of work into the budget - hours and hours, late nights," he said. We can't just be concerned about Dulles. You can't worry about this project and not the rest of the budget. Most House and Senate budget negotiators agreed to the two-year, $85 billion spending plan, paving the way for an April 17 vote by all 140 members of the General Assembly. Colgan stopped short of saying whether he will vote for the budget, which would almost certainly ensure its passage, but said he was pleased with the compromise. "It's not a guarantee," he said. I'll make up my mind in another two weeks. The proposal pumps tens of millions more into local governments, public schools, hospitals and nursing homes than what Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) recommended in December. State employees, college faculty and some local workers would get a one-time 3 percent bonus in December and a 2 percent raise - their first since 2007 - in 2013 if revenues remain at projected levels. The plan also provides funding for a half-dozen Northern Virginia projects that Colgan wanted, including $2 million for a performing arts center at George Mason University, $800,000 for a community college building in Loudoun County and $400,000 for a program that helps people with disabilities. November's election left the Senate evenly divided, but Republicans took control because Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R) breaks tie votes. Bolling, however, can't vote on the budget. Senate Democrats had voted down two budgets and threatened to kill a third after Republicans rebuffed their request for increased spending in certain areas and more power on committees. But in recent weeks, as the General Assembly kicked off a special session on the budget, Republicans agreed to fund more Democratic priorities and Democrats agreed to divorce the budget process from their demand for more power in the chamber. "It's a pretty tough budget to vote against," said House Majority Leader M. Kirkland Cox (R-Colonial Heights). I would be surprised if it didn't pass. Still, Democrats held out hope that Colgan will reject the plan. "There ain't a deal," said Senate Minority Leader Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax). I don't see Chuck breaking with our caucus. Colgan, a former World War II pilot and the longest-serving state senator in Virginia history, had decided before each of his past three elections that he was going to retire, but he was persuaded to run again by Democratic leaders, including former governor Timothy M. Kaine and Sen. Mark R. Warner.