"Our membership viewed that as a very political issue," said Dean A. Lynch, deputy executive director.

The association also has not taken a position on the budgets adopted by the House and proposed by Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who wants to expand Virginia's Medicaid program for at least two years to take advantage of billions of dollars in federal funding under the Affordable Care Act.

"I think there's some good stuff in both of them," Lynch said.

McAuliffe called for a special session to resolve the budget dispute instead of extending the regular legislative session beyond March 8, as House Republicans had sought. The Senate rejected the proposed 30-day extension in favor of a special session that began Monday, two weeks after the regular session adjourned.

On Monday, the Senate adjourned until April 7 to allow public comment on the budgets proposed by the House and governor. The Senate Finance Committee will meet Tuesday at 2 p.m. and receive public comment then.