Despite the pleasantries, glad-handing, and back-slapping that marked the first day of Virginia’s General Assembly session Wednesday, a fight could already be brewing over the governor’s recently-unveiled (and re-tooled) plan to get the state out of the liquor business.

Democrats  are toying with the idea of introducing the Republican governor's plan in the Republican-controlled House of Delegates to pre-empt potential blame they'd suffer if, as McDonnell plans, that measuret goes first to the Democratic-led Senate and dies there, the Washington Post reports.

Democrats want to make it obvious to voters that Republicans also oppose the governor's plan to privatize liquor sales.

Sens. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg and John Watkins, R-Powhatan, will carry the bill in the upper chamber. The governor does reportedly have a sponsor ready in the House as well if it does come to that.

Legislators have until Jan. 21 to file bills.

McDonnell ran into trouble during his first push to privatize the state's liquor monopoly last year when Democrats — and some Republicans — voiced concern about a nearly $50 million hole the plan would blow in the state’s budget.

The new plan would privatize just  retail liquor sales — the state would still control wholesale sales — and generate at least $200 million in up-front money while increasing annual state revenue by $13.1 million.