General Assembly Democrats say Gov. Bob McDonnell is focusing more on his national debut than fixing the state budget.

Only hours before delivering the Republican response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address, McDonnell was pelted by Sen. A. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico, for what he termed a failure to meet the “standards of leadership.“

The dispute started when Sen. Robert Hurt, R-Pittsylvania, a candidate for Congress in Southside’s 5th District, praised McDonnell for a jobs program that, among other things, could help Hurt’s battered region.

Hurt, running in a crowded field for the GOP nomination, likened McDonnell’s policies to those of the late President Ronald Reagan, a proponent of low taxes and reduced regulation.

They are essential to jumpstarting the economy, argued Hurt, adding, “I believe that is truly the only way we’ll do it.“

That prompted McEachin, D-Henrico, to scold McDonnell.

McEachin complained that McDonnell is keeping most legislators in the dark on ways to erase a $4.2 billion shortfall, choosing to speak only with members of the General Assembly money committees.

“I’d like to see those cuts before I praise that [jobs-creation] plan,“ said McEachin.

McEachin went on to say McDonnell has somehow managed to master national issues in time for his response Obama’s State of the Union address, but claims he’s still trying to get his arms around the Virginia budget.

McEachin said McDonnell, except for discussions with a few legislative leaders, isn’t telling lawmakers what spending he would cut to erase Virginia’s $4.2 billion shortfall.

McDonnell and Republicans also drew fire from presumed friends: The anti-tax group Americans for Prosperity suggested that higher fees to balance the budget are akin to reneging on a no-tax pledge.

Countering the simultaneous attacks, the administration said details on budget-balancing are forthcoming and that McDonnell wants fee increases to be tailored to specific services.

Press secretary Stacey A. Johnson said McDonnell believes fees can help recover the cost of services, but he “has great concerns regarding the ones that don’t have a clear nexus.“

Ben Marchi, AFP state director, said in a letter to lawmakers, “To taxpayers, whether you call it a fee or a tax, it means money paid to the government that can’t be spent on our own lives.“

McEachin dismissed McDonnell’s claim that having been in office less than two weeks, he has not fully mastered the budget — even though he will take on Obama on global security and the federal deficit.

Defending McDonnell, Sen. William C. Wampler Jr. of Bristol, the No. 1 Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, said the governor’s efforts to identify savings are ongoing.

McEachin’s broadside recalled the state GOP’s attack on then-Gov. Timothy M. Kaine when he gave the Democratic rebuttal to President George W. Bush’s State of the Union address in 2006.

Kate Obenshain Griffin, then head of the Republican Party of Virginia, accused Kaine of trumpeting “failed liberal ideologies” and going back on a promise of bipartisanship.

Jeff E. Schapiro writes for the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Staff writers Olympia Meola and Jim Nolan contributed to this report