Lawmakers reconvene in Richmond as Governor Youngkin outlines budget proposals
He’s in his final year, and you can bet the gubernatorial race is heating up. Youngkin painted a pretty rosy picture of Virginia, saying it’s booming with jobs and investments. He’s all about that growth vibe, claiming, “Virginia is winning. Virginia is competing.”
After his speech, he told reporters he wants the General Assembly to keep pushing what’s working. He’s got some big budget ideas, including tax relief, and he’s eyeing a $1.2 billion surplus to tackle the vehicle tax, which he calls the most hated tax.
But the Democrats aren’t exactly jumping for joy. House Speaker Don Scott from Portsmouth is skeptical, saying they’ll look at it but aren’t too hopeful. Youngkin needs their support since they control both the House and Senate.
Last year was rough for Democrats, with many of their bills getting vetoed. Youngkin wasn’t on board with their priorities, like setting up a marijuana marketplace, and he’s still not. He’s pushing for common ground, but it’s a tough sell.
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell isn’t convinced Youngkin will budge, especially after he criticized the Virginia Clean Economy Act. It’s hard to find common ground when the Governor trashes their priorities.
There’s already chatter about his proposal for $5,000 scholarships for low-income students, which some aren’t thrilled about. Sen. Stella Pekarsky, a former Fairfax County Public Schools chair, isn’t keen on taking money from public schools for private ones.
On the bright side, there are some bills that might get bipartisan support, especially around mental health and the fentanyl crisis. Youngkin also got some nods from Democrats when he suggested having one gaming commission to oversee all gaming regulations in Virginia.
