RICHMOND, Va. — On Monday, Virginia’s Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin called on the Democratic-majority legislature to collaborate with him during the final year of his administration to reduce taxes and amend environmental policies.
With speculation mounting over his potential candidacy for the White House, Youngkin is eager to bolster his portfolio of achievements this year. However, this will necessitate cooperation from Democrats, who continue to hold narrow majorities in both legislative chambers. “The spirit of Virginia is soaring, and together we can achieve even more,” Youngkin stated during his State of the Commonwealth address at the Virginia Capitol, emphasizing the need for unity among all Virginians, regardless of party affiliation.
Youngkin had initially planned to deliver his speech on January 8, but lawmakers postponed the session’s start due to a water supply failure in Richmond, which resulted in a boil-water advisory after a treatment facility malfunction. It remains uncertain whether infrastructure issues will be addressed in this session, although Youngkin tasked Virginia’s Health Department to examine the outage before any legislative measures are proposed. “We need to wait to see what the investigation reveals, but I anticipate that there were operational and technical difficulties,” he commented, stressing the importance of gathering facts before acting.
In his address, Youngkin outlined several priorities for the General Assembly, including establishing a gaming commission, creating a disaster relief fund, and addressing the management of student cellphone usage in schools. Much of his speech revisited proposals from last month, such as offering tax relief for tips and vehicles to support middle- and lower-income families. He also urged lawmakers to reconsider the Virginia Clean Economy Act, which aims for zero-carbon emissions by 2050, citing the need to align with rising energy demands.
Majority Leader Scott Surovell, a leading Democrat in the state Senate, expressed skepticism regarding Youngkin’s call for repealing previously established laws that have bolstered economic growth and green energy initiatives. “I don’t understand why he targets laws that have helped foster a strong economy and job creation,” Surovell remarked.
Virginia House Speaker Don Scott agreed that the Commonwealth is making progress but disagreed with the Governor’s assertions regarding what has contributed to that success. “We’ve been able to push forward, even amid challenges posed by Republican ideologies,” Scott noted. He indicated a willingness to partner with Youngkin in his final year but expressed relief that a new administration would soon take over.
Both Youngkin and lawmakers are on the lookout for issues they can use in future campaigns, as voters will select his successor, along with a new lieutenant governor, attorney general, and all members of the House of Delegates later this year.
Despite Youngkin’s appeals for bipartisan efforts, Democrats have categorized some of his proposals as unacceptable. Notably, the suggestion to allocate $50 million for private school scholarships for lower-income families faced opposition. Democratic Senator L. Louise Lucas, chair of the finance committee, asserted that such a plan would not advance in the legislature. “The governor will not reallocate funds from public education to support private school vouchers,” she stated firmly.
