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Senate Democrats kill Republican bills aimed at rolling back early vote access
Senate Democrats once again killed several bills on Tuesday that would reduce access to early voting in Virginia. While Republicans have started to embrace early voting in Virginia, they continue to try to roll back the policies enacted by Democrats in 2020.
Sen. Mark Peake (R-Lynchburg) introduced multiple bills before the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee that he acknowledged beforehand would likely fail to survive.
The first, SB 42, would have reduced the early voting time from 45 days to 21. He pointed out that Virginia will have 135 days of early voting this year, including the presidential primary, congressional primaries and the general election.
Senate Democrats kill bill that would charge fentanyl dealer with homicide if the user dies
Senate Democrats killed a bill Wednesday afternoon from Sens. Ryan McDougle (R-Hanover) and John McGuire (R-Goochland) that would have made it a felony murder charge for anyone who manufactures, sells, or distributes fentanyl or heroin to someone who dies from an overdose. Gov. Glenn Youngkin has prioritized this legislation during the current session.
All Democrats, except one, Russett Perry, a former Loudoun County prosecutor, voted against the bill.
On Wednesday, prior to the Senate Courts of Justice Committee killing the bill, Youngkin spoke about this legislation and why he supports it.
“Fentanyl is being used by drug dealers as an addictive step in the process, a horrible business of pulling in people, addicting them to horrific substances, and ruining their lives, and we've got to hold those people accountable," he said during a conversation with the press.
Democrats advance bills to raise teacher pay, lower counselor ratio and help with early education childcare costs
House Democrats are touting bills that advanced from the House Education Committee Wednesday morning in Richmond. Democrats hold a majority in the chamber and on the committee, but these bills received bipartisan support.
Del. Nadarius Clark (D-Suffolk) was able to advance a bill out of the committee that would raise teacher pay to or above the national average.
The legislation would require that funding be provided with the General Appropriation Act to allow for a three percent increase for Standards of Quality-funded instructional and support positions for the 2025–2026 school year — and a seven percent increase for those positions in the 2026–2027 school year.
“Here in Virginia, we expect our teachers to be counselors, parents, nurses, security and many more things,” Clark said Wednesday morning. “We do not compensate them fairly to do so. We cannot expect our teachers to perform at the highest level if they're worried about feeding their family and keeping the lights on.”
Gubernatorial candidates and potential candidates are fundraising for 2025
Candidates for governor are already fundraising for the 2025 cycle. Only Democrats have officially announced their candidacy, but Republicans are also working to pad the coffers ahead of a potential run.
While Democrats are fighting for some of the same donors, one Republican fundraised in multiple email blasts on the promise of helping 2023 legislative candidates only to give money to two candidates.
VPAP provided the following totals for fundraising. Unless specified otherwise, the amounts raised happened between Oct. 8 and Dec. 31.
There is a year and a half until the Democratic gubernatorial primary occurs. Still, both Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Henrico) and Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney are raising money with the hopes of earning the nomination to take on the Republican candidate — whoever that may be, in 2025.
Spanberger outraised Stoney by more than three times. A large chunk of her money, nearly one-third of it, was a transfer from her congressional account. However, Stoney transferred a slightly larger share of money raised from his own account.
In total, excluding in-kind donations, Spanberger raised $3,365,950 and Stoney raised $726,439.
McGuire missed a committee meeting and bill presentation while traveling in Iowa to campaign with Trump
State Sen. John McGuire (R-Goochland) missed a committee meeting Monday morning after attending campaign events in Iowa this weekend with former President Donald Trump. He is running a primary campaign against Rep. Bob Good (R-VA05) in Virginia’s fifth congressional district.
“It was a huge honor to speak with President Donald J. Trump ‘Big Don’ in Iowa and help his campaign to Save America,” McGuire posted on Facebook Sunday night with a picture of him and Trump. “Trump is going to win ‘bigly!’ The best thing for Virginia and the USA is to get Trump reelected and end these anti-American extremist Biden policies that are destroying our country.”
Republicans are meeting Monday night in Iowa for a caucus to choose their presidential nominee.
McGuire was not present to vote on legislation in the Local Government committee meeting Monday morning. He also missed the Courts of Justice committee meeting, where he is not a member, but two of his bills were on the docket. Both pieces of legislation were rescheduled for another day because he was not present to introduce them.
Richmond Del. Mike Jones (D) advanced a bill out of the House Subcommittee on Public Safety Thursday that would ban the sale, possession, and use of devices that convert guns from semi-automatic to automatic. The bill advanced with unanimous support as Republicans also voted in favor.
Law enforcement testified that without this law, people could "turn the most popular gun in America, the Glock 17, into a fully automatic" weapon. Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards was present at the meeting.
VCDL, the strongest advocates for gun rights, said they were neutral on the bill. Their leader, Philip Van Cleave, was present at the meeting and spoke out against several Democratic bills.
Polling on skill and gray games
The MOORE Information Group released a polling memo on Virginia's skill gaming policy proposals.
Statewide polling among registered voters finds that most voters would oppose legislation allowing “skill” or “gray” games in the commonwealth. Their concerns originate from their belief that the prevalence of these games will lead to increases in addicted gamblers, will prey on vulnerable community members, including lower-income and minority communities, and that we have enough gaming options already.
