Del Rio's dustup may have ended the Commander's incentive chances this year
This is not a sports story.
This is a daily newsletter covering Virginia politics from top to bottom. Please consider becoming the ultimate political insider by supporting non-partisan, independent news and becoming a paid subscriber to this newsletter today.
Executive Schedule
8:30 AM: GOVERNOR GLENN YOUNGKIN DELIVERS REMARKS AT THE FRANKLIN-SOUTHAMPTON AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BREAKFAST
11:00 AM: GOVERNOR DELIVERS REMARKS AT THE GREATER NORFOLK CORPORATION
2:00 PM: GOVERNOR TOURS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF THE KING’S DAUGHTERS, PEDIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY
5:00 PM: GOVERNOR MEETS WITH BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS
Today’s newsletter is free. If you enjoy this content, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to stay in the loop all year.
Closer to a finalized budget
Governor Glenn Youngkin officially received the budget from the General Assemby on Thursday giving him seven days to offer amendments and vetoes before sending it back to the legislators again.
The Governor has until 11:59 on 6/16 to send back amendments to the Budget. The earliest the GA could take them up would be Friday 6/17. He also can veto line items or the whole bill if we reject any of his amendments. The authority to spend appropriated $$ expires at 12:00am 7/1 https://t.co/n85iLAm3OQ
Governor Youngkin officially received the budget today. His office says he will be offering his amendments and vetoes during the constitutionally designated seven-day period
Brandon Jarvis @Jaaavis
The Commanders seemed doomed - and not on the field this time
Yesterday, the Washington Commerders’ defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio made comments on Jan. 6 and George Floyd protests that received swift backlash.
“I can look at images on the TV - people’s livelihoods are being destroyed. Businesses are being burned down. No problem,” Del Rio said Wednesday. “And then we have a dust-up at the Capitol - nothing burned down, and we’re going to make that a major deal. I just think it’s kind of two standards, and if we apply the same standard and we’re going to be reasonable with each other, let’s have a discussion. That’s all it was. Let’s have a discussion. We’re Americans.”
The backlash was swift from Virginia legislators as they have been considering different legislation to bring the Commanders to Virginia.
Del Rio eventually apologized later in the day on Wednesday. "I made comments earlier today in referencing the attack that took place on the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021. Referencing that situation as a dust-up was irresponsible and negligent and I am sorry," Del Rio said in a statement. "I stand by my comments condemning violence in communities across the country. I say that while also expressing my support as an American citizen for peaceful protest in our country. I have fully supported all peaceful protests in America."
In a comment to Inside Nova, Sen. McPike said this will kill any type of incentive package for the Commanders to come here. “I think any sort of incentive package is absolutely dead … It’s a different conversation if they’re going to try to buy land and build it by themselves without state support, that’s a different deal. But I don’t think you’re going to see anything coming out of the legislature,” McPike said. “I think if anybody had any inclinations to still vote for it, I think that just died out.”
Youngkin ceremonially signs legislation aimed at combatting human trafficking
Governor Glenn Youngkin ceremonially signed seven bills Wednesday that enact legislation to combat human trafficking in Virginia. A group of bipartisan legislators was present for the event in Richmond.
“Today’s first Human Trafficking Commission meeting and the signing of these bills are important milestones in the Commonwealth’s mission to combat human trafficking in Virginia,” Youngkin said. “We gathered together today as a demonstration of the continued collaboration and commitment from this Administration, the Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General, the General Assembly, localities and Virginians to eradicate human trafficking in Virginia. We know that what we will do here will have a ripple effect on trafficking across the nation.”
The governor signed the following bills:
HB 258, patroned by Del. Shelly Simonds, D-Newport News, directs the Department of Criminal Justice Services, under the direction of the Criminal Justice Services Board, to develop an online course to train hotel proprietors and their employees, as defined in the bill, to recognize and report instances of suspected human trafficking. The bill provides that such online courses shall be provided at no cost to the hotel proprietors and their employees. The bill requires that every hotel proprietor require its qualified employees to complete such human trafficking training course developed by the Department or an alternative online or in-person training course approved by the Department within six months of being employed by a hotel and thereafter at least once every two years, for as long as the employee is employed by the hotel. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2023.
HB 283, patroned by Del. Emily Brewer, R-Isle of Wight, and SB 467, patroned by Sen. Jill Vogel, R-Fauquier, requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to establish training standards for law-enforcement personnel regarding the recognition, prevention, and reporting of human trafficking.
HB 526, patroned by Del. Amanda Batten, R-James City County, provides that a non-Virginia student, who is currently present in the Commonwealth as a result of being a victim of human trafficking, as defined in the bill, is eligible for in-state tuition. The bill provides that a person may be a victim of human trafficking regardless of whether any person has been charged with or convicted of any offense and that eligibility for in-state tuition may be proved by a certification of such status as a victim of human trafficking by a federal, state, or local agency or not-for-profit agency, one of whose primary missions is to provide services to victims of human trafficking. The bill also requires public institutions of higher education to automatically record such a student as opting out of making any directory or educational information available to the public unless the student voluntarily and affirmatively chooses to opt in to allowing such directory or educational information to be made available.
HB 711, patroned by Del. Mark Keam, D-Fairfax County, provides that a petitioner for a writ of vacatur for victims of sex trafficking shall not be required to pay any fees or costs for filing such petition if the petitioner is found to be unable to pay them.
HB 1023, patroned by Del. Elizabeth Guzman, D-Woodbridge, permits any family life education curriculum offered by a local school division in high school to incorporate age-appropriate elements of effective and evidence-based programs on the prevention, recognition, and awareness of human trafficking of children.
HB 1334, patroned by Del. Kathleen Murphy, D-Fairfax County, amends the definition of “abused or neglected child” to include a child who is sexually exploited or abused by an intimate partner of the child's parent or caretaker and allows a complaint of child abuse or neglect to be deemed valid by a local department of social services (local department) in such instances. The bill allows a complaint of child abuse or neglect that alleges child trafficking to be deemed valid regardless of who the alleged abuser is or whether the alleged abuser has been identified. The bill requires a local department that receives a complaint or report of child abuse or neglect over which it does not have jurisdiction to forward such complaint or report to the appropriate local department, if the local department that does have jurisdiction is located in the Commonwealth.
Attorney General Jason Miyares and Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears also both spoke at the event.
“Thanks to Governor Youngkin and the Administration, the Attorney General, and the General Assembly, Virginia will be better enabled to identify and rescue human trafficking victims and provide them opportunities for a fresh start. It's going to take all of us working together to continue this effort,” Earle-Sears said.
“Human trafficking is one of the most heinous, widespread crimes of the 21st century. In addition to rehabilitation and survivor aid support, one of our top priorities is prevention,” Miyares said. “The war against human trafficking is a complicated, uphill battle, and I am confident these new measures will make a significant impact in the fight against human trafficking. My office looks forward to working with the members of Governor Youngkin’s Human Trafficking Commission to further identify solutions to this horrible crime.”
Following the ceremonial bill signing, Secretary Kay Coles James officiated the swearing-in ceremony for the Commission on Human Trafficking Prevention and Survivor Support.
Jobs update
Gov. Youngkin announced Thursday that Nodal Exchange, a Fairfax-based derivatives exchange providing price, credit, and liquidity risk management solutions to participants in the North American commodities markets, will invest $300,000 to expand in Fairfax County. The company will increase capacity at its headquarters located at 1921 Gallows Road in Tysons Corner. The project will create 37 new jobs according to the governor’s office.
Biden-Harris Administration Officials to Welcome Arrival of Fourth Operation Fly Formula Flight
Later this afternoon: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Dawn O’Connell will join leaders from Kendamil Nutricare and United Airlines to receive the first in a series of daily shipments of Kendamil infant formula to the United States aboard United Airlines commercial flights in Dulles.
Over a ten-day period, from June 9 to 19, approximately 300,000 pounds – or approximately 3.7 million 8-ounce bottle equivalents – of Kendamil infant formula will be transported via United aircraft, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services This is the first Operation Fly Formula flight donated by a commercial airline.
This United flight will arrive a few hours after another Operation Fly Formula flight arrives in Dallas, Texas, making it the fourth Operation Fly Formula flight to land in the U.S. The HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response is leading the coordination of logistics associated with the ground transportation, loading, and airlift of infant formula from international locations to the U.S.
More Virginia Links
In state employee survey, Youngkin’s telework policy described as ‘chaos’ - WRIC
Youngkin addresses state LGBTQ+ board; chairperson cedes post - VPM News
Buford students hear from Hudson after walk-out - Daily Progress
‘A gigantic stride’: School construction measures in the state’s budget compromise - Cardinal
One of Virginia’s biggest pro-choice advocacy groups is preparing for a post-Roe future - Virginia Mercury
State leaders have different ideas on how to stop violence in Virginia - WTVR
State Democrats push gun reform ahead of 2023 General Assembly session - NBC 12
