Governor Youngkin released a new Covid-19 vaccine PSA
The latest in Virginia politics.
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(The Rams won the Superbowl)
The rundown
Governor Youngkin released a new video and statement encouraging Virginians to receive the Covid-19 vaccine
Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears talks about Biden and her first tie-breaking vote
The bill that would make masks optional in Virginia schools is expected to clear one of its final hurdles today
State Sen. Jen Kiggans received another national endorsement in her bid for the GOP nomination to run against Rep. Luria
Headlines from Virginia and national politics.
Governor Glenn Youngkin released a public service announcement encouraging Virginians to receive the Covid-19 vaccine
Governor Glenn Youngkin released a public service announcement Monday with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) encouraging Virginians to get vaccinated as part of his COVID-19 Action Plan. The governor reiterated that he will not be mandating the vaccine, but stressed how important he believes it is in mitigating Covid-19.
“I have always been a strong advocate for everyone to get the vaccine. We know that the vaccine is the best protection against severe illness as a result of COVID-19,” Youngkin said in a statement Monday. I have made the choice to get vaccinated and encourage everyone to join me in doing that, but ultimately it is a personal decision to do so. After a heartbreaking pandemic, getting vaccinated can insure that there are better days ahead for Virginia.”
The standoff is over
The standoff ended between House Republicans and Senate Democrats on Friday over gubernatorial appointments with the Senate mostly getting their way. They compromised on about 12 appointments that House Republicans removed, but hundreds of other appointees from the Northam administration were confirmed.
During the drama, the Senate Democrats threatened to not approve any nominee from Governor Glenn Youngkin moving forward, but that begs the question: will Democratic Senators Chap Petersen, Lynnwood Lewis, or Joe Morrissey actually vote with their caucus if they were put in that position? For context: They were the only three Democrats in the Senate to vote in favor of legislation that will eventually make masks optional in public schools.
Morrissey has strayed from the Democratic caucus on votes in the past and disagrees with them on abortion issues. He was also the wildcard on Andrew Wheeler, the controversial Youngkin cabinet pick that was denied by the Senate and caused all this drama. Morrissey voted against Wheeler.
Lewis has historically been a conservative Democrat. He was a rumored target during Youngkin’s transition as a senator that they wanted to try and get to switch parties, but no such move really happened.
Petersen has no problem with going against his party. He added the amendment to legislation last week that will force school districts to make masks optional - something his Democratic colleagues largely opposed in both chambers.
Senate Democrats call themselves a brick wall against the Republican policies and in some cases that have been true with issues like gun laws, voting access, and most healthcare issues. But, if it were to truly come down to the House versus the Senate and both caucuses holding the line - the 52 House Republicans are more likely to stay in line than the 21 Senate Democrats.
Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears criticizes President Biden and talks first tie-breaking vote
In an interview with Fox News, Earle-Sears talks about national politics.
The bill that would make masks optional in Virginia’s public schools is on its final reading today in the House of Delegates - it has already passed in the state Senate. Governor Youngkin is expected to attach an amendment with an emergency clause to make the legislation effective immediately. (Barring any court challenges.)
Up on the Senate floor for third reading today
SB 104 Mandatory minimum sentences;
Introduced by: Joseph D. Morrissey
Except for aggravated murder of a law-enforcement officer, eliminates all mandatory minimum sentences of confinement from the Code of Virginia. The bill directs the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security to establish a work group to evaluate the feasibility of resentencing persons previously convicted of a felony offense that was punishable by a mandatory minimum term of confinement and to report its findings by November 1, 2022.
SB 21 Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters and the right to vote (voter referendum)
Introduced by: Mamie E. Locke
Provides for a referendum at the November 8, 2022, general election to approve or reject an amendment that would provide for the fundamental right to vote in the Commonwealth, revise the qualifications of voters so that a person convicted of a felony is not entitled to vote during his period of incarceration but is automatically invested with the right to vote upon release from incarceration, and update the existing prohibition on voting by persons found to be mentally incompetent to instead apply to persons who have been found to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting.
SB 487 Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention, Virginia Center; established.
Introduced by: Jennifer L. McClellan
Establishes the Virginia Center for Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention (the Center) within the Department of Criminal Justice Services and transfers to the Center the administration of the existing Virginia Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund.
SJ 5 Constitutional amendment; fundamental right to marry, same-sex marriage prohibition.
Introduced by: Adam P. Ebbin
Repeals the constitutional provision defining marriage as only a union between one man and one woman as well as the related provisions that are no longer valid as a result of the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015). The amendment provides that the right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of persons and requires the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions and agents to issue marriage licenses, recognize marriages, and treat all marriages equally under the law, regardless of the sex or gender of the parties to the marriage. Religious organizations and clergy acting in their religious capacity have the right to refuse to perform any marriage.
U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn Endorses Jen Kiggans For Congress
State Sen. Jen Kiggans earned a national endorsement Monday in her bid for the Republican nomination to run against Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA02) in this November’s midterms.
U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn said: "Jen Kiggans is a defender of freedom, our country, and our families. She has continuously shown courage and proven she does not back down. Jen will work to win and work to represent coastal Virginians in Congress. She has my complete support."
"It is an honor to receive the endorsement of Senator Marsha Blackburn," said State Senator Jen Kiggans. "Senator Blackburn is a leader in our fight for a small, more efficient federal government that is accountable to its citizens. Senator Blackburn is the first woman to represent Tennessee in the United States Senate and is a role model for conservative women in politics. I look forward to serving in Washington with her!"
Former Delegate Jay Jones Announces Meet Our Moment's April Training Session Application is Now Open
Candidates interested in participating in the upcoming training sessions can apply here or directly at https://meetourmoment.com/apply/. Applications for the upcoming April 2nd training in Charlottesville are due by March 4th.
Meet Our Moment launched in early August of last year and aims to create a pipeline for minority candidates for state and local offices in the Commonwealth by providing them with the necessary resources and tools to run an effective campaign and win.
Meet Our Moment's first training session in December featured a full cohort of 12 participants. Highlights of the training may be seen here.
This is a daily newsletter covering Virginia politics from top to bottom. If you want full access to everything happening in Virginia politics, please consider supporting non-partisan, independent news by becoming a paid subscriber to this newsletter today.
The two sides of Youngkin: Virginia’s new governor calls for unity but keeps stoking volatile issues - Washington Post
By Gregory S. Schneider and Laura Vozzella
Gov. Glenn Youngkin sat in a conference room near the State Capitol last week and lamented the “divisive” nature of politics, then praised Democrats for joining him on a measure to lift school mask mandates.
But as he spoke of unity, his office put out a statement saying school boards that disagree with him are “attacking their own students” and “stunningly detached from reality.”
Luria brings in nearly $200,000 from corporate PACs since dropping pledge to reject their money - Washington Post
By Meagan Flynn and John D. Harden
Rep. Elaine Luria (D-Va.) has accepted nearly $200,000 in contributions from corporate PACs this campaign cycle after abandoning a pledge not to accept money from corporations at the end of 2020, according to her latest year-end campaign finance filing.
It isn’t unusual for candidates for Congress and sitting members to accept corporate PAC donations, particularly for those in highly competitive races like Luria’s. But it’s unusual in Luria’s case given she had previously sworn off those donations as a way to signal to voters that she would not be influenced by corporate money during her 2018 campaign for Congress.
More Virginia Links
Virginia to launch mobile COVID testing program after closing community testing sites
Southwest Virginia school superintendents seek construction funds
Jefferson Hotel owner will be allowed to demolish century-old former church
National Headlines
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