Northam proposes raises for teachers and more from Virginia politics
A source close to Youngkin responded to Northam's proposal
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Both the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Washington Post were charged to attend and cover the Republican Advance last weekend.
Governor Northam Launches ‘Thank You, Virginia’ Tour and proposes teacher raises
With a little more than a month left in his term as Virginia’s governor, Ralph Northam is doing a tour across the commonwealth to thank Virginians and announce that his outgoing budget proposal includes a 10% increase for teachers.
“Paying teachers is the right thing to do, and a wise investment,” Northam said in a press release. “Virginia has invested in teachers in a big way over these past four years, and now it’s time to do much more. Virginia’s strong economy has delivered booming revenues. What we’ve been doing these four years is working, and Virginia should continue it.”
Northam’s proposal will increase compensation 5 percent a year in each of the next two budget years, for a cumulative increase of 10.25 percent.
The proposal is largely symbolic with Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin taking the reigns of negotiating the budget with the General Assembly on Jan. 15. The session doesn’t begin until Jan. 13 and will now consist of a Democratic Senate and Republican House of Delegates.
Youngkin has vowed to also make a big investment in the education system that includes teacher raises; though some of his priorities differ from that of the Democrats. Youngkin wants to provide parents with more options for their kids to go to schools as well as invest in charter/innovation schools.
A source close to Youngkin provided Virginia Scope with a statement Monday afternoon. “Glenn’s entire Day One Game Plan is online if the Northam team wants to crib any other ideas to help Virginians or turn around Virginia’s economy.”
This is a comment that is familiar to ones being made by Republicans recently as Virginia Democrats have been coming around to increasing the standard tax deduction and eliminating the grocery tax after Youngkin ran on both ideas.
Either way, it looks like both parties agree that teachers deserve a raise. Whether they follow through, or not, is yet to be seen.
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Is Nick Freitas considering another congressional run?
One insider says that Freitas hasn’t ruled out running for Congress again and that groups like Club for Growth have been reaching out to him over the past month and strongly encouraging him to run.
Josh Stanfield talks about DPVA chair
“I’m not convinced the party is with me,” he said.
VA-07
Republican candidate Bryce Reeves announce a campaign manager
Jimmy Spinella will be running Reeves’ campaign as he seeks the Republican nomination to run against Rep. Abigail Spanberger.
Spinella has worked for Del. Nick Freitas and 2021 gubernatorial candidate Pete Snyder before managing Del. Tony Wilt’s successful reelection campaign last month.
“I’m absolutely thrilled by the opportunity to help send Senator Reeves to Congress,” Spinella said Monday. “Of all the candidates in the race he is by far the most qualified person to fight for our values in Washington. From his time as an Army Ranger, a narcotics detective, and now as our State Senator, Bryce has a lifelong commitment to service, and I’m eager to help him as he takes the next step in his service to our community.”
The Virginia Department of Health won’t mandate COVID-19 vaccines in schools - Virginia Mercury
by Kate Masters
A petition to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for school employees and all eligible students failed this week when the Virginia Department of Health opted to take no action on the request.
In a decision posted Monday, the agency stated that it lacked the “clear statutory authority” to mandate the shots for employees. Under state law, the department does have the ability to add new vaccine requirements for students, but pointed out that federal health agencies have yet to add the COVID-19 vaccine to its childhood immunization schedule.
Tax cuts: Does Virginia assembly wait for study or move first?- Richmond Times-Dispatch
by Michael Martz
Virginia's tax code is likely to dominate the next General Assembly session, with Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin pushing aggressively for wide-ranging tax cuts on "day one" of his administration. His Republican allies already are readying legislation to eliminate the sales tax on groceries and double the standard deduction for state income tax returns.
Del. Joe McNamara, R-Roanoke County, a certified public accountant and member of the House Finance Committee, says he has prepared legislation to accomplish those tax cuts and move Virginia to "rolling conformity" with the federal tax code to prevent legislative politics from delaying taxpayers and their CPAs from preparing state tax returns on time.
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