The General Assembly meets at Noon
Links to watch and a reminder of what they are doing.
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Executive Schedule
Friday, June 17
9:45 AM - GOVERNOR GLENN YOUNGKIN DELIVERS REMARKS AT HBCU DIVERSITY TECH SUMMIT
11:00 AM - GOVERNOR DELIVERS REMARKS AND TOURS AMPAC FINE CHEMICALS
4:30 PM: GOVERNOR DELIVERS REMARKS AT THE DOUGLASS LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION
The General Assembly is convening at noon today to take up 38 budget amendments from Governor Glenn Youngkin.
12:00 p.m. - House 2022 Special Session - Reconvened Session; House Chamber, The Capitol
12:00 p.m. - Senate 2022 Special Session - Reconvened Session; Senate Chamber, The Capitol
Upn recess: House Courts of Justice - Judicial Interview; House Room 1, The Capitol - immediately upon recess of the House (Interview)
In case you missed it, the governor sent his amendments to the legislature earlier this week. This caused pushback from Democrats and advocates for several issues like abortion and prison reform.
Democrats in the state Senate are the deciding factor as to how many of the amendments will be approved. Their leader, Sen. Dick Saslaw, did not seem pleased with some of the governor’s suggestions on Friday morning.
This newsletter will provide more coverage of what happens this afternoon, but in the meantime here are some of the key amendments the governor suggested:
A new felonious picketing and demonstrations crime
The governor also sent back an amendment that would provide more funding related to proposed legislation that creates a criminal penalty for protesting outside of a judge’s home. The $50K that Youngkin is asking for is due to the possible increased need for prison bed space.
The new law would create a Class 6 felony for picketing or demonstrating in or near a court or residence with the intent of interfering with, obstructing, or impeding the administration of justice, or with the intent of influencing or intimidating in the discharge of his or her duty any judge, juror, witness, court officer, or court employee, or any immediate family member of such individuals.
Restrictions on funding for abortion
The governor’s amendment would prohibit any funding in the budget from being used for abortion services unless otherwise required by federal law.
Youngkin would cut state funding for certain abortions: Richmond Times-Dispatch
“Gov. Glenn Youngkin wants to end state funding for abortions in which a fetus has been diagnosed with severe deformities or mental deficiencies.”
Gas Tax
The governor is again proposing to suspend the 26-cent gas tax in Virginia. His amendment would restrict increases in the gasoline and diesel fuels taxes to two percent annually and suspends the state-wide taxes on the wholesale distribution of gasoline and diesel fuel from July 1, 2022, through September 30, 2022.
Bail presumption
The governor is proposing creating a rebuttable presumption against bail for certain criminal offenses.
Lab schools
The governor’s amendment would expands lab school eligibility to public community colleges; public higher education centers, institutes, and authorities; and institutions of higher education eligible for the Tuition Assistance Grant Program.)
He also added an enactment clause to the budget adding language directing students of college partnership laboratory schools to be counted in average daily membership and for state funding for Standards of Quality (SOQ), Categorical, Incentive, and Lottery programs that are calculated membership, to be distributed accordingly as well as the proportionate state share of all applicable Categorical, Incentive, and Lottery program funds, as eligible. The amendment also adds language that allows local schools divisions and laboratory schools to enter into a memorandum of understanding to determine the formula by which funding is distributed.
More information on the amendments can be found here: HB 29 and HB 30.
In Va. swing districts, Democrats stand firm on gun restrictions - Washington Post
by Meagan Flynn
Eight years ago, Rep. Abigail Spanberger left the CIA and soon became a rookie grass-roots activist with her local Virginia chapter of Moms Demand Action, looking to get involved in politics for the first time.
Now, the two-term congresswoman is trying to hang on to her seat in a year when gun violence prevention and responding to mass shootings are dominating debates in Congress and likely to spill over into the November midterms.
Black lawmakers ‘outraged’ over Va. health commissioner demand action - Washington Post
By Jenna Portnoy and Gregory S. Schneider
Black state lawmakers on Thursday demanded accountability from Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin after his health commissioner, Colin Greene, dismissed the impact of structural racism on negative health outcomes for mothers of color and their babies, demoralizing a staff committed to protecting them.
Lawmakers, who said they were “nothing short of outraged at the actions and insular comments,” stopped short of calling for Greene’s resignation but requested a meeting with Youngkin (R), Greene and John Littel, secretary of Health and Human Resources, to determine how the administration will tackle health disparities.
Advocates say Youngkin abortion amendment will have biggest impact on low-income and Virginians of color - WVTF
By Jahd Khalil
Wednesday evening, Youngkin submitted 38 budget amendments. Youngkin asked for more money for security at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and a gas tax holiday. Education and criminal justice were among the non-financial issues targeted.
One budget amendment, though, was a prohibition on using state funds for abortion services that would not apply in situations required by federal law.
More links:
House OKs Spanberger bills to cut grocery and gas costs, help farmers
Under new law, some of Virginia’s government fleet is poised to go electric
280,000 suspected unemployment fraud cases under review in Virginia
