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.
The rundown
Legislation passed in the state Senate that could make masks optional by the end of February
Virginia NAACP criticizes Senate Democrat for mask amendment
Youngkin’s Lab School legislation advanced in the House
Vega criticized Biden’s visit with Spanberger
Today’s Sponsor:
Supporting an affordable clean energy transition for all Virginians and a more ethical state government. Visit www.cleanvirginia.org to learn more.
The Virginia state Senate passed legislation that could make mask-wearing optional for students by the end of the month
The state Senate passed SB 739 from Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant (R-Henrico) on Wednesday which included an amendment from Sen. Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax) that gives parents the option to not force their children to wear a mask in schools.
The start date on the legislation is currently July 1 of this year, but sources say that Governor Glenn Youngkin is considering placing an emergency clause on the legislation with an amendment that would enact the bill immediately upon his signature. A spokesperson did not confirm what the governor is considering, but they noted that he does have the option to place the clause on the bill to make it immediately effective.
While passing emergency legislation in the General Assembly requires a supermajority to approve, a simple majority is only required in both chambers to approve the emergency clause if it comes from the governor through an amendment.
Sen. Adam Ebbin (D) spoke against the bill on the Senate floor saying it restricts the school board from making decisions on anything. He called for the bill to be specific to Covid-19 instead of everything in the future. “This bill doesn’t provide an off ramp guided by science,” Ebbin said.
Sen. Jennifer McClellan (D) said it has been difficult to watch children and public health decisions become political footballs. “I’m speaking as a parent who agrees we need to listen to the parents. All parents.”
“This has the potential to put our children in conflict with each other,” Sen. Dave Marsden (D) said, also noting he believes the kids will use this to divide themselves up - the maskers vs. the un-maskers, crips and bloods, jets and sharks.”
Sen. Chap Petersen (D), the architect of the amendment in the legislation that removes the mask requirement across Virginia spoke in favor of it, saying “welcome to show business,” about the body taking over the mask debate for Virginia.
“It’s not popular to be against masks,” he noted looking around at his Democratic colleagues.
Petersen responded to Marsden by saying he sympathizes with that potential increase in divisiveness viewpoint, but he believes that thinking would suggest that masks should just be banned altogether. He continued to say he doesn’t believe that cloth masks have any value, but he doesn't want to make that decision for anyone else. “I don’t have a doctorate in medicine but I do have a doctorate in common sense,” Peterson said.
Sen. Creigh Deeds (D) spoke against the bill saying that it is not about a mandate but about taking authority away from local school boards. "This bill is not about the science. Nobody what the next variant is going to produce. Nobody knows what the next will pandemic will produce. But we are putting language into the code that will affect that.”
Del. Amanda Batten (R) is sponsoring the legislation in the House of Delegates and it passed out of the Education Committee on partisan lines Wednesday. It should pass the full House floor with the Republicans holding a 52-48 majority.
If this legislation survives the entire process it will eventually accomplish a campaign goal laid out by Youngkin on the trail. He attempted to do so through executive order but has faced legal challenges since signing the order on Jan. 15. The governor claimed success on this bill when it passed in committee on Tuesday - which is something that state Sen. Scott Surovell (D) said Wednesday he didn’t like, saying the executive order from Youngkin caused chaos across Virginia.
The bill passed in the Democratic-Senate on a 21-17 vote.
Masks could be optional for students by the end of February, depending on whether or not the governor places an emergency clause on the bill and both chambers agree.
Governor Glenn Youngkin’s lab school legislation advanced on Wednesday morning in the House Education Committee on a 12-10 partisan vote. The Department of Education defines school labs as “public schools established by contract between the governing board of a college partnership laboratory school and the Board of Education.”
Under the current law that was established in 2010, only public and private institutions of higher education that operate approved teacher education programs are permitted to apply to create a lab school. This law has not yet been utilized, however.
The legislation that Youngkin is backing would open up the application process for any public or private institution of higher education, or private business. “I do see this opportunity for us to bring businesses who have particular training or long term needs for workforce to actually give advice and counsel to what kind of curriculum might best fit for a region in Virginia particularly,” Youngkin said Thursday. “I think this is a chance for us to tap into all kinds of good ideas.”
The Democratic Party of Virginia responded to the advancement of the legislation on Wednesday. “Gov. Youngkin’s legislation on lab schools is nothing but a charter school bill in disguise. Virginia Republicans are attacking our local schools by trying to slash hundreds of millions of dollars away from our local school divisions. We won't allow it.”
Education Committee Chair Glenn Davis (R-Va Beach) is sponsoring the legislation in the House.
Governor Youngkin announced his support for the legislation during a press conference last month. He talked about his plan for funding the idea.
“One of the big elements of our day one plan has been the recognition that Virginia is running big surpluses right now and is projected to run surpluses for a long time,” he said. The governor stated that he believes those surpluses should allow for tax cuts and investments in education.
Even though private businesses would be allowed to participate in the process, Youngkin’s administration plans to classify these new lab schools as public schools. “Our lab school system will be a fundamental part going forward of our public school education,” Youngkin said.
In the state Senate, Youngkin will have to convince at least one Democrat to support any legislation he hopes to pass during the current legislative session. The Democrats hold the majority at 21-19, with Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears casting tie-breaking votes. “I think there is strong bipartisan support,” Youngkin said Thursday. “We have plenty of money in the system to fund this.”
In a statement to Virginia Scope last month, Sen. Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax) said “lab schools need to be considered, but cannot be funded with one-time money.”
More on the current structure for school labs from DoE:
College partnership laboratory schools’ enrollment is open to any school-age student who is a Virginia resident on a lottery, space-available basis. A college partnership laboratory school may not charge tuition for courses required for high school graduation.
Management of a laboratory school is the responsibility of the governing board established by the partnering institution of higher learning. An approved college partnership laboratory school is designated as a local education agency, but does not constitute a school division.
House Bill 1389 and Senate Bill 736 (2010 General Assembly) also created a College Partnership Laboratory School Fund for the purposes of establishing or supporting laboratory schools. This special non reverting fund includes appropriations by the General Assembly and gifts, bequests or donations. The fund retains its own interest and balances and is not subject to reversion to the General Fund.
Enjoying this newsletter? Become a paid subscriber today so you don’t miss a thing!
The Virginia NAACP criticizes Chap Petersen’s mask amendment
The Virginia State Conference of the NAACP (Virginia NAACP) said they “abhor” the passage of Senate Bill 739 (SB 739) with Senator Chap Petersen’s amendment where parents are allowed to opt their child out of wearing a mask in school without an explanation.
“It is disappointing to the Virginia NAACP that Senator Chap Petersen would put forth such an amendment that will knowingly harm the health and safety of our children, teaching staff, and staff personnel in schools,” said Virginia NAACP President Robert N. Barnette, Jr. “His sly tactics will now increase the odds that hundreds of thousands of Virginia's children may spread and contract COVID-19 while in school.”
Vega responds to Biden’s VA-07 visit
Yesli Vega issued a statement following the news that President Joe Biden would be coming to Culpeper to stump for Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA07). Vega is seeking the Republican nomination to run against Spanberger in November.
Vega’s statement:
“Only a few months ago, Terry McAuliffe brought Joe Biden to our Commonwealth and Virginians overwhelmingly rejected them both, and by an even larger margin in the 7th than statewide. Now, only a month into the 2022 election, Abigail Spanberger is taking a page out of Terry’s playbook and has called in a favor to her D.C. overlords to come help with 10 months left until November. Spanberger has no shame when it comes to her hypocrisy. She pretends to criticize Joe Biden’s failed leadership when she’s at home, but goes right back to D.C. to vote in line with Biden’s agenda 100% of the time. I’ve been on the ground talking to folks all across the 7th and the verdict is in, Virginians are tired of Abigail’s two-faced lies. She’s realized she can’t win on her own failed merits, so she’s hoping her party bosses will help her. Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, and Abigail’s radical left pals are more than welcome to come stump for her. The Commonwealth overwhelmingly rejected their failed leadership last year and Virginians in the 7th are going to reject Abigail Spanberger this November.”
