State and National Government
The Virginia General Assembly opens its 2022 session later today in Richmond with major changes in place that will affect what does and does not get passed this year — and how it all impacts you. The biggest change comes courtesy of the November elections, when Virginians elected Republican Glenn Youngkin as governor and gave Republicans control over the House of Delegates. WFIR’s Evan Jones takes a look ahead:
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Virginia General Assembly is set to convene in person next week amid a surge in cases of COVID-19, and when it does, members in at least one chamber will not be facing mask, testing or vaccine mandates. The incoming leadership of the House of Delegates, which will be newly under GOP control, made the announcement Friday that there would be no such requirements.
In a statement, Speaker-designee Todd Gilbert said he urged anyone taking part in person during the session to get vaccinated and receive a booster as appropriate. Gilbert’s statement said the House Clerk’s office will maintain an ample supply of KN95 masks for legislators, staff, and visitors wishing to use them. Seating capacity will be reduced in all committee rooms, with hearings livestreamed, according to a memo. In-person testimony before committees will resume, but the option to weigh in virtually will remain available.
The leadership of the Democrat-controlled Senate said it is working with Senate Republicans and staff on ways “to create an environment in which we can complete the important work of the people while staying safe and healthy.” The statement said the caucus was supporting mask and vaccine requirements for those in the chamber and public participation through virtual methods, such as video and email testimony.
General Assembly operations have been conducted in part virtually during the pandemic. That’s raised transparency concerns from some corners but also led to new ways of participating, such as through video conference testimony. The session kicks off Wednesday.
The deadline is drawing near for the State Supreme Court to complete its redistricting work. A Roanoke-area lawmaker says the preliminary plan does a great disservice to Vinton-area residents, and he hopes the final plan will change that. The court appointed two special masters to draw up the new Congressional and General Assembly lines, and their proposal includes a State Senate district that extends from Staunton in the north to the Vinton area in the south without including most of Roanoke County or the valley. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:
Gov. Ralph Northam
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Outgoing Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam laid out a proposal Thursday for a $158 billion two-year state budget that would boost Virginia’s reserves, give teachers and other state workers pay raises, and institute a variety of tax cuts.
The spending blueprint Northam outlined to members of the legislature’s money committees is possible thanks to record revenue growth that is projected to continue growing. The governor made the case that his budget plan was progressive, fiscally responsible and would set up incoming Republican Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin for success.
“The budget I propose to you today will leave a roadmap to continue the strong economic success that we are seeing. We will keep making the investments that Virginia needs, and we will keep putting resources into supporting Virginians who need it,” Northam said in prepared remarks.
Northam, who like all Virginia governors was prohibited from serving a second consecutive term, will leave office in January.
Northam spokesperson Alena Yarmosky said Northam and Youngkin have met on a few occasions but did not discuss the specifics of the budget proposal, which contains several key campaign pledges of Youngkin’s.
The Democrat’s plan includes a 5% pay raise for teachers in both years of the budget. State employees would see the same pay increases.
It also spends $223 million on increased funding for pay for law enforcement officials, to address both starting pay and pay compression over time.
Northam’s proposal calls for $2.1 billion in tax policy adjustments, approximately $419 million of which would be ongoing.
He wants to eliminate the state’s 1.5% share of the sales tax on groceries. While Northam campaigned on the issue in 2017, he has not prioritized it since. Ending the tax was a key campaign pledge of Youngkin’s.
Northam is also proposing that the state give one-time “economic growth” tax rebates of $250 for individuals and $500 for married couples; make up to 15% of the federal earned income-tax credit refundable for eligible families; and end the accelerated sales tax payments for retailers.
His administration said the tax relief proposals were intended to benefit lower-income workers who were disproportionately affected during the pandemic.
Photo: David Suetterlein Facebook
State Senator David Suetterlein says the time is long overdue to increase the state’s standard income tax deduction, and he has introduced a bill for consideration this winter that would double it to $258 for individual filers and $517 dollars for married taxpayers. Suetterlein says recent multi-billion dollar budget surpluses show Virginia is more than able to provide this tax relief. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones:
The Roanoke-Lynchburg region is gaining more clout in next General Assembly. Two area delegates have been named committee chairs when the new House of Delegates Republican majority is sworn in next month. House Speaker-designee Todd Gilbert today appointed Botetourt County Delegate Terry Austin chair of the Transportation Committee, and Bedford County’s Kathy Byron will lead the Labor and Commerce Committee.
NEWS RELEASE: Speaker-designee Todd Gilbert today announced the chairs of six additional House standing committees.
“I’m pleased to announce more of the House of Delegates leadership team for the upcoming General Assembly session. These new committee chairs will bring a breadth of experience to their new assignments. I look forward to working with all of them to enact our shared common-sense, conservative agenda,” Gilbert said.
Today’s appointments are:
- Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources: Del. Lee Ware, R-Powhatan
- Courts of Justice: Del. Rob Bell, R-Albemarle
- General Laws: Del. Jay Leftwich, R-Chesapeake
- Health, Welfare and Institutions: Del. Bobby Orrock, R-Caroline
- Labor and Commerce: Del. Kathy Byron, R-Bedford
- Transportation: Del. Terry Austin, R-Botetourt
“In keeping with long-standing Caucus precedent, Caucus Chair Kathy Byron and Whip Jay Leftwich are stepping aside from their roles in elected caucus leadership in order to take on their new roles as committee chairs. Their replacements will be chosen by the Caucus at a later date,” Gilbert said.
“As House Republicans advance our legislative priorities, it will be imperative that we have committee chairs ready on day one. From transportation to housing, the rule of law to improving Virginia’s business climate, healthcare to Virginia’s agribusiness industry, these leaders are prepared to deliver for Virginians,” he added.
“Delegates Ware — who has graciously accepted this role after close discussion with the immediate past chairman Delegate Marshall — Bell, Leftwich, Orrock, Byron, and Austin have extensive knowledge related to their committees and will deftly lead their committees as we lead Virginia in the upcoming General Assembly,” he said.
The announced chairs join Del. Barry Knight, R-Virginia Beach, who was previously announced as the incoming Chair of the House Appropriations Committee. Additional appointments will be announced at a later date.
The State Supreme Court has scheduled two public hearings for later this week on the proposed redistricting of Virginia’s General Assembly and Congressional districts. Virginia Tech Professor and WFIR Political Analyst Bob Denton says Democrats are likely to fare better overall — largely a matter of population shifts in Virginia, with Democrats generally making up a larger share of the state’s fastest-growing regions, leaving our part of the state with less General Assembly representation. And as a result, that could lead to some area incumbent lawmakers facing each other to remain in office. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:
WASHINGTON (AP) – The chairman of the House committee investigating the Capitol insurrection says the committee has interviewed about 250 people so far. That shows the swift pace of the investigation as lawmakers aim to compile the most comprehensive account yet of the violent attack and hold a series of public hearings next year. Committee members and staff have conducted the interviews in private, and most witnesses have complied voluntarily. Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson disclosed the number of private interviews as he tried to make the case at a House hearing Thursday for contempt charges against a former Justice Department official from the Trump administration.
Democratic incumbent delegate Alex Askew (Virginia Beach) has officially conceded his District 85 race after a recount showed that he would not overcome Republican challenger Karen Greenhalgh. A three judge panel today upheld her victory, ensuring a Republican majority in the House of Delegates, even with one more recount in the 91st district expected next week.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — A three-judge panel overseeing a recount in a close Virginia Beach state House race upheld the Republican candidate’s victory on Friday, a decision that also reaffirms the GOP’s takeover of the chamber and completes the party’s sweep of last month’s elections.
Republicans also claimed the statewide offices of governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general in the Nov. 2 balloting. Those wins were a dramatic turnaround in a state where the GOP had not won a statewide race since 2009. Democrats still hold a 21-19 majority in the Senate — where elections won’t be held until 2023 — splitting control of Virginia’s state legislature.
The certified results from the election showed Republicans leading in 52 districts and the Democrats leading in 48. The recount in the 85th District race resulted in Democratic incumbent Alex Askew gaining 12 votes, but he still trailed Republican challenger Karen Greenhalgh by 115 votes. There was one contested ballot. The panel found that the intent of the voter was unclear, so that ballot was not counted for either candidate.
After Democrats requested recounts in two races with razor-thin margins, that left open the remote possibility of a 50-50 split. Though the second recount, in the 91st District, is still expected to proceed next week, Democrats no longer have a shot at undoing the GOP’s majority. Askew is an incumbent freshmen first elected in 2019, when Democrats flipped both the House and Senate. After the recount results were announced, Askew thanked his supporters, campaign staff and volunteers.