Governor Glenn Youngkin and Democratic leaders in the Virginia General Assembly confirmed on Wednesday they will release a budget in May and pass it during a special legislative session.
The governor’s office released a joint statement including Youngkin, Speaker of the House Don Scott (D-Portsmouth), Senate Finance Chair L. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) and House Appropriations Chair Luke Thorian (D-Dumfries) confirming they will continue work on a bipartisan budget that will ultimately be unveiled on May 13.
“Following a series of productive conversations, we have agreed to continue our work on the budget. We are all committed to creating a budget that meets the needs of Virginians on time,” the lawmakers and governor revealed.
They committed, “Over the next few weeks, we will work diligently to ensure it is sound! An updated budget will then be presented to the General Assembly on May 13th to be voted on in a special session on May 15th.”
The governor’s office included Youngkin’s proclamation of a special session, which is set to commence on May 13. Youngkin’s proclamation does not suggest when the special session will conclude, though the joint statement suggests lawmakers will be ready to vote on May 15.
Youngkin expressed gratitude toward all legislators in a second statement, then urged, “As our work begins on the budget, working together we can find common ground to move Virginia forward.”
The governor’s confirmation that budget negotiations are ongoing comes days after a coalition of Virginia conservative leaders applauded his “Common Ground Budget” that eliminated his tax cuts and Democrats’ desired tax hikes.
“While the new spending exceeds what many conservatives would prefer,” the Virginia Conservative Leaders Coalition acknowledged in its statement, it nonetheless declared, “Youngkin’s efforts reflect a commitment to pragmatic governance in a divided political environment.”
Youngkin previously confirmed he removed his tax cuts from the budget as an olive branch to Democrats, who insisted their tax increases were necessary.
“I certainly am hoping that the General Assembly will fully engage with me,” said Youngkin earlier this month, calling the budget negotiations an opportunity “to demonstrate that we can work together in a divided government.”
Lawmakers returned to Richmond on Wednesday to consider Youngkin’s budget changes and to give final consideration to more than 100 bills he amended.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Glenn Youngkin” by Governor of Virginia. Background Photo “Virginia Capitol” by Will Fisher. CC BY-SA 2.0.
