Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly announced joint legislative plans on Monday to enshrine abortion access into the state’s constitution, raise the minimum wage, automatically restore voting rights for felons, and ban AR-15 rifles. The plans were released after Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) said he would pursue bipartisan legislation in the Democrat-controlled General Assembly.
Virginia Democrats in both chambers of the legislature say they submitted four bills on Monday, the first day of prefiling for the 2024 General Assembly Session, which seek to make good on the party’s campaign partisan campaign promises.
In a press release published by the Senate Democrats, the liberal legislators promise to “institute a ban on AR-15 style assault firearms and certain ammunition feeding devices,” raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour by January 1, 2025, and enshrine automatic restoration of voting rights, and abortion access, into the state constitution.
VIRGINIA HOUSE AND SENATE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUSES ANNOUNCE FIRST BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS FOR 2024 SESSION!
Democrats in Both Chambers Introduce Legislation to Address Minimum Wage, Gun Violence Epidemic, Restoration of Rights, and Abortion Access. 1/2🧵 pic.twitter.com/jO1D07f8Vw
— VA Senate Democrats (@VASenateDems) November 20, 2023
Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax) said “Virginia voters sent a message on November 7” that they want the state to pursue Democratic priorities, and claimed enshrining abortion access, restoring voting rights for felons, raising the minimum age, and banning some rifles “will help make Virginia the best state in America to raise a family and start a business.”
“I am especially glad to see the resolution to start the process of codifying the automatic restoration of rights,” said Speaker-designee Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) stated, adding that the plans prove Democrats oppose “the spirit of Jim Crow that has plagued our Commonwealth for far too long.” Scott was arrested for drug offenses in 1994, and served seven years in prison for the crime, though he later maintained he never “saw drugs.”
Scott previously said he wanted a relationship “reset” with Youngkin, and the governor stated that he looked forward to passing bipartisan legislation where possible.
In remarks made after being voted to become the Democrats’ speaker nominee, Scott described himself as a “pragmatic progressive” who wanted to work with Youngkin “on areas such as education, mental health funding and creating good jobs,” but warned that he plans to push partisan bills focused on achieving Democratic campaign promises.
A memo released by Democrats on November 14 credited the party’s consistent messaging about the future of abortion access in Virginia for its victories, but also blamed the alleged “presidential ambitions” of Youngkin for Republicans’ poor performance.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee Interim President Heather Williams claimed that “national pundits focused on Governor Youngkin and his presidential ambitions” while Virginia Democrats framed the election around “state power and the future” of abortion access.
Frustration over Republican election messaging, which was largely driven by Youngkin and his Spirit of Virginia political action committee, provoked a challenge to Republican leadership in the House of Delegates. However, Youngkin’s allies ultimately survived the challenge, and will retain control over the caucus in 2024.
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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 Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
