Virginia lawmakers are proposing changes to the state’s two-year budget, calling for $1.1 billion in tax rebates. The budget was signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, with negotiations now underway as the session nears its end. The General Assembly session has been overshadowed by recent events, including a tragedy at Reagan National Airport and political turmoil in Washington. As the session reaches its procedural midpoint on Crossover Tuesday, both parties are pushing legislation that may not become law. Democrats are advocating for a legal cannabis market and gun restrictions, while Republicans are focused on school voucher funding and transgender sports bans.
Amidst the ongoing debate, Democrats and Republicans are in agreement about using surplus funds for tax relief. It remains to be seen if Youngkin will accept the proposed tax rebate details or seek changes. The race for governor is heating up, with Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and Abigail Spanberger addressing the Virginia Capitol Correspondents Association. In addition, Sen. Mark Warner criticized President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Mexico and Canada, warning of potential price increases for U.S. consumers.
The recent tragedy at Reagan National Airport, where a Black Hawk helicopter collided with a regional jet, killing all onboard, has led to a memorial service attended by Gov. Youngkin and Lt. Gov. Earle-Sears. The community is mourning the loss of individuals involved in the crash, including skaters and families. As the session progresses, additional news highlights include Richmond’s water crisis, consumer protection bills, GOP lawmakers advocating for probation reform, and updates from the Republican Party of Virginia. Monday’s trivia question asked for two countries with capitals named after U.S. presidents, with the answer being the U.S. (Washington, D.C.) and Liberia (Monrovia).
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