Virginia has a final budget, after legislators returned this past Friday to act on Governor Youngkin’s proposed amendments – resulting in a mixed bag of success for the new Administration.

Two of the most discussed and debated issues in recent reporting – a three-month gas tax reprieve and a state funding restriction on abortion services – passed the Republican-controlled House, but were ultimately defeated in the Senate. Additionally, a proposal that would have created a new felony penalty for picketing or demonstrating near a court or residence (spurred by recent demonstrations that took place at the homes of certain U.S. Supreme Court justices) was voted down.

Yet other priorities of the Governor’s were adopted in the final bill that passed the legislature, including:

  • Halting the release of over 500 incarcerated individuals previously found eligible for early release through expedited earned sentence credits;
  • Extending lab-school status and funding eligibility to community colleges and TAG-eligible private schools
  • Reallocating $10M in funding, originally intended for undocumented students, to support Virginia HCBUs.

As summer begins in earnest, attention has now shifted to the fall midterms for federal elections…and also to Virginia’s 2023 election cycle, when all 140 state seats will be on the ballot.

In summary: there is an overwhelming amount going on at the federal, state, and local level right now. Information overload is very prevalent, and all too real. So here are some photos of a few (Richmond-famous) cats on the internet, to give readers a brief reprieve.

Cheers –

Davis Consultants

 

  • July 5 | Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission
  • July 5 | State Board of Elections
  • July 19 | Virginia Code Commission
  • August 19 | Joint Meeting of House Appropriations, House Finance, and Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee
  • September 7 | 2022 Special Session – Reconvened Session

Youngkin touts achievements during ceremonial budget signing

GLEN ALLEN, Va. (AP) — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Tuesday touted his administration’s accomplishments during his first five months in office at a ceremonial budget-signing event that seemed more like a high-energy campaign rally than a routine bill-signing ceremony.

FULL STORY FROM APNEWS »

 

Loudoun NAACP president joins lawsuit seeking new Virginia House elections

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The president of the Loudoun County NAACP and the local chapter’s former president have joined the latest federal lawsuit seeking Virginia House of Delegates elections this year under the state’s new legislative districts.

FULL STORY FROM WRIC »

General Assembly hands Youngkin wins, losses on budget amendments

Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s budget proposals drew a mixed response Friday in the General Assembly, where Democrats blocked some of his most contentious proposals but allowed others to pass thanks to a handful of defections on important votes.

FULL STORY FROM VIRGINIA MERCURY »

After impasse, legislators elect 2 Supreme Court justices

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Virginia General Assembly on Friday elected two new justices to serve on the state Supreme Court, elevated a lower court judge to the state Court of Appeals and elected two other judges.

FULL STORY FROM APNEWS »

New officials, same problems with Virginia unemployment claims

RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY) – Despite a new governor and a new head of the Virginia Employment Commission, problems continue surrounding unemployment benefits.

FULL STORY FROM WAVY »

Will it be Maryland or Virginia? Feds near a verdict on new FBI headquarters

WASHINGTON — Maryland and Virginia politicians vying for the prize of a new FBI headquarters have just a few months left before a crucial federal government decision.

FULL STORY IN VA MERCURY »

VRE considering free rides for September

As part of a proposed initiative presented to VRE’s Operations Board Friday morning, all VRE rides would be free for the month of September.

FULL STORY FROM INSIDENOVA »

Fed on path to return inflation 'back to normal,' Richmond bank chief says

The president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond takes the threat of economic recession seriously, but is confident the bank will be able to tame inflation without “a calamitous decline in activity.”

FULL STORY FROM RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH »

Board of Health calls commissioner’s comments an ‘embarrassment’

In an unanimous but largely symbolic resolution, the Virginia Board of Health called recent remarks on racism by state Health Commissioner Dr. Colin Greene an “embarrassment” to the body and its members.

FULL STORY FROM VIRGINIA MERCURY »

$37.5M in criminal justice grant funding coming to Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced on Friday that grants totaling $37.5 million would be going towards local criminal justice programs in Virginia.

FULL STORY FROM WRIC »

Virginia AG threatens crackdown on ‘copycat’ THC edibles

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares says his office is planning to crack down on “copycat” THC edibles made to look like popular snack and candy brands, saying the colorful, cartoonish packaging poses a clear threat to children who may not know what they’re eating.

FULL STORY FROM VIRGINIA MERCURY »

Under new law, some of Virginia’s government fleet is poised to go electric

A new state law could jump-start the conversion of much of Virginia’s government vehicle fleet from gas-powered to electric cars by asking state officials to look at a vehicle’s lifetime costs rather than just its sticker price before buying.

FULL STORY FROM VIRGINIA MERCURY »

Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade; states can ban abortion

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has ended constitutional protections for abortion that had been in place nearly 50 years in a decision by its conservative majority to overturn Roe v. Wade. Friday’s outcome is expected to lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states.

FULL STORY IN APNEWS »

Biden teams with East Coast governors to boost offshore wind

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Thursday launched a formal partnership with 11 East Coast governors to boost the growing offshore wind industry, a key element of President Joe Biden’s plan for climate change.

FULL STORY FROM APNEWS »

‘It will save lives’: Virginia senators discuss gun control legislation

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) – The U.S. Senate is taking a big step forward with gun safety. The Senate passed a cloture vote 65 to 44 Thursday, June 23, blocking a filibuster and clearing the way for a bipartisan bill to get a final vote.

FULL STORY FROM WVIR »

Student loan borrowers get a rare win as Senate approves a fix

The Senate has approved a proposal that would allow borrowers stuck with student loan debt linked to a spouse or ex-spouse to separate those loans. For many, it could also open a path to having their loans erased as part of a federal loan-forgiveness program.

FULL STORY FROM NPR »

Vega, Kiggans win GOP nod to face Reps. Spanberger, Luria

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia voters picked two women, a state senator and a Hispanic law enforcement official, on Tuesday as the Republican nominees for what could be two of the country’s most competitive U.S. House races.

FULL STORY FROM APNEWS »