Latest news with #VirginiaHouseofDelegates
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Youngkin orders flags to be lowered to honor Jerrauld Jones
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Governor Glenn Youngkin ordered all flags to be lowered to half-staff on Wednesday to honor longtime judge and state delegate Jerrauld C. Jones. Jerrauld Jones, civil rights pioneer and state delegate, dies at 70 Jones' family announced that he died on Saturday, May 31 at the age of 70. Jones became the first African American law clerk to the Supreme Court of Virginia, served as a Democratic member of the Virginia House of Delegates for 14 years, represented Norfolk's 89th District and served as the long-time chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus. The order states that all flags will be lowered at sunrise on Wednesday, June 4 and are to remain at half-staff until sunset. Continue to check for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
An appreciation: Jerrauld C. Jones
Jerrauld Jones, a 70-year-old Norfolk native, former state delegate and judge, died May 31, 2025. (Photo courtesy of the Jones family) Editor's note: This column references a racial slur in a quote. Rare is the time when a state legislator – through the power of his own personal, painful narrative – changes the minds of colleagues. Jerrauld C. Jones, given that platform on the floor of the Virginia House of Delegates in January 1999 as he discussed the Confederate battle flag, displayed an oratory so gut-wrenching, so authentic, that he swayed opposing delegates to his side. There's nothing I can compare it to in the General Assembly since that moment. Jones, a 70-year-old Norfolk native and son of civil rights attorney Hilary H. Jones, died Saturday. Today, he will be memorialized. I don't mean to lessen his sterling lifetime of achievements – including being among the first Black students to integrate Ingleside Elementary School in 1961. He later earned bachelor's and law degrees. In addition to being a state delegate from 1988 to 2002 representing the state's 89th District anchored in his hometown, he later directed the state Department of Juvenile Justice. He then was appointed a juvenile and domestic relations court judge, and then a circuit court judge. He retired from the latter post last year because of health problems. That moment in 1999, though, was an inflection point in his career. People across the commonwealth unfamiliar with his background and determination were introduced to him in a dramatic way. (Full disclosure: Jones' wife, Lyn Simmons, and son, Jay Jones, and I have long attended the same Catholic church in Norfolk. Simmons is a juvenile and domestic relations district judge, and Jay Jones is a former delegate and current Democratic candidate for state attorney general.) I was an editorial writer at the (Newport News) Daily Press in 1999. I remember seeing television accounts of Jerrauld Jones' speech as he explained why Virginia shouldn't give its imprimatur by placing the Confederate flag on state license plates. I couldn't find footage of Jones' impassioned comments that day; a House of Delegates official told me video archives don't go back to 1999. News articles can't truly capture Jones' gripping explanation of how – for African Americans – the flag represented fear, intimidation and white supremacy. But those news stories will have to do: The Sons of Confederate Veterans had wanted the flag symbol on a specialty license plate. Jones, a Norfolk Democrat and head of the legislative Black caucus, relayed his first memory of the flag to colleagues. When he was just 6, returning with other Black children and their parents from a field trip, they saw the flag being waved in a field next to a burning cross at a Ku Klux Klan rally, The Washington Post reported. 'The fear in that bus was so great you could smell it,' said Jones. 'I saw the stark fear in my mother's face as she looked out that window. … All we could do was hope and pray that we would not be molested because of that symbol of hate and violence.' A year later, he and his brother attempted to enroll at Ingleside Elementary School. 'We not only were told, 'Ni–er stay out, ni–er go home' – that we would dare try to integrate their schools – but we were greeted with waving Confederate flags,' he said. And later, he brought his point home: 'And now, some want to put that symbol of pain on the cars of Virginia.' The Post noted that when Jones rose to speak, many delegates were paying their usual scant attention to business. By the time Jones was halfway through his 20-minute teachable moment, though, 'a respectful silence had settled over the room.' The House approved by voice vote an amendment allowing the words 'Sons of Confederate Veterans' on the plate, but not the logo. Jones later received hate mail, and the SCV went to federal court to restore the flag. No matter: Jones' courage, persuasiveness and representation of African Americans were on full display that day a little more than a quarter-century ago. That incident was a microcosm of his lifetime of leadership and service. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Early voting begins for Virginia Democratic primaries: What to know before heading to the polls
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. () — Early voting for the 2025 Virginia Democratic primaries kicked off May 2 in Fairfax County, as the party searches for a new candidate to replace Lieutenant Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. This year's primaries will determine who will potentially fill the seats for lieutenant governor and attorney general. Officials noted that there will not be a Republican primary in Fairfax County because there is only one GOP candidate for each office on the November ballot. This comes after the Fairfax County Supervisor for health reasons. Is Lieutenant Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears still the GOP favorite after governor's race shakeup? On Thursday, the Republican Party of Virginia , saying in part; 'All the attention in this race should be on the extremism of Virginia Democrats and their far-left vision for our Commonwealth. Our focus remains on the future, and we will dedicate every effort to supporting our nominees and making the case for why Virginians need more common-sense conservative leadership.' In November, voters will cast ballots for these statewide offices, as well as the governor, and seats in the Virginia House of Delegates. Fairfax County Government Center | 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, Room 2/3 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays on June 7 and 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mount Vernon and North County Governmental Centers Mount Vernon | 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria North County| 1801 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston On weekdays, both voting centers will open from 1-7 p.m., and on Saturdays, June 7 and 14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Analyst: Youngkin made a 'big mistake' asking Reid to drop out of lieutenant governor race During the early voting period, voters can cast their ballots at libraries and community centers across the county. Libraries: Burke Centre, Centreville Regional, Great Falls, Herndon Fortnightly, Tysons-Pimmit and Thomas Jefferson Community Centers: Franconia, Lorton, Mason, McLean, Sully, West Springfield and Jim Scott Officials said an additional 13 locations will open on June 7. Election day will be held on June 17, and polls will open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters must cast their ballots at their . When voting in person, all voters must show a , according to the Virginia law. Voters who do not have an ID can sign an ID Confirmation Statement and cast a regular ballot. All ballot drop boxes will be available during voting hours. A 24/7 drop box is located outside the Fairfax County Government Center. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers push back on Youngkin budget, pass bipartisan bills on probation, dangerous driving
The Virginia House of Delegates during veto session on Wednesday. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury) In a swift and silent rebuke, the Virginia House of Delegates on Wednesday signed off on just 41 of Gov. Glenn Youngkin's proposed changes to the $188 billion state budget, rejecting the other 164 without floor debate. Democrats fail to override Youngkin vetoes in largely symbolic showdown The move leaves billions in spending and tax policy hanging in the balance — and sets the stage for a potential showdown between Democrats, a GOP governor and a Republican legislative minority three months before the new fiscal year begins. At the heart of the disagreement is Youngkin's effort to slash $300 million from the budget to plug anticipated shortfalls linked to waning federal support. A major casualty of those proposed cuts is the funding to fully lift a long-standing cap on support for school staff — a key priority for public schools across the state. Lawmakers had approved $223 million for that initiative in February, but Youngkin wanted to pull back $183.2 million of it. The House said no. And although House Democrats supported locking in permanent increases to the standard tax deduction for filers who don't itemize, along with an expanded refundable earned income tax credit for low-income Virginians, Senate Democrats pushed back, declining to make those changes permanent — despite including two-year boosts to both in the budget passed during the session. The proposal was one of eight additional amendments from Youngkin that failed in the Senate. Despite the tensions, the Democratic-controlled legislature did throw the governor a few wins, including a key concession for small businesses. Lawmakers agreed to continue the pass-through entity tax workaround, allowing business owners to bypass federal limits on state and local tax deductions. In his budget amendments that he unveiled at an event before administration officials and reporters in Richmond last month, Youngkin had already signed off on the legislature's plan to issue nearly $1 billion in income tax rebates this fall — right before the upcoming statewide elections — with individuals set to receive $200 and joint-filers $400. He also accepted bonuses for public employees, a 1.5% bump for state workers and $1,000 payouts for teachers and school staff. Still, some of Youngkin's more populist ideas never made it off the drawing board. During the legislative session, Democrats soundly rejected his proposals to offset car tax payments and exempt tip income from taxation, both modeled after GOP efforts on the national stage. In a statement released Wednesday evening, Youngkin acknowledged the formal conclusion of the 2025 legislative session with measured appreciation, even as Democrats rejected the vast majority of his proposed budget changes. 'The General Assembly has now concluded its legislative work for 2025. I am grateful to all our legislators, who dedicate their time and energy to serving the people of Virginia,' Youngkin said. Despite the pushback against a wide swath of his proposed amendments, the governor struck a conciliatory tone and emphasized the next phase of the process. 'Over the next 30 days I will review and take final action on the bills and budget amendments that have been sent back to my desk,' he said, signaling that more vetoes could still be on the horizon. Beginning with lunch in the afternoon, Virginia lawmakers ended Wednesday's lengthy reconvened session agreeing on several amendments made by Youngkin, moving forward proposals to improve traffic stops in the commonwealth, expand opportunities for people who have been incarcerated and reign in risky drivers. However, on the same day, lawmakers also rejected Youngkin's amendments for bills that would have made changes to textbook and instructional materials in public schools, preserved Virginians' access to contraceptives and required unconscious bias training when renewing medical licenses. Here are some of the bills taken up during Wednesday's reconvened session. Following an unlikely alliance between the two parties, Virginia is now a step closer to probation reform that advocates stress can help citizens returning to their communities after incarceration get back on their feet and be less likely to reoffend. After passing both chambers last month, Virginia's legislature formally accepted the governor's amendments to SB 936 and HB 2252. Youngkin vetoed a version of the bill last year before embracing it this year, albeit with his own changes tacked on. Unlikely allies unite for probation reform, but Youngkin has final say Both bills aim to allow reduced probation times if formerly incarcerated people demonstrate certain milestones indicative of reestablishing their lives. Examples include securing employment for at least 30 hours a week, earning vocational certifications, participating in mental health or substance use treatment programs and obtaining stable housing and health insurance coverage. While the passed version of the bill allows for up to 30-days reduction in probation time depending on criteria met and 15 days for others, Youngkin's amendment places them all at 15 days. Advocates in support of the bill note that it can build on an executive order Youngkin signed last summer designed to reduce recidivism. With his amendments accepted, he's likely to sign the bill. As happened last year, the legislature passed a right-to-contraception bill that Youngkin sought amendments on before later vetoing. Both chambers rejected the governor's recommended changes to the measure. Youngkin's substitute of the bill reinforces two U.S. Supreme Court cases that deal with access to contraception nationwide, while the proposal would preserve contraception access specifically in Virginia, if those federal cases should be overturned. Some states have debated contraceptive restrictions after the rollback of federal protections for abortion in 2022. Before requesting the Senate reject his amendments Wednesday, bill sponsor Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, said Youngkin's amendment 'makes this bill not really worth anything at all.' When lawmakers rejected his amendment last year he'd vetoed the bill — something that is likely to reoccur this year. Also on the reproductive health front, the legislature rejected Youngkin's amendments to a bill that would require unconscious bias training when renewing medical licenses. Carried several years in a row with bipartisan support and patronage, Youngkin sought similar amendments last year that were rejected before he ultimately vetoed it. His substitute strips the mention of cultural competency and unconscious bias, and instead added 'populations that data indicate experience significantly greater than average maternal mortality, postpartum complications and infant mortality.' Youngkin signs several maternal health bills, tweaks another on unconscious bias training The proposal, found in SB 740 and identical House measure HB 1649, was part of a slate of bills aimed at improving maternal health outcomes this year, in light of data showing Black women are more likely to have negative outcomes or die than others. Studies show that racial bias can be a factor in the disparities. With his changes not accepted, he could veto the bill again. The legislature voted to reject Youngkin's amendments to SB 875 and HB 2610, which would establish a sole pharmacy benefits manager in Virginia. Pharmacy benefits managers act as intermediaries between health plans, drug manufacturers and pharmacies, but their lack of transparency has raised concerns. PBMs retain rebates and discounts from contracts, leaving consumers and pharmacies unsure how much savings are actually being passed on. After the proposals cleared the Senate unanimously and nearly so in the House, Youngkin's amendment sought to study the matter further. 'We do not need more studies,' Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach, one of the bill's patrons, said Wednesday. 'This is a true bipartisan bill.' He and Republican lawmakers have teamed up to tout what they called the 'Save Local Pharmacies Act.' The bill would eliminate health-plan-run PBMs in Medicaid and establish a single state-contracted one. This move, supporters say, would improve accountability, lower costs and help independent pharmacies stay afloat. The House agreed to the governor's recommendation targeting exhibition driving that would bring tougher penalties for offenders. The bill, carried by Del. David Bulova, D-Fairfax, broadens Virginia's reckless driving laws to include exhibition driving, defined as aggressive driving near groups of two or more people. Offenders would also face stiffer penalties including up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine — either or both — under the proposal. Passengers of exhibition drivers wouldn't get off scott-free, either. If they're caught riding on a car's hood or roof, they would face a $500 fine, the measure dictates. One of the amendment changes removes the mandatory minimum jail term if an offender causes the death of another person. The penalty for the felony offense is a minimum of one year and a maximum of 20 years in jail. The House accepted a recommendation by the governor for a bill carried by Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, that would improve communication between drivers who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and law enforcement officers. HB 2501 charges the Department of Motor Vehicles with designing a program that would oversee the development of special envelopes identifying drivers with autism, which those drivers could show police during traffic stops to help the interaction proceed smoothly. The governor's recommendation added language that the DMV does not have to verify any information on the envelope. According to the Department of Planning and Budget, it would cost about $14,500 for DMV to implement the proposal. Lawmakers in both chambers rejected the governor's amendment for a bill that would have made changes to textbooks and other instructional materials in Virginia's public schools. Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, who carried the bill in the Senate, opposed the governor's amendment because it excluded in part language to create a work group to study the textbook approval processes. The amendment also excluded language that would require the Virginia Department of Education to consult with teachers, specialists and subject experts to evaluate any changes to the current textbook review process. The companion bill, carried by Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, was also rejected in the House. An effort to regulate automated license plate readers at the state level was met with debate and near-defeat throughout the 2025 legislative session, after the proposal had also been workshopped last year by the Virginia Crime Commission. After passing the legislature, Youngkin's amendments to HB 2724 were rejected Wednesday. The technology has become widely adopted by law enforcement, private businesses and homeowner associations across the country but has also largely operated in a grey area. Virginia's police departments that use it have not been subject to regulation — though some departments, such as Charlottesville's, have already self-regulated, with moves like capping data storage to seven days. In attempting to regulate at the state level, House Majority Leader Charniele Herring, D-Alexandria, sought to limit data storage to 30 days, but opposition from criminal justice and immigrants rights groups compelled her to reduce that to 21 days. Youngkin's amendment would have bumped that back up to 30 days. With the rejection, he can now choose to sign the bill as it had come to him or he can veto it. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Political theater takes center stage as legislature returns for veto session
The Virginia House of Delegates during its 2025 legislative session, Jan. 8, 2025. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury) The Virginia General Assembly is set to reconvene Wednesday for what will likely be a long, one-day session that's equal parts policymaking and political theater, as lawmakers face off over Gov. Glenn Youngkin's sweeping amendments to 159 bills — including major changes to the state budget. Youngkin finished acting on all 915 bills sent to him during the 2025 session by last week's Monday midnight deadline. He signed 599, vetoed 157, and sent back 159 with recommended changes — including a staggering 205 proposed amendments to the budget bill, House Bill 1600, and eight item vetoes. While many of the vetoes — including on bills to create an adult-use cannabis retail market, raise the minimum wage, allow public-sector unions and tighten how the Virginia Department of Elections processes voter registration data — were expected, none are likely to be overridden. That would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers, and Democrats hold only slim leads: 51-49 in the House, and 21-19 in the Senate. Governor unleashes veto storm to drown progressive legislation Instead, the real legislative drama lies in how lawmakers will handle the governor's amendments — especially those to the budget and several controversial policy bills that set the stage for a partisan clash that could shape not just legislation, but the narrative heading into this fall's critical gubernatorial and House of Delegates elections. Stephen Farnsworth, a political analyst from the University of Mary Washington, offered a candid assessment of Virginia's current legislative dynamics this year, characterizing both the regular and Wednesday's veto session as exercises in political positioning rather than substantive governance. 'This was a kick-the-can-down-the-road legislative session, and it will be a kick-the-can-down-the-road veto session,' he said. According to Farnsworth, lawmakers from both sides are focused on shaping narratives ahead of the November elections rather than crafting major policy shifts. While he expects the veto session to be largely uneventful — 'Veto sessions are usually anti-climactic as long as there is general overall agreement on the shape of the budget, and for the most part there is' — he acknowledged that some amendments might slightly nudge legislation in Youngkin's favor. One such example Farnsworth pointed to was the governor's initiative to explore making Oak Hill, the historic residence of President James Monroe in Fairfax County, a state park. He noted the unusual nature of the proposal, given the region's political leanings and spending patterns. 'Republicans don't often say 'let's spend money in Northern Virginia,'' Farnsworth observed, adding that some Democrats might find the idea more palatable than expected: 'There might be some Democratic lawmakers who might say it's easier to say yes to this than no.' One example of a proposal that is expected to be caught in limbo, however, is HB 1923, which seeks pay parity for midwives. Rather than sign or veto the bill, Youngkin proposed an amendment requiring the Health Insurance Reform Commission to assess the issue and added a reenactment clause — meaning the bill would need to pass again in 2026 to become law. Youngkin signs several maternal health bills, tweaks another on unconscious bias training On the matter of cultural competency and unconscious bias training, Youngkin is once again pushing back. For the second year in a row, he's offered an alternative to Senate Bill 740 by Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, and HB 1649 by Del. Cliff Hayes, D-Chesapeake, which would require medical professionals to complete such training to renew their licenses. As in 2024, Youngkin's proposed substitute eliminates references to 'unconscious bias' and 'cultural competency,' replacing them with language focused on serving populations with high maternal mortality and related health disparities. His version also caps the training at two hours. While Youngkin has expressed support for expanding access to doulas, his amendment to HB 1614 by Del. Adele McClure, D-Arlington, and SB 1418 by Sen. Lashrecse Aird, D-Petersburg, which would allow up to 10 doula visits to be covered by state health insurance, raised eyebrows by changing 'birthing people' to 'birthing women.' Supporters argue the original language was meant to be inclusive, since it reflects the fact that transgender and nonbinary people may become pregnant, groups which Youngkin's edit excludes. Youngkin also revised HB 2724 by Del. Charniele Herring, D-Alexandria, which regulates the use of automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) technology. While the bill originally limited data retention to 21 days, his amendment extends that to 30 — a modest expansion that still keeps a firm deletion requirement. The bill strictly regulates how law enforcement can use ALPR data — only in criminal investigations, missing persons cases, and tracking stolen vehicles or wanted individuals — and requires state approval of all such systems. In the realm of data centers, Youngkin amended HB 1601, sponsored by Del. Josh Thomas, D-Prince William, loosening requirements for environmental and noise assessments. The original bill required a detailed site analysis before new high-energy -use facilities (HEUFs) could be approved. Youngkin's version makes that optional for localities and adds flexibility for examining other environmental impacts. He also clarified that the bill wouldn't take effect unless reenacted in 2026 and wouldn't interfere with local zoning powers. Youngkin's most sweeping changes come in the budget, where he rolled back major Democratic spending priorities. Youngkin tweaks state budget with eye on federal cuts, but embraces key spending He also cut $20 million from a proposed rental assistance pilot and removed $15 million designated for a first-time homebuyer grant program. His amendments further eliminate $138 million allocated for school support staff, along with $25 million for HVAC upgrades at Nottoway Correctional Center. He revived a previously rejected proposal to allocate $25 million for private school scholarships, which would offer $5,000 vouchers to 5,000 low-income families to use toward nonpublic education — a move critics say siphons resources from public schools. Democrats had proposed tax rebates to return about $1 billion to Virginians. Youngkin pushed instead for structural tax changes, including eliminating the unpopular car tax and exempting tips from taxation — both ideas that were rejected by the legislature. Still, Youngkin embraced a core Democratic initiative by proposing to make 20% of the Earned Income Tax Credit permanently refundable. Without that change, the enhanced refundability is set to expire in 2027. He also added controversial language that would withhold state funding from local law enforcement agencies that fail to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Not all of Youngkin's recommendations were partisan flashpoints. He agreed to send out tax rebate checks — $200 for individuals and $400 for joint filers — and backed bonus payments for public workers. Teachers would receive $1,000 bonuses, while state employees would get 1.5% bonuses on top of their already approved 3% raises starting July 1. The Democratic majority has the numbers to reject many of Youngkin's amendments without triggering a budget crisis. Thanks to Virginia's biennial budget system, state funding is already in place for the fiscal year that begins July 1. However, any budget item rejected by the legislature could still be vetoed individually by the governor. And Wednesday's session may not be the last word on the budget. Lawmakers could reconvene later in a special session to address unforeseen federal impacts, such as layoffs or funding cuts, under the terms of a resolution passed earlier this year. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
