Youngkin Briefly Plays Nice... Briefly

On Tuesday night, it was apparent that Democrats would be able to flip the former Virginia Senate seat of Republican Jen Kiggans. Aaron Rouse was able to win the special election and add to the Democratic majority in the Senate. Rouse campaigned on ensuring access to abortion. He also won because of mail-on ballots, something that Republicans like Delegate John McGuire wants to do away with.

This meant that Governor Glenn Youngkin had to play nice with the Democrats in the Virginia Senate if he wanted to get his wish list fulfilled.

Youngkin walked the halls of the Virginia Capital going to privately visit Senate Democrats. A few minutes before Senator Louise Lucas said, “to hell with…” Youngkin's budget proposals.

Governor Youngkin is proposing to use Virginia’s huge surplus to give tax breaks to Virginia corporations. With control of the Senate, Democrats are in a position to reject the Governor's proposals. Something similar to last year which saw a compromise with Republicans in the House of Delegates.

During Governor Youngkin’s State of the Commonwealth speech, Youngkin called for a ban on abortion after 15 weeks. Something that House of Delegates Speaker Todd Gilbert said was unlikely. That’s not going to stop Republicans from trying anyway.

It was pleasant for Youngkin to briefly play nice but unfortunately it is back to business as usual with culture wars over reproductive rights, privatization of education, attempts to limit access to voting rights. With the formalities aside, the legislative session will have the clashes between Democrats and Republicans begin.

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