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Youngkin vetoes contraception, Confederate tax bills again
Gov. Glenn Youngkin added to his record score of vetoes Friday, killing 38 more bills and bringing his total to 437 for his term. His vetoes included the General Assembly’s second effort to guarantee a right to contraception (House Bill 1716 and Senate Bill 1105) as well as the legislature’s replay of a measure to end a tax break for Confederate organizations (House Bill 1699). Youngkin vetoed the bills after the General Assembly rejected his proposed changes to those measures.
Pressed on Reid leak, Youngkin points to progress, not responsibility
Gov. Glenn Youngkin took questions from reporters Friday following his budget presentation but left after addressing just a few inquiries about the growing controversy involving Republican lieutenant governor nominee John Reid. The governor was pressed by the Washington Post on whether he believes he caused the controversy. He did not directly respond to the question. The press gaggle followed Youngkin’s announcement that he would sign 135 of the 172 budget amendments sent to him by the General Assembly. His office had notified reporters in advance that he would take questions after the announcement.
Yancey: Youngkin vetoes contraception bill; will that boost Hashmi in the Democratic primary?
With his veto pen, Gov. Glenn Youngkin may have given an inadvertent boost Friday to one of the six Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor. With his signing pen, the Republican governor may have also given an inadvertent boost to a different Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor. In last month’s so-called veto session, the Democratic-controlled General Assembly rejected Youngkin’s proposed amendments on 91 bills. He had until Friday to act on those: He signed 53 in their original form and vetoed 38 others. The headline item among the vetoes was on a bill that would have guaranteed a right to contraception.
Youngkin says he will support entire Virginia GOP ticket
Gov. Glenn Youngkin said Friday that he will support the entire GOP ticket, a week after he asked John Reid to withdraw as the party’s nominee for lieutenant governor. Youngkin spoke with reporters at the Patrick Henry Building in Richmond after discussing his final actions on the state’s amended two-year budget. After he initially did not answer a question directly, Youngkin was asked a second time whether he would campaign with Reid. “Yeah, we’re gonna ... I have said that I will support the nominees and their ticket,” Youngkin said. “And at the end of the day, Republicans need to win.”
Youngkin carves out $900 million from budget as Virginia prepares for Trump-era uncertainty
What began as a session focused on how to spend Virginia’s projected multi-billion surplus has ended with Gov. Glenn Youngkin yanking nearly $900 million out of the state budget — bracing for the economic aftershocks of President Donald Trump’s new administration. At the start of the 2025 legislative session both Youngkin and members of Virginia’s General Assembly had their eyes on how best to use the windfall. But after Trump took office in late January, Youngkin announced Friday that he was setting aside a $900 million cushion to prepare for potential federal impacts.
Youngkin cuts $900 million from the budget amendments package, including medical school expansion in Roanoke
Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued $900 million in line-item vetoes Friday to the budget amendments package passed by the General Assembly in February. Those cuts are primarily to higher education capital projects, including expansions of the Virginia Tech-Carilion School of Medicine and Fralin Biomedical Research Institute in Roanoke and the Institute for Advancing Learning and Research in Danville. Youngkin attributed the cuts, higher than previously anticipated, to what he called “short-term risks” due to cuts, shake-ups and uncertainty at the federal level, though he did not use those terms, and the need to create more of a cushion to account for unknowns.
Davidson: Cancer will stop a staunch congressional friend of federal employees
Rep. Gerry Connolly is a consistent man. Every two years since 2017, at the beginning of each Congress, the Virginia Democrat has introduced legislation promoting pay raises for federal employees. The legislation never passed, but the bills demonstrated and symbolized Connolly’s unwavering commitment to federal employees, while providing them fuel for political action. As actions against federal employees by Republicans and President Donald Trump grew, so did Connolly’s vociferous opposition. Now, feds and Connolly’s constituents won’t have him fighting for them for much longer.
Youngkin signs bill tightening baby food regulations
Virginia is now the third state in the United States to pass a law set to protect babies from dangerous contaminants in their food, joining a growing coalition of concerned states. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin signed the Baby Food Protection bill on Friday. The legislation requires baby food makers to test for toxic heavy metals and display those test results via a QR code on the label.
Va. bill to limit social media usage for kids signed into law
A Virginia law to force social media companies to limit kids under 16 to one hour of scrolling per day on their apps and platforms was signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Friday. SB854, known as the "Consumer Data Protection Act," will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026. The bill, subtitled "social media platforms, responsibilities and prohibitions to minors," had overwhelming support within the Virginia General Assembly from both Republicans and Democrats, with all commonwealth lawmakers voting for the legislation.
Becca Glover replaces head of Youngkin’s PAC amid GOP scandal
Becca Glover, the former deputy chief of staff for Gov. Youngkin, has taken over as executive director of the governor's PAC. It comes less than 24 hours after multiple outlets reported that Matt Moran, who has long held the role, was stepping down following a scandal that has been rocking the Virginia GOP this past week. Youngkin said Glover, who left the administration last January, will lead the Spirit of Virginia PAC in a Friday press briefing. ... It's unclear if the role is a permanent change, as some outlets reported that Moran was only "temporarily" removing himself from Youngkin's PAC.