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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 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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
Three Va. Planned Parenthood clinics affected by Trump administration’s Title X funding freeze
Three Virginia Planned Parenthood health centers in Richmond, Hampton and Virginia Beach have been affected by federal Title X family planning grant freezes, losing over $1 million in funds fueling family planning services. Established in 1970, the federal program helps low and extremely low-income people access family planning care like contraception, sexually transmitted disease screenings and treatment as well as cancer screenings, at low or no cost.
Vindman recognizes family as he calls on Congress to protect funding for Medicaid
Shannon almost didn’t attend the recent telephone town hall hosted by Congressman Eugene Vindman. “I was going to go to bed,” said the Fredericksburg area resident, who’s the mother of three boys and works part-time. She’d never reached out to her congressional representative before, either, but said she felt that Vindman “would hear me and care.” One of Shannon’s young sons, Luka, has Nonketotic Hyperglycinemia (NKH), a rare genetic disorder that necessitates 24/7 in-home nursing care and 18 medications. Shannon and her husband Chris rely on Medicaid to supplement their private insurance and enable them to provide Luka with the supports and medical equipment he needs.
Friday Read Fearing deportation, a beloved Virginia music teacher gives a final lesson
On the day before spring break at Forest Grove Elementary School in Northern Virginia, students bounded through the halls with backpacks swinging behind them. They wiggled in their seats, eager for vacation. But in Jesús Rodríguez’s music classroom, the mood was somber. “Don’t leave us!” one student shouted to Rodríguez after the class sang a medley. Other fourth- and fifth-graders wrapped their arms around one another, wiping tears from their eyes. Rodríguez, a Venezuelan national, was legally living and working in this D.C. suburb under a humanitarian parole program that the Trump administration announced would end early. Without a clear path to stay legally, he decided to leave the United States, worried he could end up inside a Salvadoran prison — separated from his wife and 6-year-old daughter — if he didn’t.
Youngkin aide steps down amid controversy over GOP’s lieutenant governor candidate
A top aide to Glenn Youngkin’s political operation has stepped down from his post leading the PAC, Spirit of Virginia, according to a person familiar with his departure and granted anonymity to describe internal matters. Matt Moran, a longtime Youngkin staffer, had become the center of a political firestorm in recent days after allegations emerged that John Reid, the presumptive GOP nominee for lieutenant governor, had maintained a social media account with pornographic images of naked men.