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Chesapeake town hall highlights fears over 'Big, Beautiful Bill' including Medicaid cuts
Local Democratic lawmakers led a packed town hall meeting Tuesday night in Chesapeake to voice concerns about Trump's proposed mega bill. The town hall follows developments in Washington, where the spending and tax cuts bill, known as the "Big, Beautiful Bill," passed the Senate earlier in the day. Three Republicans joined Democrats in voting against it, with the vice president making the tie-breaking vote.
Virginia lawmakers flag Medicaid cuts as a problem in Trump’s tax bill
As Republican leaders in the House worked Wednesday to drum up the votes to pass President Donald Trump’s sweeping domestic policy bill, which comes with substantial cuts to programs like Medicaid, two Virginians could be poised to play a pivotal role. Reps. Rob Wittman, R-Westmoreland, and Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia Beach, voted for the House bill in May, despite expressing reservations over some of the initial provisions.
Paul Riley first Democrat to announce candidacy for 5th Congressional District
A retired U.S. Army officer and Crozet resident announced Wednesday that he is taking another shot at Virginia’s 5th Congressional District candidacy. Crozet residents and potential voters gathered at Claudius Crozet Park to meet Democrat Paul Riley and learn about why he chose to run for the 5th District seat, which includes the city of Lynchburg and the counties of Campbell, Appomattox, Amherst and Nelson, and part of Bedford County. Riley currently works as a national security contractor, “advising on critical issues impacting U.S. defense and global stability,” according to a news release.
Arlington Republicans introduce candidates for statehouse and County Board
Arlington Republicans introduced two candidates for the House of Delegates and one County Board challenger at a Monday meeting. The party acknowledges that, as always, November will be an uphill battle in Arlington. However, the goal is to put forward “candidates who are well-versed in what’s happening locally” as part of a five-year strategy, party chair Matthew Hurtt said.
Virginia’s statewide GOP candidates finally appear together — briefly
After more than two months of snubs and internal squabbling, the GOP candidates for Virginia’s statewide offices finally appeared in the same place at the same time Tuesday night — though they shared the stage at a packed firehouse in Vienna for just a moment after speaking separately to a raucous crowd. Gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears never mentioned lieutenant governor nominee John Reid, the first openly gay nominee for statewide office in Virginia, who some evangelicals in the GOP base have opposed. Earle-Sears praised state Attorney General Jason S. Miyares — who is seeking reelection — and urged the crowd to support Republicans running for Congress and the House of Delegates.
Trump nominates Gilbert for U.S. attorney job in Western Virginia
President Donald Trump on Tuesday nominated Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, a former state prosecutor and speaker and minority leader of Virginia’s House of Delegates, to become the next U.S. attorney for the western half of the state. Trump selected Gilbert to serve, subject to Senate confirmation, for the next four years.
Va. GOP's ticket campaigns together, but not side-by-side
Virginia’s statewide GOP ticket appeared together for the first time Tuesday night — for about a minute — at a rally in Fairfax County, following a controversy that had prompted Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, the party’s nominee for governor, to keep John Reid, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, at arm’s length. Earle-Sears, Reid and Attorney General Jason Miyares, who is running for reelection, shared a brief moment on the stage together alongside Gov. Glenn Youngkin and many others at the end of the rally at the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department.
Virginia senators seek injunction against seating 8 rejected BOV appointees
Nine Democratic state senators are asking a Fairfax County circuit judge to fast-track a preliminary injunction that would prevent three Virginia universities from installing rejected board of visitor appointees, the latest salvo in the senators’ war with the Republican Youngkin administration. On Tuesday, attorneys representing Virginia state senators filed a motion for a preliminary injunction against George Mason University Rector Charles Stimson, University of Virginia Rector Rachel W. Sheridan and Thomas E. Gottwald, who was previously president of Virginia Military Institute‘s board, from recognizing eight people whom Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin appointed to the three schools’ boards but were rejected in June by a Senate committee.
Samuels Public Library Opens New Chapter Without County Funding, But With Strong Community Support
Samuels Public Library began a new chapter today, one that library leaders call “unusual” but deeply meaningful. As of July 1, the library is operating without funding from Warren County for the first time in decades. Still, the halls were filled with smiling faces, coffee cups, and Apple House donuts as supporters streamed in for an open house celebrating community resilience and a commitment to keeping services alive. . . . Although the mood inside the library was cheerful, the backdrop to this event was serious. For over two years, Samuels Public Library has been at the center of a tense funding dispute with the Warren County Board of Supervisors, stemming from concerns over library content and operations.
Warner, Kaine say GOP budget bill would strip insurance from 323,000 Virginians
Virginia’s two Democratic senators voted against a Republican budget package that passed the Senate Tuesday morning in a 51-50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote after an all-night session. The nearly 1,000-page legislation now returns to the House where its passage remains uncertain. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine released a joint statement opposing the measure. “Today, Republicans jammed through a partisan megabill that slashes Medicaid, nutrition assistance, and other critical programs that Americans rely on in order to pay for massive tax breaks to the very rich,” the senators said.