Latest news with #VirginiaGeneralAssembly
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Virginia probe into Black communities' displacement surges forward with infusion of funds
Nannie Ruth Johnson stands next to her mother, Ellen Williams Francis, in Nannie's yard on Shoe Lane — property that was part of a historically Black community in Newport News, where families were ultimately displaced to make way for Christopher Newport University. (Photo courtesy of James Johnson) This story first appeared on the Virginia Mercury. As more states reckon with the history of Black land loss, the Virginia General Assembly has been taking a rare, state-sanctioned approach: formally examining how the creation or expansion of public university campuses has displaced Black communities. A 19-member legislative commission met last month, its first convening since a mandatory hiatus during the 2025 legislative session was lifted. Enacted last year, the commission received an additional $200,000 in the state budget signed by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin in May, a major bump from the $28,760 it was initially allocated. As it prepares to enter its second year, the group is poised to deliver Virginia's only known comprehensive statewide examination to date of how public universities displaced Black communities — and what forms of redress may be appropriate. In Newport News, a separate task force has also been working since last year to address the displacement of a once-thriving Black neighborhood that was usurped to make way for Christopher Newport University. The neighborhood, enclosed by Shoe Lane and three other streets, was home to several generations of families who were forced to move when an all-white city council voted to seize a large portion of the area through eminent domain in the 1960s, paving the way for the school's construction. The university's expansion over time led to the acquisition of remaining homes. Today, only five remain. The local response to probe this history, running parallel to the state-level work, is led by the city and university and has laid bare ongoing tensions among some impacted residents of the neighborhood and their descendants. The community members have raised integrity questions about the task force's work, and frustrations remain high for some who say they are still waiting for the impact of their displacement to be fully acknowledged and addressed. 'We've done this before, time and time again,' said Angela Mickel, one of several attendees of a March documentary screening and discussion on Black community displacement, who expressed frustration toward public officials over long-term inaction on the issue. Like others in attendance, Mickel said she felt formal recognition of the community's complete loss was long overdue. 'We have many stories that we need to tell, and Newport News needs to reconcile with its own history.' While Virginia's state commission and the Newport News task force have indicated that engagement with impacted residents will be critical to their work, both are still navigating how best to do so. At the state level, the legislative commission has created a subcommittee focused on African American displacement in Virginia. When they reconvened in May, members adopted a formal work plan outlining how the commission will gather input from those directly affected by university expansion. That could include in-person public hearings, virtual comment periods, or an online platform for submitting written testimony. 'This particular work is pivotal to the work of the committee,' said Del. Karen Keys-Gamarra, D-Fairfax, who suggested that outside experts — not legislators themselves — take the lead on organizing and facilitating community engagement. 'I would not assume that the legislators would be responsible for that … that would speak to the level of integrity of the work that comes out of that committee.' All four subcommittees — tasked with conducting research, liaising with universities, documenting community displacement, and exploring forms of relief — have meetings scheduled through the summer and fall, with the goal of presenting recommendations for the full commission to consider ahead of the 2026 legislative session. Commission Chair Del. Delores McQuinn, D-Richmond, expressed optimism about the direction of the work, particularly with the additional funding recently approved by the General Assembly. 'We are moving in the direction of and the process of acknowledging history, and listening to those who have been impacted, and seeking a pathway toward healing and repair,' she said. A date for a public forum is still being determined in Newport News, where the city-university task force formed in April 2024 has faced criticism over limited transparency and slow outreach — largely due to lack of public access to its meetings and sporadic updates on its progress. The task force has said outreach to families is ongoing, though members have also acknowledged that coordinating those meetings has taken longer than expected. In a February city council work session, as members raised questions about the task force's outreach efforts, the group's co-chair, Vice Mayor Curtis Bethany, said the group wanted to prepare before beginning 'full-blown' outreach, calling the issue 'extremely sensitive' and noting task force members didn't want to approach the community with a 'half-baked pie.' Public remarks from at least one task force member have indicated that the impending public meeting would involve gathering community feedback. 'We want to get the input from the citizens, from the families that lived on Shoe Lane, and from other families that grew up in Newport News,' said task force member Councilman Cleon Long at the March event. As Newport News formally examines the impact of university expansion on Black families, stories of similar displacement are reemerging from other parts of the state. Adrienne Jackson-Franklin said her father, Otis, was young when her grandparents were among those forced to relocate when Longwood University in Farmville expanded into a bordering Black community in the mid-20th century. Former residents and locals in the area recall that the university cleared community blocks in phases to build dorms and academic buildings, displacing many families by threatening or using eminent domain. 'You lose friends, you lose connections, you now have to rebuild, and it's almost like starting over,' Jackson said. She told the Virginia Mercury that she'd be willing to speak with the commission and believes it's important that the state group address generational 'deep-seated trauma' that may exist among families impacted by the displacement. Lamberts Point, a once-thriving middle-class Black community in Hampton Roads, was partially razed in the 1960s and '70s to make way for a branch campus of the college of William & Mary — now the main campus of Old Dominion University (ODU) in Norfolk. Thomas Harris, a longtime resident who moved to the area in the 1970s, said he has worked with remaining neighbors to address the continuing impacts of the expansion. 'I think they should have a whole lot to say about it,' Harris said of displaced families. 'It tore up their homes. It tore up their families—they had to leave and go somewhere else to start all over again.' Longwood and Old Dominion have both said they have worked to improve relationships with communities impacted by their expansion. Longwood pledged to end its use of eminent domain for campus expansion in 2004, according to a spokesperson. ODU offers financial support for Lamberts Point residents admitted to the university, including scholarships either specifically for neighborhood residents or those that prioritize them. Across the country, efforts to reckon with university-led displacement of communities of color vary. Davarian Baldwin, a historian and urban studies scholar, said Virginia's statewide investigation stands out nationally as few other states have sanctioned similar examining bodies. 'In my research I haven't heard of another one,' Baldwin said. 'There could be commissions in almost every state in the union (but) a reparations commission around urban renewal is singular.' Baldwin co-founded the Renewal Project, a national network launched in 2022 to support local responses to campus-related displacement, including efforts in states like Kentucky and Colorado. In both states, impacted residents are directly involved to some degree in reconciliation efforts. Descendants of the displaced Jonesville community in south Kentucky sit on a reconciliation workgroup led by Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, which was established in 2022 to identify ways to address the lasting impacts of the neighborhood's destruction in the 1960s. In Denver, descendants of a Latino community displaced from the former Auraria neighborhood in the 1970s hold the majority of seats on a nine-member council formed last year comprising representatives from several universities involved in the original displacement, including the University of Colorado Denver. The council oversees the future use of homes and a church that were saved from demolition, now part of a historic park. The months ahead may bring key developments in both the state and local investigation. In addition to the impending public forum, members of the Newport News task force have publicly said a website could launch this spring or summer to make their research findings publicly accessible. At the May meeting, the commission was still working to acquire responses to a survey it distributed this winter to most of the state's 45 public institutions of higher education listed by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). The survey included several questions about campus expansion, including queries on schools' knowledge of displacement in Black communities. The Virginia Mercury polled the 15 four-year public institutions and 23 community colleges on that list. A majority said they had responded or planned to respond to the commission's survey, including Christopher Newport, Longwood and Old Dominion University. McQuinn said she expects the additional funding received from the amended budget will allow the commission to bring in more resources which could support the subcommittees work including hiring consultants or, if needed, project managers. 'One of the reasons that we were not able to make as much progress as I think we needed to make was because there was limited funds,' McQuinn said. 'The additional dollars are going to be essential in us feeling that the outcome (is) something that is worthy of the community.' Davarian Baldwin, a historian and urban studies scholar, outlined figurative and tangible acts of repair universities, the state and localities could enact as they address the long-term impact of Black community displacement statewide. Repair for property-impacted residents could take structural forms such as: direct payments to affected families; scholarships for descendants of those displaced; community development initiatives like affordable housing and community centers; and Community Benefit Agreements ensuring job training and procuring contracts from small businesses. Given that universities are often property tax-exempt, an alternative approach could involve redirecting Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) directly to affected communities rather than the city. Commemorative efforts could include integrating the community's history into university curricula; placing historical markers; renaming buildings; and other forms of public recognition that acknowledge the past while fostering ongoing community engagement. Editor's note: This story was produced in partnership with Columbia Journalism School's Spencer Education Journalism Fellowship program. Reporter Brandi Kellam is a member of the 2025-2026 class of Spencer fellows. Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a national nonprofit news organization. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State probe into Black communities' displacement surges forward with infusion of funds
Nannie Ruth Johnson stands next to her mother, Ellen Williams Francis, in Nannie's yard on Shoe Lane—property that was part of a historically Black community in Newport News, where families were ultimately displaced to make way for Christopher Newport University. (Photo courtesy of James Johnson) As more states reckon with the history of Black land loss, the Virginia General Assembly has been taking a rare, state-sanctioned approach: formally examining how the creation or expansion of public university campuses has displaced Black communities. A 19-member legislative commission met last month, its first convening since a mandatory hiatus during the 2025 legislative session was lifted. Enacted last year, the commission received an additional $200,000 in the state budget signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin in May, a major bump from the $28,760 it was initially allocated. As it prepares to enter its second year, the group is poised to deliver Virginia's only known comprehensive statewide examination to date of how public universities displaced Black communities — and what forms of redress may be appropriate. In Newport News, a separate task force has also been working since last year to address the displacement of a once-thriving Black neighborhood that was usurped to make way for Christopher Newport University. The neighborhood, enclosed by Shoe Lane and three other streets, was home to several generations of families who were forced to move when an all-white city council voted to seize a large portion of the area through eminent domain in the 1960s, paving the way for the school's construction. The university's expansion over time led to the acquisition of remaining homes. Today, only five remain. The local response to probe this history, running parallel to the state-level work, is led by the city and university and has laid bare ongoing tensions among some impacted residents of the neighborhood and their descendants. The community members have raised integrity questions about the task force's work, and frustrations remain high for some who say they are still waiting for the impact of their displacement to be fully acknowledged and addressed. 'We've done this before, time and time again,' said Angela Mickel, one of several attendees of a March documentary screening and discussion on Black community displacement, who expressed frustration towards public officials over long-term inaction on the issue. Like others in attendance, Mickel said she felt formal recognition of the community's complete loss was long overdue. 'We have many stories that we need to tell, and Newport News needs to reconcile with its own history.' While Virginia's state commission and the Newport News task force have indicated that engagement with impacted residents will be critical to their work, both are still navigating how best to do so. At the state level, the legislative commission has created a subcommittee focused on African American displacement in Virginia. When they reconvened in May, members adopted a formal work plan outlining how the commission will gather input from those directly affected by university expansion. That could include in-person public hearings, virtual comment periods, or an online platform for submitting written testimony. 'This particular work is pivotal to the work of the committee,' said Del. Karen Keys-Gamarra, D-Fairfax, who suggested that outside experts — not legislators themselves — take the lead on organizing and facilitating community engagement. 'I would not assume that the legislators would be responsible for that … that would speak to the level of integrity of the work that comes out of that committee.' All four subcommittees — tasked with conducting research, liaising with universities, documenting community displacement, and exploring forms of relief — have meetings scheduled through the summer and fall, with the goal of presenting recommendations for the full commission to consider ahead of the 2026 legislative session. Commission Chair Del. Delores McQuinn, D-Richmond, expressed optimism about the direction of the work, particularly with the additional funding recently approved by the General Assembly. 'We are moving in the direction of and the process of acknowledging history, and listening to those who have been impacted, and seeking a pathway toward healing and repair,' she said. A date for a public forum is still being determined in Newport News, where the city-university task force formed in April 2024 has faced criticism over limited transparency and slow outreach — largely due to lack of public access to its meetings and sporadic updates on its progress. The task force has said outreach to families is ongoing, though members have also acknowledged that coordinating those meetings has taken longer than expected. In a February city council work session, as members raised questions about the task force's outreach efforts, the group's co-chair, Vice Mayor Curtis Bethany, said the group wanted to prepare before beginning 'full-blown' outreach, calling the issue 'extremely sensitive' and noting task force members didn't want to approach the community with a 'half-baked pie.' Public remarks from at least one task force member have indicated that the impending public meeting would involve gathering community feedback. 'We want to get the input from the citizens, from the families that lived on Shoe Lane, and from other families that grew up in Newport News,' said task force member Councilman Cleon Long at the March event. As Newport News formally examines the impact of university expansion on Black families, stories of similar displacement are reemerging from other parts of the state. Adrienne Jackson-Franklin said her father, Otis, was young when her grandparents were among those forced to relocate when Longwood University in Farmville expanded into a bordering Black community in the mid-20th century. Former residents and locals in the area recall that the university cleared community blocks in phases to build dorms and academic buildings, displacing many families by threatening or using eminent domain. 'You lose friends, you lose connections, you now have to rebuild, and it's almost like starting over,' Jackson said. She told the Virginia Mercury that she'd be willing to speak with the commission and believes it's important that the state group address generational 'deep-seated trauma' that may exist among families impacted by the displacement. Lamberts Point, a once-thriving middle-class Black community in Hampton Roads, was partially razed in the 1960s and '70s to make way for a branch campus of the college of William & Mary — now the main campus of Old Dominion University (ODU) in Norfolk. Thomas Harris, a longtime resident who moved to the area in the 1970s, said he has worked with remaining neighbors to address the continuing impacts of the expansion. 'I think they should have a whole lot to say about it,' Harris said of displaced families. 'It tore up their homes. It tore up their families—they had to leave and go somewhere else to start all over again.' Longwood and Old Dominion have both said they have worked to improve relationships with communities impacted by their expansion. Longwood pledged to end its use of eminent domain for campus expansion in 2004, according to a spokesperson. ODU offers financial support for Lamberts Point residents admitted to the university, including scholarships either specifically for neighborhood residents or those that prioritize them. Across the country, efforts to reckon with university-led displacement of communities of color vary. Davarian Baldwin, a historian and urban studies scholar, said Virginia's statewide investigation stands out nationally as few other states have sanctioned similar examining bodies. 'In my research I haven't heard of another one,' Baldwin said. 'There could be commissions in almost every state in the union (but) a reparations commission around urban renewal is singular.' Baldwin co-founded the Renewal Project, a national network launched in 2022 to support local responses to campus-related displacement, including efforts in states like Kentucky and Colorado. In both states, impacted residents are directly involved to some degree in reconciliation efforts. Descendants of the displaced Jonesville community in south Kentucky sit on a reconciliation workgroup led by Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, which was established in 2022 to identify ways to address the lasting impacts of the neighborhood's destruction in the 1960s. In Denver, descendants of a Latino community displaced from the former Auraria neighborhood in the 1970s hold the majority of seats on a nine-member council formed last year comprising representatives from several universities involved in the original displacement, including the University of Colorado Denver. The council oversees the future use of homes and a church that were saved from demolition, now part of a historic park. The months ahead may bring key developments in both the state and local investigation. In addition to the impending public forum, members of the Newport News task force have publicly said a website could launch this spring or summer to make their research findings publicly accessible. At the May meeting, the commission was still working to acquire responses to a survey it distributed this winter to most of the state's 45 public institutions of higher education listed by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). The survey included several questions about campus expansion, including queries on schools' knowledge of displacement in Black communities. The Virginia Mercury polled the 15 four-year public institutions and 23 community colleges on that list. A majority said they had responded or planned to respond to the commission's survey, including Christopher Newport, Longwood and Old Dominion University. McQuinn said she expects the additional funding received from the amended budget will allow the commission to bring in more resources which could support the subcommittees work including hiring consultants or, if needed, project managers. 'One of the reasons that we were not able to make as much progress as I think we needed to make was because there was limited funds,' McQuinn said. 'The additional dollars are going to be essential in us feeling that the outcome (is) something that is worthy of the community.' Davarian Baldwin, a historian and urban studies scholar, outlined figurative and tangible acts of repair universities, the state and localities could enact as they address the long-term impact of Black community displacement statewide. Repair for property-impacted residents could take structural forms such as: direct payments to affected families; scholarships for descendants of those displaced; community development initiatives like affordable housing and community centers; and Community Benefit Agreements ensuring job training and procuring contracts from small businesses. Given that universities are often property tax-exempt, an alternative approach could involve redirecting Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) directly to affected communities rather than the city. Commemorative efforts could include integrating the community's history into university curricula; placing historical markers; renaming buildings; and other forms of public recognition that acknowledge the past while fostering ongoing community engagement. This story was produced in partnership with Columbia Journalism School's Spencer Education Journalism Fellowship program. Reporter Brandi Kellam is a member of the 2025-2026 class of Spencer fellows. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Virginia governor vetoed bill to make Black history classes count towards graduation. What's next?
Black members of the 1887-88 Virginia General Assembly. Then-state Sen. John Robinson is pictured on the far left of the back row. (Photo courtesy of Encyclopedia of Virginia) A Northern Virginia faith leader and parent said she will continue asking state lawmakers to make two African-American history courses count towards the state's graduation requirements for history, after the governor — who vetoed the measure and whose four-year term is sunsetting — leaves office. Pastor Michelle Thomas, president of the NAACP Loudoun Branch, and Robin Reaves Burke of the Loudoun Freedom Center proposed the concept to state Del. David Reid, D-Loudoun, shortly after the commonwealth added African American History and AP African American Studies to the list of courses permitted to be taught in public high schools. Sen. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico, and Reid successfully passed the proposal through the General Assembly with some amendments. On March 24, Gov. Glenn Youngkin proposed an amendment requiring the General Assembly to pass the proposal again in 2026, but lawmakers did not accept it. Youngkin then vetoed the bill, stating that it would cause students to miss 'key concepts essential to understanding how historical world events have shaped our modern economy, government, and international relations.' Thomas was surprised and disappointed by the decision, she said. 'You can't divorce African American history from the founding of America. It is the absolute foundation of American history, and so to try to marginalize this and say students shouldn't be learning it, or it's not as important as mainstream history, or the history that he's trying to tell is absolutely ridiculous,' Thomas said in a statement last week. Thomas said she first considered proposing the legislation after her daughter was interested in taking an African American studies course and seeking flexibility with her class schedule towards meeting her graduation requirements. Under Virginia's standard diploma requirements, students are required to take U.S. History, Virginia and U.S. Government, and either World History or Geography. The bill would have given the students the option to substitute African American History or AP African American Studies studies with World History or Geography. Virginia's diploma requirements concerning history Standard Diploma US History Virginia and U.S. Government One other course in World History or Geography Advanced diploma All four are required. Proposed standard diploma (House Bill 1824 in the 2025 GA session – vetoed by governor) US History Virginia and U.S. Government World History or Geography or African American Studies or AP African American Studies 'While I am supportive of expanding choices in what classes students may take to satisfy graduation requirements, we must ensure that classes that replace others are germane to the comprehensive goals of high school education standards,' Youngkin wrote in his veto statement. But Thomas defended the proposal. 'We're not saying 'do away' or 'you can take this or that.' You can take all of them,' Thomas said. 'You can take World History II, if parents feel like World History I and World History II are important. But for those parents (and students) who believe African American history is also and equally important, allow them to get graduation credit for it.' She said she also believes the governor's decision falls in line with a national agenda to minimize or remove public references to Black history, and could align with his future political plans. The curriculum has been continually debated by the public, education leaders and Youngkin's administration during the governor's entire time in office, which concludes in January. The first AP African American studies course was added last year, but not without controversy — Youngkin's education department proposed dozens of revisions before its approval, the Washington Post reported. Reid said in a statement that he was disappointed by the governor's decision and plans to reintroduce the bill at the next session, beginning in January. 'The governor chose to ignore the very values he outlined in Executive Order One on his first day in office — his stated commitment to teach the full story of American history,' said Reid. 'Instead, he allowed political fear to override principle and missed an opportunity to give parents and students more choice in how they learn our shared history.' He also said Virginia history and African American history are important parts of America's origin story, citing the significance of the first House of Burgesses — the first democratically-elected legislative body in what would become America — and the arrival of the first Africans in present-day Hampton, both defining events that took place in Virginia roughly two weeks and 40 miles apart. 'Virginia history is African American history, is American history,' Reid said. 'Our children deserve to learn the truth of our shared story — and they deserve the freedom to choose how they learn it.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Washington-NoVa region named among top metros for working moms
(Photo by Getty Images) The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area has emerged as one of the best large U.S. cities for mothers juggling the demands of work and parenting, ranking second nationwide in a new analysis of economic and family-focused metrics released by CoworkingCafe. The region stood out for its high employment rate among mothers, robust remote work options, competitive income levels, and strong access to child care, education and healthcare. According to the report, 77% of mothers in the Washington region are employed — four percentage points above the national average. About 26% of those working moms have remote jobs, one of the highest rates among major metropolitan areas nationwide. The metro area's performance reflects both workforce trends and longstanding infrastructure. Working mothers here earn a median income of $70,000 — the third highest among the nation's largest metros. And despite an average commute time of 32 minutes — longer than the national average of 25.4 minutes — many are offsetting that strain with flexible work-from-home arrangements and the growing availability of coworking spaces, with nearly seven available per 100,000 working-age adults. Child care access is another factor lifting the region's ranking. The area boasts roughly 1,000 child care centers and 100 schools per 100,000 children, helping it land sixth place nationally for education metrics. While child care costs average $13,800 annually — or about 9.2% of a typical family's income — the availability and quality of services play a key role in supporting working parents, the analysis noted. Health care access is also a major advantage. Nearly three-quarters of employed mothers in the region — 74.4% — receive employer-based health coverage, compared to the national average of 70.4%. Pediatric care is also robust, with approximately 591 pediatricians per 100,000 children under age 21. The new ranking analyzed large metros based on employment rates for mothers, income, work flexibility, commute times, and access to childcare, education, health care and environmental quality. The Washington area ranked behind only one other large metro in the nation — Minneapolis — reinforcing its status as a leading hub for women striving to balance professional and parental responsibilities. While air quality ranked 18th among large metros, the region's overall infrastructure and support systems make it one of the most favorable places in the country for mothers trying to balance it all. In addition to the region's inherent strengths, recent legislative actions in Virginia aim to further support working mothers. The Virginia General Assembly passed a comprehensive 'momnibus' package to improve maternal health outcomes, including legislation allowing doulas to assist during labor and increasing postpartum doula visits for Medicaid recipients. These measures address maternal health disparities and aim to provide better support for mothers across the state. Furthermore, the legislature approved a $200 rebate for taxpayers and bonuses for state employees and teachers, providing financial relief that can benefit working families. While proposals for permanent car tax credits and tax cuts on tips were excluded from the final budget, the enacted measures reflect a commitment to supporting working parents through both health care and economic initiatives. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
03-05-2025
- Business
Youngkin cuts $900 million from amended Virginia budget ahead of economic uncertainty
RICHMOND, Va. -- Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin said on Friday that he would trim Virginia's budget by $900 million in light of next year's tax revenue projections, which could decrease as the White House's reshaping of federal spending spurs economic uncertainty in the state. At a news conference, Youngkin announced he had signed the bipartisan budget bill adopted in February by the Virginia General Assembly but vetoed 37 line items, winnowing state spending to create a rainy day cushion. Youngkin said that while he still supported President Donald Trump's culling of federal spending and dramatic reshaping of global trade through tariffs, he also acknowledged that the changes could hurt Virginia in the short term. 'The President's actions to reset fiscal spending and reset unbalanced trade relationships are expected to have some impact in the near term on not only the Virginia workforce, but also the revenues that we collect,' he said. 'Therefore, this ($900 million trim) is prudent, sound budgeting, putting the Commonwealth in a strong, dynamic position.' The cuts mainly sever funds allotted for 10 capital projects for higher education institutions, Youngkin said, adding that he also cut funding for long-term investment projects that could be funded under existing appropriations. The budget vetoes also scrap funds for a public-private partnership for child care, Youngkin said. The governor described the amendment as an innovative idea but 'not ready for prime time yet.' He said he hoped the legislature would take up the amendment again next year. Youngkin's announcement comes after he proposed in late March more than 200 amendments to the Virginia House budget bill that would have cut the proposed state spending provisions by $300 million. Youngkin's edits, however, were largely ignored by Democrats who have majorities in both chambers. After they returned to Richmond for a one-day session, lawmakers accepted about 30 of Youngkin's proposed budget revisions and scrapped the remaining amendments. According to Virginia law, Youngkin can outright veto the budget or line-item veto parts of the legislation after lawmakers reconvene, though his ability to scrupulously edit the text becomes limited. In light of this constraint, Youngkin opted to veto capital projects and ultimately sliced the state's spending plan by triple the amount he had initially proposed. 'The line-item veto authority for a governor, unfortunately, is a blunt instrument,' Youngkin said, adding: 'Oftentimes, when you use a line-item veto in the context of a budget, it takes away lots of other things, and it has unintended consequences.' House of Delegates Minority Leader Todd Gilbert said in a statement that he wished Democrats had cooperated with Youngkin's $300 million worth of cuts, but he was ultimately pleased with the governor's actions Friday. 'Thanks to the Governor's conservative leadership, Virginia is better positioned to weather what comes next,' Gilbert said in a statement. 'I encourage my Democratic colleagues to join us in putting the Commonwealth's fiscal health ahead of political games.' Democrat Luke Torian, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, said: 'While today's budget signed by Governor Youngkin does not include every priority we fought for, it reflects the determined efforts of House and Senate Democrats to deliver meaningful progress for Virginians.' The budget bill is one of 91 remaining bills that Youngkin said he has until the end of the day Friday to either sign, veto or allow to become law without his action. Those bills landed on his desk after lawmakers rejected his amendments to the legislation in April. 'There are bills that I have vetoed before that we're vetoing again,' Youngkin said on the remaining legislation he is taking up. "There are a lot of bills that I think are very interesting, that I hadn't seen before, and that we tried to make a little better. Didn't get the amendments passed, but I'm still going to sign them." ___
