Legislation passed during the 2022 Session takes effect today, July 1, unless other provided for in the bill. For a summary of major legislation, check out In Due Course, a publication of the Division of Legislative Services. [Read more…]
Statement on the Supreme Court’s Decision in Dobbs v. Jackson
HOT SPRINGS, VA: Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D-25th District) issued the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade:
During Supreme Court confirmation hearings, potential Supreme Court justices, who ended up being confirmed, noted that Roe v. Wade was “settled law,” implying that they would do nothing to overturn it. Those statements are now seen as clearly and plainly false.
The right of any individual to control their own healthcare decisions is essential if we are going to have economic opportunity for all. A woman’s right to make these critical healthcare decisions has long been acknowledged by that settled law, and today’s decision tragically separates women into classes of citizenship by geography. If you live in a state that acknowledges your fundamental rights, you have equal opportunity. If you live in a state that doesn’t acknowledge your fundamental rights, you are essentially a second-class citizen. The decision of today’s Supreme Court is unacceptable.
Women will continue to have access to legal and safe abortion here in Virginia.
Every election is critically important. It is essential that we maintain the Democratic majority in the Senate of Virginia and regain the majority in the House of Delegates so we can protect those rights for all Virginians.”
Final Word on the Budget
2022 Special Session – Governor’s Recommendations
The last time I wrote, I told you about the legislature passing a budget. With all its warts, the General Assembly finally agreed to a budget on June 1. The Governor had seven days after it reached him to offer amendments or veto the budget. The Governor of Virginia has an extraordinary power in that he can line-item veto articles of the budget. [Read more…]
2022 Special Session — Budget Agreement
The 2022 Special Session I of the Virginia General Assembly met on June 1 to pass a budget. Both the House of Delegates and the Senate met and adopted the conference report, which was negotiated by the chair and vice chair of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee and the chair of the House Appropriations Committee. The negotiations were not typical, but this is not a typical year. [Read more…]
Back in Richmond
The 2022 Special Session that convened on Monday is not so special.
At the end of the 2022 Regular Session of the General Assembly, we had not reached an agreement on a budget. For that reason, we knew a special session was coming. There is nothing magic about the start date.
The budget is currently in the hands of the conference committee, which is made up of senior legislators from the Senate and House, Democrats and Republicans. The main sticking point on the budget is on the revenue side. There is about a $2.8 billion difference between the money that the House and Senate spend on core services. The Senate budget uses the surplus in revenue to provide tax relief and give raises to teachers, state troopers and sheriff deputies, and invest in services like mental health and education. The House uses one-time money to make baseline investments and provides more tax relief. [Read more…]
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