Updates with Action Items
Reported by Sarah Goodman, Political Affairs Chair
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS PROCEED
Right to Reproductive Freedom (HJ1, Delegate Herring and SJ247, Senator Boysko)
Right to Marry (HJ9, Delegate Sickles and SJ249, Senator Ebbin) with bipartisan support
Right to Vote (HJ2, Delegate Bennett-Parker and SJ248, Senator Locke)
All three of the constitutional amendments have passed both the House and Senate! Three Republicans crossed party lines to vote in favor of the Right to Marry including Sens. David R. Suetterlein (Roanoke), J.D. “Danny” Diggs (York) and Tara Durant (Stafford). As we were reminded at January’s meeting, the constitutional amendment process is long. All three will have to be approved again in next year’s General Assembly session; then they will advance to a statewide referendum in November 2026. We must keep our General Assembly blue and work to elect Democrats this fall!
CONFERENCE BUDGET
The compromise between House and Senate budgets) has passed with positive investments in public education, including:
– Fully Lifting the Support Cap: An additional $223 million lifts the arbitrary cap that has limited funding for essential support staff such as instructional aides, nurses, and custodians.
– Special Education Add-On: The budget includes $53 million for a new state add-on for students with disabilities. Virginia has long underfunded special education compared to other states, and this new flexible funding mechanism will provide direct support for students with disabilities while laying the groundwork for future investment.
– Teacher and Staff Bonuses: The budget provides one-time $1,000 bonuses for SOQ-funded school employees with no local match required.
– Protecting Public Education Funding: The conference budget removes a proposed $50 million private school voucher program, preventing public dollars from being diverted away from the students and schools in our communities.
– Key Notes: Some K-12 school construction funding was reduced compared to the introduced budget, which could slow efforts to modernize aging school buildings across the state. Lottery funding once again was supplanted to reduce the general funds for K-12, rather than increased lottery profitts being used to enhance resources for our local schools. This long-standing budget gimmick undermines Virginia’s commitment to use lottery proceeds to support public education.
Action Item: Contact Governor Youngkin. Tell him to pass the Conference Budget AS IS without making changes to these important investments. (804) 786-2211 or glenn.youngkin@governor.virginia.gov
RIGHT TO CONTRACEPTION ACT
This passed both houses and is heading to the Governor’s desk. He vetoed this bill last year.
Action Item: Contact Governor Youngkin. Urge him to protect women’s healthcare by passing this bill. (804) 786-2211 or glenn.youngkin@governor.virginia.gov
Thank you, Karen Martin, Political Affairs Committee member for updating the table with all the bills we’re tracking this year.
NATIONAL UPDATE
The Educational Choice for Children Act (HR 817 HR 833, S. 292) is a proposal that would send $100 billion in taxpayer money to private schools and families who homeschool. This proposal is irresponsible, enables student discrimination, undermines local control of education, and would severely damage public schools that educate 90% of American children.
Action Item: Call your US Representative to oppose the Educational Choice for Children Act. Capital Switchboard (202) 224-3121.
The SAVE Act would require everyone to show proof of citizenship — a passport or a birth certificate that matches their current last name — in person to register to vote, or even just to update their voter registration. Plus, it would mean the end of online and mail-in voter registration, and voter registration drives. MAGA extremists introduced the bill to make voting more difficult for everyone, but it will especially hurt women, immigrants, trans people, children in foster care, and ALL first-time voters. This social share link has more information and action: https://go.redwine.blue/vasaveact
Action Item: Call our US Senators to voice your concern and opposition to the SAVE Act. Capital Switchboard (202) 224-3121.
BIG NEWS:
RVDW Treasurer Donna Littlepage is running for House of Delegates in the 40th district! More details to come. Please make sure to sign her petition to be on the ballot if you live in 40th district. If you aren’t sure what district you live in, go here: https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/