Governor Youngkin Continues to Pursue Bipartisan Consensus in Monumental
Opportunity for Virginia




ICYMI: Since the day Governor Glenn Youngkin announced a partnership to bring
tens of thousands of jobs, billions in economic impact, and two professional
sports teams to Virginia, he has remained committed to working across the aisle
to pursue bipartisan goals in this monumental opportunity.



After the House of Delegates voted in bipartisan fashion to advance the
sports authority legislation,Youngkin said
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:



“I'm encouraged by the continued bipartisan support for the one-of-a-kind
economic development opportunity in Virginia that represents 30,000 jobs and
$12 billion in new economic activity for the Commonwealth. Following the MEI
Commission’s unanimous approval in December, the bipartisan vote in committee,
and today's bipartisan support on the House floor, the more decision-makers
learn about this project, the more they realize that the positive impact
reaches all corners of the Commonwealth.”



Youngkin also stressed what he has said from the beginning – that he shares
the determination of leaders in the General Assembly to achieve bipartisan
objectives that will be supported by this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity:



“From toll relief in Hampton Roads to WMATA investments in Northern Virginia,
from education investments in rural and urban school divisions to critical
transportation arteries like I-81, Virginians know the revenues from this
project will be felt in their communities. I’ve appreciated the deep engagement
with legislators and their staff this week and we will continue to inform these
discussions as the process moves forward.”



This bipartisan sentiment is not new. It is the sentiment Youngkin has stated
from the outset of the General Assembly session. Youngkin has stated repeatedly
and clearly that he is eager and willing to work across the aisle on mutual
goals – whether that is providing toll relief, supporting critical projects for
I-81, strengthening the Metro, or providing needed funding for education across
the Commonwealth.



Toll Relief



As WAVY reported in early January in their story, ‘Committed to delivering
something’: Youngkin seems agreeable to toll relief,
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Governor Youngkin said “I’ve had a constructive discussion with Sen. Lucas,
and I understand the challenges of the tolls, particularly through the Downtown
and Midtown Tunnels. I think we can work constructively to work towards an
agreement. … I am committed to delivering something.”



I-81



As Cardinal News reported
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in December, after the partnership with Monumental Sports and Entertainment
was announced, Youngkin released a budget that “asks for $70 million in
one-time general fund support to accelerate the I-81 northbound lane widening
project from mile marker 116 to 128 in the Salem district.”



Strengthening Metro







As the Washington Post reported last month in their story, Youngkin signals
support for Metro boost as Democrats file arena bills,
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Youngkin said that “There is a mutual commitment to collaborate together on a
solution to WMATA’s short-term funding needs as part of this discussion to
deliver a world-class transportation system.”

Democrat Majority Leader Scott Surovell echoed Youngkin’s comments in the
same story, saying “The governor and all of us recognize how critical Metro is
not just to the Northern Virginia economy, but the economy of the entire
state... He promised to work carefully with myself and chairman Torian to solve
this problem this session, solve at least the next two years this session.”



Governor Youngkin reiterated that commitment last week, after meeting with
WMATA leadership,saying
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asset. We’re working with them on the current funding gap and they will be held
accountable for delivering.”



Education Funding



As Governor Youngkin stated
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in his State of the Commonwealth in January: “I have proposed – again - the
largest education budget in Virginia’s history. $20.2 billion dollars over the
biennium.”



Governor Youngkin is committed to delivering needed education funding across
the Commonwealth, funding which will be supported by the monumental opportunity
in Alexandria. As Heywood Fralin and Nancy Ageewrote
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in Cardinal News last week, “with additional money pouring into Alexandria for
education — $31 million in the first phase of the project — the commonwealth
will have the budget flexibility and additional revenue to allocate education
funding elsewhere, like Southwest schools desperately in need of it.”



Governor Youngkin has remained committed to working across the aisle since
day one, both on this partnership and other bipartisan goals. As the Washington
Post reported in their January story,Youngkin’s focus on Virginia wins praise
from unlikely source: Democrats,
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Youngkin said of the General Assembly:



“It’s a happy building, and there’s a lot of good, constructive discussions
going on. … We’re talking about important things that we can go work on
together.”



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