,
As I finish my 8th week at the General Assembly this year, work is
just beginning to wrap up. By the time you read this, most, if not
all, bills will have been acted on in committee, and the last of the
bills are being debated on the floors. Conference committees are
working out the differences between similar bills that passed the
House and Senate to determine the final versions to be presented to
both chambers. The final budget to be sent to the Governor is being
negotiated.
A LOOK BACK AT THE SESSION
While the work of the General Assembly continues, many bills have
already made it through the House and Senate—or have been defeated.
Unfortunately, with Republicans in the minority in the House and
Senate, Democrats have used their majority to push through some bills
that will hurt Virginia families and undermine the Commonwealth’s
economy. Here are some of the misguided bills that Democrats used
their majorities to push through the General Assembly and send to the
Governor for his review.
* Democrats passed a bill to raise Virginia’s minimum wage by about
20%, which makes it more than double what federal law requires. Wages
have risen due to tight worker availability without government
intervention. The market is working, and we need to let it continue.
* Democrats continued their attacks on the 2nd Amendment with bills
that would ban almost all semi-automatic pistols, undermine
reciprocity for law-abiding permit holders, and fine law-abiding
Virginians if they leave their firearm visible if it is locked in
their car.
* Democrats pandered to a massive national far-left union, allowing
them to decide what teacher pay is in Virginia. I want to do
everything possible to support teachers, so we have outstanding
educators in our classrooms. Still, we cannot turn over control of
Virginia to a national labor union.
* Democrats passed a bill to allow non-citizens to become police
chiefs. Our senior public safety roles should be held by citizens,
especially in a period where Democrats in Washington have allowed a
flood of criminals and gang members to enter through our Southern
Border.
* Democrats have long sought to undermine our efforts to protect
innocent lives by drastically expanding the number of abortions in the
Commonwealth, including in the third trimester. Now, they are pushing
through so-called “right-to-die” legislation that will make
Virginia a magnet for those seeking physician-assisted suicides. I
have tremendous empathy for anyone who is suffering from a terminal
illness. Still, physician-assisted suicide demeans the value of human
life, and Virginia should not be supporting these efforts.
Democrats also killed common-sense bills that Republicans were
pushing:
* Republicans pushed legislation that would allow drug dealers
knowingly selling laced fentanyl to be charged with murder in the case
of an overdose and death. Democrats killed this bill in a radical
soft-on-crime approach to reduce the prison sentences of murderers.
* Republicans proposed a bill to end the mandate that requires
Virginians to follow vehicle standards set by an unelected board of
California bureaucrats. It was voted down by the Democrats.
The list of bad bills that passed and good bills that were killed due
to the Democratic majority in the Senate and House goes on and on.
As always, I want to encourage you to watch the General Assembly
session. You are welcome to visit us in person in Richmond and view
the proceedings from the gallery. But you can also stream each day’s
session here:
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Please let me know where you stand on legislation impacting you. You
can reach us at our email
[email protected] or call
(804) 698-7505.To get up-to-date information, please follow us on our
Facebook page, Senator Travis Hackworth. I will be in touch next week
with another update from the General Assembly. Have a great week!
Until next week,
Senator Travis Hackworth
Virginia State Senator, District 5
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