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.