Email from Senate of Virginia Why Having a Republican Governor Matters Why Having a Republican Governor Matters   Greetings, This week is one that I have been looking forward to since the end of the session. We finally heard from the Governor about which bills he vetoed and his recommendations on other bills. I am glad to see the end of many of these bills. They were not common-sense, bipartisan bills but rather a preview of what Democrats want to push next year if we lose the Governorship and fail to retake the House. This serves as a powerful reminder of why having a Republican Governor matters—he vetoed over 150 bills covering issues like gun control, healthcare, and Green New Deal-style mandates. The next step in the process is for us to return to the General Assembly to reconvene and review the vetoes and recommendations. The only way to override these vetoes is if two-thirds of each chamber votes in favor of doing so. Otherwise, his vetoes will stand, and the bills will die.   What were some of these bad bills? To start, there were a slew of bad gun control bills that only passed due to the Democrats' slim majority. These included bills like SB 1329, which would have banned people from having a gun in their car. Not only that, but it would have also made it illegal to leave a gun unattended in a vehicle. This would have created a scenario where if you were legally allowed to conceal carry but drove to an area that did not allow guns and wanted to be responsible by locking your gun away in your car, you would have been punished. They also passed HB 1181, which banned “assault weapons.” This was a blatant violation of Virginians’ Second Amendment rights and would do nothing to stop crime in our state. All this ban does is create criminals out of law-abiding citizens while ignoring the actual bad actors who use guns for malicious intent. These types of bills are just the start—if they regain control of the Governor's mansion and the House, these bills will pass and become law. Another group of bills I was glad to see vetoed were HB 2485 and HB 1928. The first bill advances the marijuana retail market. I was disappointed to see this bill pass because I have seen marijuana use wreck the lives of too many Virginians, and I don’t want to see any expansion of its use - period. The second bill I was glad to see vetoed would have increased the minimum wage from $12.25 to $15 an hour. This would be detrimental to small business owners and drive them out of business. Companies like Walmart, Amazon, or McDonald’s would be able to absorb the initial cost but would ultimately pass it on to the consumer. This means we would drive local businesses out of business in favor of large corporations, which would, in turn, pass these costs on to you. At a time when our economy has not fully recovered from Biden’s disastrous economic policies, this bill would have put Virginians in an even worse economic situation. The bad bills did not stop there. Finally, they passed numerous so-called “affordable housing” bills. While I agree that building affordable homes to address the cost of living is a critical issue, the bills they proposed did not achieve that result, and I am glad to see them vetoed. To address our housing shortage, we must ensure that middle-class Virginians have access to affordable homes. This is achieved by addressing the supply side of the issue—by cutting regulations and allowing contractors to build more homes, housing costs will be lowered. The solution is not creating more bureaucracy and adding more government intervention. If we incentivize and expand free-market housing, prices will naturally become more affordable. These bills, as I have said previously, are just the tip of the iceberg of what Democrats have planned if they gain total control next year. Elections are important, and we are making great progress at the federal level under President Trump. He is slashing regulations, unleashing American energy independence, and fixing our broken economy. We cannot let Virginia fall behind and miss the opportunity to be at the forefront of the Great American Comeback! I head to Richmond on April 2nd for this year’s Reconvened Session, also referred to as Veto Session, and I look forward to voting along with the Governor to see these bad bills die or be amended! My staff and I are always here to assist you with any issues or concerns. Please don't hesitate to reach out if we can be of service. You can reach us at 434.374.5129 or by email at [email protected]   Public Search is OPEN! the new 211 Virginia public search is officially open! This marks a major milestone in modernization efforts, making it easier than ever to find community resources. CLICK HERE   Ambassador Program for Danville and Pittsylvania County Click here for info! April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month! During this month, we focus on the ongoing community effort to prevent child abuse and neglect before it happens. Read Governor Glenn Youngkin's proclamation recognizing the month below. Read Proclamation Here Contact Prevention to request pinwheels. Click below or call 434-572-6916 Ext 1550 CLICK HERE Entrepreneurs, innovators, and small business owners—make plans to stop by the SOVA Innovation Hub on Friday, April 4, from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM for free, one-on-one mentoring with the RISE Navigator team. Whether you're just getting started or looking to grow, this is a great opportunity to connect with valuable resources—no appointment needed! The Southern Virginia Procurement & Business Resource Summit is less than one month away! This is YOUR moment to connect with industry leaders and government organizations ready to work with businesses like yours! Are you a company aiming to collaborate with government entities or major industries? A Small-, Minority-, or Women-Owned business looking to grow? Seeking access to capital or new partnerships? If so, now’s the time to act—don’t let this opportunity pass you by! Here’s why you should join: Meet the right people: Network with vendors, partners, and key players. Unlock valuable resources: Gain access to tools, support, and strategies to grow your business. Build your future: Dive into the procurement process and explore new possibilities.  Event Details: When: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 Time: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM Can’t stay the whole time? Drop in when you can! Where: Institute for Advanced Learning & Research, 150 Slayton Avenue, Danville Cost: Absolutely FREE Register Here DONATE Email Us P.O. Box 145, Clarksville, VA 23927 (434) 374 5129 Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email Senator Tammy Mulchi | P.O. Box 145 | Clarksville, VA 23927 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice