Good evening John xxxxxx,

It has been another busy week in Richmond, and I wanted to share a few key updates to keep you informed about what’s happening during this Legislative Session.

Governor Spanberger’s State of the Commonwealth

On Monday evening, Governor Abigail Spanberger delivered her first State of the Commonwealth address. While the speech included bipartisan language and messaging, the policies being advanced by the Governor and Democratic leadership in the House and Senate tell a very different story. Despite claims of affordability, the agenda moving forward amounts to a “hoax” and a “con job” for working Virginia families.

Republican Response

Senator Glen Sturtevant delivered the Republican response to the Governor’s address, laying out a clear and responsible alternative focused on real affordability. He highlighted Republican priorities including repealing the car tax, eliminating taxes on groceries, tips, and overtime, preserving the expanded standard deduction, and removing Virginia from costly and ineffective energy programs.

▶️ Watch and share the response here: CLICK HERE

RGGI: Higher Energy Costs Ahead

Also on Monday, Governor Spanberger announced that Virginia will rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) — effectively a tax on electricity. This decision will cost Virginians an estimated $500 million collectively and increase the average family’s annual power bill thousands over the next ten years.

Democrats Block Affordable Tax Relief

On Tuesday, Senate Democrats voted down several Republican bills aimed at lowering costs for Virginia families:

• SB 7 and SB 9 (Sen. Suetterlein) would have preserved the increased standard deduction and eliminated the remaining tax on tips, saving families $600 annually and reducing grocery bills.
• SB 143 (Sen. McDougle) would have eliminated the tax on overtime, saving workers additional money each year.

In just one hour, Democrats blocked $365 in annual tax relief for the average working Virginia family.

Crime Legislation

This week, Democrat Delegate Cousins introduced HB 863, which would eliminate mandatory minimum penalties for serious offenses including violations of protective orders, rape, distributing or creating child pornography, firearm use in the commission of a felony, and aggravated assault — including assaults on police officers, firefighters, and judges. Once again, Democrats are prioritizing policies that make our communities less safe and life harder for law-abiding Virginians.

New Tax-and-Spend Proposals

Democrats also introduced new legislation that would impose taxes on everyday services, including: recreation, counseling, dry cleaning, home repairs, landscaping, cleaning services, vehicle repairs, storage units, shipping services, travel planning, and digital personal property. These proposals would make daily life more expensive for families across the Commonwealth.

Caucus Press Conference

On Thursday morning, Senate Republicans held a press conference calling attention to the rising costs Democrats want to impose on Virginia families. While Democrats pursue tax-and-spend policies and put criminals ahead of law-abiding citizens, Senate Republicans are focused on affordability.

As Virginians hunker down during this winter storm, Republicans are working to repeal RGGI and repeal the Virginia Clean Economy Act, which together could save families up to $3,000 in energy costs over the next ten years.

I will continue to fight for policies that make Virginia more affordable, safer, and stronger. Thank you for staying engaged, and I’ll keep you updated as the Session moves forward.

Warm regards,