Youngkin asks divided Virginia General Assembly to help enact ‘vision of change’

In his first State of the Commonwealth address, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) asked the divided General Assembly to help enact his “vision of change,” The Associated Press reported. 

“I’m asking each of us in this body, Republicans and Democrats alike, to come together,” Youngkin on Monday told the Republican-majority state House and Democratic-majority state Senate. “To rise above the Richmond of division, special interests, the small and the parochial and to usher in a sweeping vision of change. And to put this commonwealth on a pathway to prosperity.” 

Youngkin reiterated many of his campaign pledges and offered some new specifics on issues including firearms and abortion policy, according to the AP. 

He also called on the House chamber to allocate $150 million to meet his goal of creating 20 new charter schools in the state. 

Youngkin mentioned dedicating $126 million to training and equipment grant programs for law enforcement and state funding for law enforcement as well, the AP reported. 

Youngkin, who defeated former Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) in the state’s gubernatorial election in November, took office on Saturday. 

Some Democratic lawmakers remain skeptical of Youngkin’s priorities as governor, saying he’s not showing the type of bipartisan support he asked for, the AP reported. 

“There’s a lot of hypocrisy going on here,” Senate caucus chair Mamie Locke (D) told the newswire. 

Locke added that Democrats see common ground with Republicans on raising teacher pay, noting that the House chamber had previously done so, the AP noted.