The past two years have seen a slate of historic successes for Governor Glenn Youngkin and Virginia Republicans. But every step of the way, Democrats in the state Senate, branding themselves a “brick wall,” have obstructed progress and put petty partisan politics above helping working families in the Commonwealth.
Immediately after taking office, Governor Youngkin began delivering on his campaign promises. He took the masks off our kids (over the objections of Virginia Democrats), ended the draconian pandemic lockdowns, removed divisive concepts like Critical Race Theory from classrooms, and began cutting job-killing regulations that had hampered Virginia’s economic growth.
The Youngkin administration also worked with Republicans in the state legislature to deliver more than $4 billion in tax cuts while also investing in the critical services that Virginia families rely on. Along with allocating record funding for education (including a 10 percent increase in teacher pay and performance-based bonuses), Virginia Republicans spearheaded efforts to boost funding for Virginia’s historically black colleges, led a $230 million overhaul in behavioral health care, strengthened partnerships between state and local law enforcement to make our streets safer, and so much more.
Virginia is also thriving economically under Republican leadership. Over 200,000 more Virginians are employed today than in January of 2022, and CNBC recently ranked Virginia as the No. 2 state in the country for business, a result of the more than $47 billion in investment that Youngkin has overseen as governor.
But the reality is that this progress, as impressive as it is, is only a fraction of what it could be.
While Republicans have been busy working to deliver results for Virginia families, Democrats in the state senate have been trying to score cheap political points and sabotage bipartisan wins every chance they get.
Right now, for instance, Senate Democrats are stonewalling budget negotiations over Republican proposals for another $1 billion in tax cuts. Despite Virginia running a $5.1 billion surplus, Democrats want the government to keep all of that money – even as many families continue to suffer the fallout of record-high inflation last year and stubbornly high gas prices.
In February of this year, Virginia Senate Democrats also blocked tougher criminal penalties for drug dealers, even as the fentanyl and opioid crisis continues to worsen. State data show that nearly 2,000 Virginians died from a fentanyl overdose in 2022 alone.
Just a few days before that, Democrats killed legislation that would require schools to notify students and their parents if they won national merit awards or other academic commendations. Governor Youngkin led the introduction of the bill after several Virginia high schools failed to notify students that they had received such awards, costing them potentially life-changing scholarship opportunities.
That same month, Democrats shot down another proposal requiring parental approval for kids to access social media, and then blocked a bill mandating schools have parents’ permission before letting their kids check out mature content from school libraries. Time and again, Virginia Democrats have refused to take even the most basic steps to protect parents’ rights.
Democrats also killed a Republican effort to reinstate a photo ID requirement for voting - a common-sense policy supported by a majority of voters in both parties.
When gas taxes soared to record highs last year, senate Democrats blocked Governor Youngkin’s proposed gas tax holiday, which would’ve saved families hundreds at the pump.
In January, senate Democrats killed a Republican effort to repeal an ill-advised 2021 state law that ties Virginia’s vehicle emissions regulations to those passed in California - effectively banning the sale of gas-powered cars after 2035.
At every turn, Virginia Senate Democrats have put their own selfish political pride ahead of the interests of their constituents. It’s time for new leadership in the state Senate that will work with Governor Youngkin, not against him, to deliver on his common-sense priorities and pass these initiatives into law.
Fortunately, Virginia Republicans have a plan in place to hold the House of Delegates and secure the state Senate with all 140 seats in the legislature up for grabs this fall - and it starts with embracing the full potential of early voting.
Through the new Secure Your Vote initiative, led by Governor Youngkin, voters have more access than ever before to the resources they need to cast their vote early and ensure their voice is heard this November. This landmark achievement will lay the groundwork for early voting success not just in Virginia, but throughout the rest of the country as well.
Governor Youngkin has also led a successful effort to bring attention and resources to Republican Senate hopefuls taking aim at Democrats’ “brick wall.” The governor’s “Spirit of Virginia” PAC has raised millions for GOP candidates, and Dave Rexrode, the PAC’s chairman, has said that Youngkin will “continue to raise resources here at home and nationwide to support the 2023 legislative elections; this is just the start.”
Democrats’ obstructionist “brick wall” has stood for far too long, and cost Virginia far too much. It’s long past time to tear it down.
Rooz Dadabhoy is the founder and chairwoman of Rally Virginia, a network of women dedicated to supporting and championing conservatives in politics and defending American values. She is a resident of Glen Allen, Virginia.
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