Even though Democrats may have won every statewide election since 2009, Republicans are in control of the House and the Senate.
At the top of the agenda for Republicans this year is something they are eager to hit the campaign trail with — tax cuts.
Republican Delegate Michael Webert of Fauquier County says it’s an issue that provides a contrast with Democrats, who would rather spend money on education and tax credits for low-income people.
“We’d like to give the taxpayers some more of their money back, and I think it’s going to be a matter of seeing where we go. We start on one side and the governor starts on the other, and we’ll see where we end up.”
But Republicans are also eager to expand their base. Republican Senator Bill Stanley of Franklin County is pushing a referendum to modernize schools.
“It brings together the rural areas, which are Republican strongholds, with inner cities, which are not traditionally Republican strongholds. It brings all the Commonwealth of Virginia together because we have crumbling schools in every county, city and town throughout the Commonwealth.”
Republicans are hoping to end the session with a record they can take to voters in the next election because every member of the House and Senate will be on the ballot later this year.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
