Fully funding Virginia’s public schools, an increase in the fuel tax, and a new state run health insurance marketplace -- those are all on Governor Ralph Northam’s budget wish list.
Northam unveiled his two-year budget proposal to lawmakers Tuesday. It includes more than a billion dollars in K-12 education spending plus an additional $700 million for clean energy and environmental protections.
Speaking to reporters after revealing those details to lawmakers, Northam says this is what voters asked for when they elected Democrats this past November.
“They said they wanted their children to have access to a world class education, they want access to affordable and quality healthcare, they want us to move toward renewable energy,” Northam said.
In addition to an increase in the gas tax, Northam is also proposing raising revenues through doubling the tobacco tax and by taxing or banning currently unregulated casino-like games that have been popping up in convenience stores across the state. He did not propose any other tax increases.
The administration says the bulk of the new spending priorities will be paid for by growth in Virginia’s already strong economy.
“Virginia’s just the place to be right now and our revenue is good and so we’re able to invest in some of the programs we’ve been talking about for years,” Northam said.
Democratic and Republican lawmakers praised the emphasis on education, although the GOP is skeptical there’s enough money to make it all happen.
“It is apparent that it is Christmas time and I have decided that Santa Clause Northam is going to have to get a second sleigh to carry all of these presents and goodies that he wants to extent to the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia,” quipped Republican Senator Tommy Norment.
Lawmakers now have their turn at the budget, and for the first time in years, Democrats will control the process. In a statement, incoming Speaker of the House Eileen Filler-Corn says they will work to “pass a biennial budget that delivers the progress Virginians voted for in November in a financially restrained fashion.”
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
