“Today, the General Assembly passed a budget that makes clear Democrats’ dedication to delivering for all Virginians.”

See below for statements on the VA General Assembly’s passage this afternoon of “a budget that makes clear Democrats’ dedication to delivering for all Virginians,” as Abigail Spanberger puts it. As the Virginia Senate Democrats put it:

“This budget was crafted with hardworking Virginians at the forefront. These amendments reflect our commitment to investing in public education, strengthening Medicaid, expanding affordable housing, and delivering for individuals and families across the Commonwealth…

…At a time of uncertainty in Washington, Senate Democrats remain steadfast in our commitment to responsible investments that keep Virginia strong, resilient, and prepared for the future”

For more detail on the budget, see here. And note that, with Trump and Musk busy trashing the federal workforce and Virginia’s economic engine, we can expect that there will need to be MAJOR changes to this budget in the next few months. Also, it’s quite likely that the next governor will inherit an economic MESS, thanks to Trump, Musk, etc. Oh, and as for MAGA Glenn Youngkin, apparently he never plans to fight for Virginia, which is actually HIS JOB, or to push back against all the stuff coming from the Trump administration that is detrimental to Virginia and Virginians. Which really tells us all we need to know about  where Youngkin’s priorities lie…

Amended Budget Advances in the Senate, Delivering Key Investments in Education, Healthcare, and Housing

RICHMOND, V.A. — Today, Virginia Senate Democrats passed an amended state budget HB 1600 that prioritizes investments in public and higher education, expands Medicaid funding, and increases access to affordable housing across the Commonwealth. The budget provides significant resources to schools and universities, enhances healthcare services for children and seniors, and delivers targeted relief to Virginia families struggling with housing costs.

Key investments in the amended budget include:

• Includes $686.1 million over the biennium for the Medicare and children’s health insurance and forecast.
• Invests an additional $41.2 million for behavioral health and development services.
• Provides 3.2 million for against and disability services.
• Includes $6.9 million to expand Medicaid coverage for weight loss drugs.
• Includes $222.9 million to fully fund state-recognized support positions in public schools.
• Authorizes a tax rebate of $200 for individual filers and $400 for joint filers to be issued October 15, 2025.

Senate Democrats issued the following statements:

“This budget was crafted with hardworking Virginians at the forefront. These amendments reflect our commitment to investing in public education, strengthening Medicaid, expanding affordable housing, and delivering for individuals and families across the Commonwealth.

We are dedicating $782.4 million in state funds to public education, ensuring students and educators have the resources they need to succeed in classrooms that have long been underfunded. Additionally, $83.1 million is allocated to support state employees, recognizing their invaluable contributions and helping them meet the rising cost of living.

At a time of uncertainty in Washington, Senate Democrats remain steadfast in our commitment to responsible investments that keep Virginia strong, resilient, and prepared for the future”