Video: Freedom Virginia Releases New Ad Calling Out Gov. Youngkin for Blocking Bipartisan Budget That Would Lower Drug Costs, Require Corporations to Pay Their Fair Share

Watch “Rejected” Here

RICHMOND, Va.  — Freedom Virginia today announced a new digital ad buy to hold Governor Glenn Youngkin accountable for blocking the bipartisan budget passed by the General Assembly that rejected the governor’s previous handouts to corporations and the ultra-rich and supported historic investments in public education and health care. The state budget will remain unresolved until at least May 13 due to Governor Youngkin’s refusal to agree to a commonsense bipartisan plan, and the ad calls on Virginians to urge the governor to support a fair budget.

“Rejected” will be backed by an initial five-figure buy in key regions across Virginia . The ad features a red-vested Youngkin look-alike who repeatedly blocks a young boy on a basketball court while the child’s mother watches in dismay. In a voiceover, the ad’s narrator calls out the governor for rejecting the fair budget, for vetoing pro-family legislation to establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board and a Paid Family and Medical Leave Program, and holding up historic investments in public schools contained in the legislature’s budget in order to give corporations and the ultra-rich a tax break.

The General Assembly will re-convene for a special session on the budget on May 13, giving Gov. Youngkin the opportunity to change course.  While Youngkin and General Assembly leaders publicly committed to work together on a new budget last week, the governor has yet to commit to investments that will give hardworking Virginians the tools to thrive, like fair taxes, affordable medicine, or Paid Family and Medical Leave.

“Hardworking families deserve to know that their governor blocked a bipartisan, fair, and commonsense budget that would have rejected tax handouts to the wealthiest Virginians, invested in schools, and lowered the cost of medicine,” said Freedom Virginia Executive Director Rhena Hicks. “Governor Youngkin has already vetoed key bills that would have made Virginia more affordable and a better place to raise a family. This budget is now headed into overtime due to his insistence on keeping an antiquated tax code. We hope the governor comes back willing to play ball on the same team as our kids.”

“Rejected” can be viewed HERE. A transcript is below:

Hey Virginia.

This year we have a shot to make real progress.

But Governor Glenn Youngkin is rejecting a commonsense budget that’s supported by Republicans and Democrats.

Youngkin is threatening to block historic investments in public schools and blocking our shot at lowering prescription drug costs.

Youngkin even vetoed laws that protect new moms, like paid family medical leave.

Tell Governor Youngkin to stop blocking your shot at a better life.