After a last-minute cancellation of the House of Delegates’ return to Richmond on June 18, Democrat Speaker of the House, Don Scott, once again called for a hasty return on June 22 to consider a compromise budget between House and Senate Democrats. This budget passed the House only days before a government shutdown would have occurred. In fact, the budget was nearly 100 days late. And although the budget contains some positives, I did not support the Democrat spending spree as it was presented to the House. It increases state spending by billions of dollars without ensuring that the cost of living for Virginia residents will decrease. Overall, the budget does nothing to address the core concerns of affordability.
The Democrats’ budget creates 10 new full time staff positions in the Governor’s office at a cost of $1.2 million per year, and eight new staffers in the Attorney General’s office at a cost of $1.3 million per year. The Attorney General’s new staffers are apparently “needed” to work on the endless lawsuits that Attorney General Jay Jones advances against the Trump administration. The new spending plan negatively impacts public safety by removing/redirecting money that would have increased the minimum number of deputy sheriffs in each sheriff’s office from five to 10. And it cuts $9 million from the School Resource Officer Grant Program, which is in place to ensure there is an effective, competent and experienced security presence at our schools. The budget removes Governor Glenn Youngkin’s cap on tuition increases, all but ensuring that your kids will have to pay more to attend Virginia colleges and universities. Democrats will collect new taxes from both your paycheck and from your employer to pay for a massive state-run paid leave program, while doing nothing to ensure that this program will be secure from fraud or abuse. And you will be paying this tax whether you use the program or not.
I am happy to see that teachers, law enforcement and other state employees received deserved investment in the budget. I have voted for budgets that included these raises in the past, and I continue to support our public servants. But overall, this budget grows government by too much while providing too little relief for families – at exactly the wrong time.
While families struggle to make ends meet, the Commonwealth will be increasing its spending by over $9 million per day to pay for new government programs. So where does all of this extra money come from? Taxes and fees that families will end up paying. In plain terms, the Democrats’ budget grows Virginia’s government by a whopping 10.5%. Instead of offering Virginians substantial support in the form of car tax relief, electric bill relief, grocery tax relief, or any other tax cuts proposed by Republicans, General Assembly Democrats want to expand the role of government while giving themselves a pay raise. The budget passed by Virginia Democrats increases spending over Governor Youngkin’s last budget by over $3 billion and it does not do anything to lower your cost of living. That is why I did not support the budget.
Serving you in the House of Delegates is the honor of a lifetime, and consideration of Virginia’s budget each year is one of the most important decisions I make. I will continue to press for responsible government spending and a government that works for you instead of for itself.
As the Delegate representing the 42nd House District in the Virginia General Assembly, your concerns are my greatest priority. If ever I may be of assistance to you and your family, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at DelJBallard@House.Virginia.Gov. You can also follow me on Twitter @JasonBallardVA or like my Facebook page, Jason Ballard for Delegate, to keep up to date with what I am doing in Richmond and in our community on your behalf.
