RICHMOND, Va. — A local lawmaker and Virginia's governor continue to be at odds over the state's budget.
Democratic Sen. L. Louise Lucas of Portsmouth, who is also chair of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, is calling on Gov. Glenn Youngkin to meet lawmakers at the negotiation table rather than touting his "backward budget" tour.
In a letter to the governor, Lucas called his understanding of the budget process "backwards" and said his ongoing threats to veto the entire budget if it does not meet his demands is "unprecedented."
She claims the Virginia General Assembly considered all of the governor's proposals and made amendments in the highest priority areas.
Youngkin, a Republican, has hosted a series of campaign-style events in recent weeks to rally public support for a budget deal that would include bringing the NBA team Washington Wizards and NHL team Washington Capitals to the city of Alexandria.
The Democratic-controlled General Assembly wrapped up its session earlier this month without approving the proposal.
The measure envisions a $2 billion mixed-use development featuring a new arena that would be built just a few miles across the Potomac River from where the teams currently play. It would bring Virginia its first major pro sports franchises.
As the Senate’s senior-most member, Lucas prevented her chamber from considering the proposal, even though the House of Delegates gave an initial sign-off.
The budget that Democrats sent Youngkin looked almost nothing like the proposal he introduced. He's been campaigning against it in his public appearances, calling it the “backward budget" because it includes a version of the sales tax expansion he proposed but without the accompanying income tax cut he sought, which would have reduced tax revenues overall.
Youngkin is demanding changes and has said he hopes to work with Lucas and House Budget Committee Chairman Luke Torian to reach compromise revisions that the Legislature can support when it reconvenes for a one-day session in April to consider the governor's proposed amendments to legislation.
13News Now has reached out to Governor Youngkin's team for comment on Lucas' latest letter to the governor. Communications Director Rob Damschen shared the following statement:
"Governor Youngkin has been clear: Virginians are overtaxed, and he will not support new tax increases on hardworking Virginians. When the Governor called Tuesday’s meeting it was to gauge the willingness of Chairs Lucas and Torian to come to the table and move Virginia forward, not backward. The Governor is informing Virginians about the higher taxes and higher electric bills on families, and more criminals on Virginia's streets if the budget the Democratic General Assembly wrote became law. I’m sure they wanted their massive tax increase on Virginians kept a secret."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
