VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Correction: This story has been updated to correct an error about the amount of tax proposed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin for skill game machines.
State Sen. Bill DeSteph held a community discussion in Virginia Beach Monday in support of re-legalizing skill games in Virginia after Gov. Glenn Youngkin amended a bill to add new restrictions.
DeSteph, a Republican, heard from Virginia Beach business owners who are unhappy with the changes Youngkin wants to make to the bill. The bill lawmakers sent to the governor includes a 25% tax and limits how many machines a store can have.
Youngkin wants to tack on another 10% onto that tax, totaling 35%. He also wants to ban the games and the stores they're in from existing 2,500 feet from schools and churches, and 35 miles from casinos.
DeSteph expressed that he wants Virginia to keep its pro-business reputation saying, "This is America; We want to be able to spend our money where we want to spend our money. I think the tax rate of 45% or even 35% on here is a little bit high... Keep it simple, make it easy and let the free market dictate."
A business owner who attended the discussion said "The machines have helped us give everybody raises and keep the good help and pay them top dollar."
DeSteph represents District 20 covering the majority of the Eastern Shore and a portion of Virginia Beach and Norfolk. His criticism shows passionate bipartisan support from at least some lawmakers since the original bill passed in the Senate with notable Republican support. 32 senators in total voted for the bill, with just eight of 19 Republican senators voting against it.
This community discussion happened the same day that hundreds of convenience store owners across the Commonwealth stopped selling Virginia lottery tickets to try and get the governor's attention.
The protest continues on Tuesday when participating stores will close for an hour between 3:50 p,m, and 4:50 p.m.
A spokesperson for the governor told 13News Now, "The Governor supports small business owners have access to skill games and his proposed legislative amendments... would establish an important regulatory framework, enhance consumer and public safety protections and grant localities and Virginians a voice."