HU Students React To Youngkin's New Amendments

By: Iyaari King

Governor of Virginia, Glenn Youngkin, has unveiled his proposed amendments to the state budget on Monday just hours before the deadline, Virginia Mercury reports. Youngkin accepted parts of the $188-billion budget passed by the General Assembly, including $1.1 billion in tax relief, public employee bonuses and increased education investment. Despite this, he has made it clear where he disagrees. 

Preparing for additional federal layoffs, resisting spending mandates, and rejecting progressive  wage reforms are just some of the ways his plan differs from that of the Democrats.  

According to Virginia Mercury, while speaking before officials in Richmond, he said:

 “It does realistically cause us to stop and  say while we have confidence, there are risks.” 

“Let’s prepare for them, let’s prepare for risks around potential federal workers layoffs with a  pathway for new jobs, different jobs, new careers.” 

In preparation for this possibility, Youngkin supplemented $300 million in spending from the  budget and put it towards the state’s revenue reserve.  

His actions were met with swift disapproval from the Democrats, namely House Speaker Don  Sctott, who alleged that the governor was surrendering to Trump’s interests, according to Virginia Mercury.

In a meeting with administration in Richmond, Scott said, “Trump is destroying Virginia’s economy, hurting workers, decimating healthcare  and our schools. We need a governor who will support Virginians, not cave to Trump and [Elon]  Musk.”  

Virginia native and 2nd year Hampton University student Ciara Reynolds expressed a similar sentiment.

“He’s definitely catering too much to Trump and what he wants. I think  [Virginians]  just want him to stand up for us, but he seems more concerned with keeping Trump happy,” she said.   

Youngkin also vetoed a minimum wage increase, which caused intense backlash from more  progressive residents: which included protesting right outside his residence.

House Bill 1928 was proposed to have raised the state’s minimum wage in increments- reaching  $15 an hour by the year 2027. Youngkin rejected the proposal outright. Critics of his decision  say this action denies raises to hundreds of thousands of Virginians.  

On the other hand, Youngkin backed a $450 million investment into public education funding including $52.8 million for support of students with disabilities and $85 million to raise the cap  on non-instructional school staff. 

Secretary of Finance Stephen Cummings even commended Virginia’s economic growth alongside Youngkin, stating that Virginia has added 276,400 jobs since January of 2022.

Overall, residents of Virginia are conflicted on these new changes.

 “It’s like he gives us one thing and then takes away 12 other things. It’s just confusing as a voter and a citizen here,” said Reynolds.