Virginia State Senator L. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) indicated on Friday that Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) could see Democrats, who narrowly control the Virginia General Assembly, end their cooperation if he vetoes her bill to raise the commonwealth’s minimum wage to $15 per hour.
In a post to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, the senator predicted that Youngkin “will quickly find the cooperative tone from Democrats changing” should the governor veto her minimum wage bill.
PREDICTION: If Glenn Youngkin vetoes my minimum wage bill, he will quickly find the cooperative tone from Democrats changing very quickly.
— L. Louise Lucas (@SenLouiseLucas) January 26, 2024
Lucas introduced SB 1 to increase Virginia’s minimum wage, with her legislation raising it from $12 per hour to $13.50 per hour in 2025, and then to $15 per hour in 2026.
It narrowly advanced from a subcommittee on January 15, with nine senators voting in favor and six voting against. It now awaits further consideration by the Finance and Appropriations committee.
After Democrats held control of the Virginia Senate and narrowly gained control of the Virginia House last November, party leadership turned down suggestions they should adopt proportional party representation on committees. This means Democrats continue to dominate assemblies in the General Assembly, and may have an easier time advancing legislation than Republicans.
The prediction by Lucas that Youngkin will face a tougher time with Democrats if he vetoes her bill came after the governor called it unnecessary at a Tuesday press event.
“I don’t think that you need to send a bill because the market is handling it,” Youngkin reportedly told members of the press, adding that lawmakers “should allow small business to handle” wage increases.
This is not the first time Lucas has indicated she will use her influence to block Youngkin’s proposals.
After Youngkin announced his plans for the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals to move to a new sporting complex in Alexandria, the senator highlighted two priorities she wanted the governor to support before she would support the new arena complex.
“Anyone who thinks I am going to approve an arena in Northern Virginia using state tax dollars before we deliver on toll relief and for public schools in Hampton Roads must think I have dumbass written on my forehead,” wrote Lucas on X.
Anyone who thinks I am going to approve an arena in Northern Virginia using state tax dollars before we deliver on toll relief and for public schools in Hampton Roads must think I have dumbass written on my forehead.
— L. Louise Lucas (@SenLouiseLucas) December 20, 2023
It remains unclear how many would be swayed by Lucas, as a number of Democratic lawmakers have continued to support Youngkin’s plan to build the new sports complex.
Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-Richmond) is the lawmaker who filed legislation earlier this month to create the Virginia Sports and Entertainment Authority and Financing Fund, which would oversee the construction and administration of the new facilities for the Wizards and Capitals.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “State Sen Louise Lucas” by State Sen Louise Lucas.
I do think you have that written on your forehead. You should have been removed and put in jail long ago.