Youngkin, Democrats to start over on budget talks

The Republican governor stood with Democratic leaders in the General Assembly on Wednesday in a bid to ease tensions over their budget debate.

Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Democrats in the General Assembly are re-starting state budget negotiations on friendlier footing, suggesting Virginia will avert a government shutdown after weeks of public sparring between the two sides. 

Standing together in the state Capitol building, Youngkin and Democratic leaders in the General Assembly said on Wednesday they will negotiate a new state budget in the coming weeks. An updated budget will then be presented to the General Assembly on May 13th and voted on in a special session on May 15th. 

“There’s nothing that’s off the table,” House Appropriations Chair Luke Torian (D-Prince William) told reporters in Richmond Wednesday. “Everything will be up for discussion and deliberations.”

The return to the drawing board comes after budget talks appeared to break down over Youngkin’s botched arena deal, the governor’s campaign-style events criticizing the budget passed in the General Assembly, and Democrats displeasure over Youngkin’s numerous budget amendments. 

Now, Virginia’s elected leaders are projecting a spirit of collaboration as they go back to square one in drawing up a budget before the current one expires July 1.