By Virginia Senator Saddam Azlan Salim

This past Monday marked Governor Youngkin’s deadline to act on all bills passed in this year’s General Assembly. Unfortunately, the Governor vetoed a record 153 bills, many of which had bipartisan support and represented broadly popular policies. Among the headlines were bills prohibiting the Virginia Board of Medicine from taking action against a doctor who provides abortion, and another bill aimed at preventing extradition from Virginia for doctors who provide abortion care deemed illegal in another state. Additionally, bipartisan reforms to our criminal justice system, paid family medical leave, legalized recreational cannabis sales, a minimum wage increase, and the creation of a Prescription Drug Affordability Board were also among the vetoed bills.

Just a week after defending his veto of criminal justice reform bills on Fox News, citing public safety as his priority, the Governor vetoed almost every gun safety bill passed this year. This included a Virginia assault weapons ban, legislation to close loopholes allowing domestic abusers to buy guns, a bill requiring waiting periods for firearm purchases, as well as my bills prohibiting teenagers from purchasing assault weapons and authorizing a study on the effects of gun violence on Virginia’s communities. Other bills of mine that were vetoed included measures requiring signage identifying invasive plants at stores where they are sold and a bill protecting 4th amendment rights in plea agreements.

Despite the setback of numerous vetoed bills, progress was made this session. The governor signed bipartisan bills protecting same-sex marriage, banning legacy admissions at public colleges and universities, and creating new penalties for parents who allow children deemed threats access to firearms. Additionally, the Governor approved a few of my bills, including one raising death benefit payouts for firefighters who die of occupational cancers and other occupational diseases.

Although the budget was not vetoed, the Governor returned a record 233 budget amendments. This session, the Democratic-led General Assembly passed a budget with record investments in public K-12 education, higher education, and mental health. Our budget was both serious and structurally balanced. Because it did not include authorization for the Governor’s proposed “Glenn-Dome” Arena in Alexandria and his proposed tax cuts for the wealthy, the Governor has criticized the budget. Let’s be clear — we need to prioritize school funding, not tax cuts for the wealthy and a stadium for a billionaire. Notably, a concerning budget amendment removed additional funding for Metro to keep the system operating smoothly. I remain committed to advocating for Metro funding and our other priorities in the final budget. While the Governor can propose amendments, the budget ultimately requires final approval by the General Assembly, and we will not let him unilaterally remove our priorities.

Shifting focus, the 2024 election looms near. Last week, it was officially announced that Rep. Don Beyer and Sen. Tim Kaine are the Democratic Nominees appearing on our ballots this fall, as no other candidates filed in the primary against them. While our region is expected to remain a Democratic stronghold, statewide races are likely to be competitive. I urge everyone to become involved in our community, as this is an incredibly important election year.

Lastly, I would like to extend warm wishes and Eid Mubarak to all those who celebrate. Thank you for the honor of allowing me to serve as our State Senator.