Freedom Virginia 2023 Affordability Scorecard

Freedom Virginia — a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to building a Commonwealth where all families have the financial freedom to thrive — today announced the results of their 2023 Affordability Scorecard. This session, Freedom Virginia tracked votes on a host of bills impacting Virginians’ economic security, including healthcare, energy, housing, taxes, and paid leave.  At the start of session, all legislators were informed that Freedom Virginia would communicate to the public about the votes taken on key legislation affecting these issues.

Virginians deserve to know what votes their legislators took this session when it comes to lowering costs for all Virginians. All of the bills included in the scorecard will make life more affordable for Virginians by lowering the cost of medicine, lowering electricity bills, providing paid medical leave to protect economic security in the event of health and family emergencies, and expanding access to affordable housing. 

Below are the members Freedom Virginia is highlighting as champions and allies of the cause. Freedom Virginia is spending over $50,000 on a mail and digital program to acknowledge our champion legislators for their support of our policy agenda.

Affordability Champions

Senator Jennifer B. Boysko (D-Fairfax) 

Senator Creigh Deeds (D-Charlottesville)

Senator Bill Stanley (R-Chatham)

Senator Jeremy McPike (D-Manassas)

Senator J. Chapman Petersen (D-Fairfax)

Delegate Nadarius Clark (D-Portsmouth) 

Delegate Karrie K. Delaney (D-Fairfax)

Delegate Marcia Price (D-Newport News) 

Delegate R. Lee Ware (R-Powhatan) 

Delegate Rodney T. Willett (D-Henrico) 

Economic Security Allies

Senator Ghazala Hashmi (D-Powhatan)

Senator Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax)

Delegate Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-Alexandria)

Delegate Jackie Glass (D-Norfolk) 

Delegate Clint Jenkins (D-Suffolk) 

Delegate Kaye Kory (D-Falls Church) 

Delegate Michelle Maldonado (D-Manassas)

Delegate Irene Shin (D-Fairfax)

Delegate Marcus Simon (D-Falls Church)

Delegate Angelia Williams-Graves (D-Norfolk)

Delegate Dawn Adams (D-Richmond)

Delegate Wendy Gooditis (D-Loudoun)

Delegate Elizabeth Guzman (D-Woodbridge)

Delegate Sally Hudson (D-Charlottesville)

Delegate Candi Mundon King (D-Dumfries)

Delegate Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke)

Leader Don Scott (D-Portsmouth)

Delegate Suhas Subramanyam (D-Loudoun)

Delegate Rip Sullivan (D-Arlington)

Support

Paid Sick Days – HB 1988 (Guzman) & SB 886 (Surovell) and HB 2087 (Mundon King)

When you’re sick, you should be able to stay home without worrying about not getting paid. We know though that this is not a reality for over 1.2 million Virginians who do not have access to paid sick leave at work. Without paid sick leave, Virginia workers are forced to choose between their paycheck and the health of their family, and that of the public. These bills would have required paid sick policies for all Virginia workers, and for health care providers and grocery store workers, respectively. 

Thank you to the Senators who voted in favor of SB 866, we look forward to continuing the fight to ensure paid sick leave coverage for Virginians!

(Senate)

YEAS (Supporting the bill)–Barker, Bell, Boysko, Deeds, Ebbin, Edwards, Favola, Hashmi, Howell, Lewis, Locke, Lucas, Marsden, Mason, McClellan, McPike, Morrissey, Petersen, Rouse, Saslaw, Spruill, Surovell

NAYS (Against the bill)–Chase, Cosgrove, DeSteph, Dunnavant, Hackworth, Hanger, McDougle, Newman, Norment, Obenshain, Peake, Pillion, Reeves, Ruff, Stanley, Stuart, Suetterlein, Vogel

(House)

SB 886 failed to report in House Commerce & Energy Subcommittee #5.

YEAS (Supporting the bill)–Bagby, Hayes

NAYS (Against the bill)–Byron, McNamara, Batten, Webert

HB 1988 was laid on the table in House Commerce & Energy Subcommittee #4.  HB 2087 had the same vote count, with the addition of Del. Head voting YEA against the bill.

YEAS (Against the bill)–Byron, O’Quinn, Webert, McNamara

NAYS (Supporting the bill)–Bagby, Sullivan, Hayes

Housing SB 1141 (McPike) and SB 839 (Locke)

Affordable housing is a crisis nationwide, and Virginians are feeling the pressures of being priced out of their own homes. Thirty percent of Virginians spend over thirty percent of their hard-earned income on housing. The supply of affordable housing is not keeping up with the growing population here in the Commonwealth, with new residents pushing up the costs of housing everywhere. SB 839 will ensure that the Commonwealth creates a statewide housing needs assessment and plan to address affordable housing gaps. Zoning laws have been counterproductive in the effort to lower housing costs, as they artificially limit the available supply of housing, and we are seeing costs continue to climb. SB 1141 would have removed the barrier of restrictive zoning laws by allowing our localities to implement an affordable housing dwelling unit program.

 

While SB 1141 did not pass the House, we want to thank those legislators who supported this measure:

 

(Senate)

YEAS (Supporting the bill)–Barker, Bell, Boysko, Deeds, Ebbin, Edwards, Favola, Hanger, Hashmi, Howell, Lewis, Locke, Lucas, Marsden, Mason, McClellan, McPike, Morrissey, Petersen, Rouse, Saslaw, Spruill, Surovell

NAYS (Against the bill)–Chase, Cosgrove, DeSteph, Dunnavant, Hackworth, McDougle, Newman, Norment, Obenshain, Peake, Pillion, Reeves, Ruff, Stanley, Stuart, Suetterlein, Vogel

 

(House) *The below vote count was taken on the House floor on a motion to refer the bill back to House Counties, Cities, and Towns, effectively defeating the bill.

YEAS (Against the bill)–Adams, L.R., Anderson, Austin, Avoli, Ballard, Batten, Bell, Bloxom, Brewer, Byron, Campbell, E.H., Campbell, J.L., Cherry, Cordoza, Coyner, Davis, Durant, Edmunds, Fariss, Fowler, Freitas, Greenhalgh, Head, Hodges, Kilgore, Knight, LaRock, Leftwich, March, Marshall, McGuire, McNamara, Morefield, O’Quinn, Orrock, Ransone, Robinson, Runion, Scott, P.A., Tata, Taylor, Wachsmann, Walker, Wampler, Ware, Webert, Wiley, Williams, Wilt, Wright, Wyatt, Mr. Speaker.

NAYS (Supporting the bill)–Adams, D.M., Bagby, Bennett-Parker, Bourne, Bulova, Carr, Clark, Convirs-Fowler, Delaney, Filler-Corn, Glass, Guzman, Hayes, Helmer, Herring, Hope, Hudson, Jenkins, Kory, Krizek, Lopez, Maldonado, McQuinn, Mullin, Murphy, Plum, Price, Rasoul, Reid, Roem, Scott, D.L., Seibold, Sewell, Shin, Sickles, Simon, Simonds, Subramanyam, Sullivan, Torian, Tran, VanValkenburg, Ward, Watts, Willett, Williams Graves

SB 839 passed both chambers nearly unanimously!  In the House, Dels. Freitas, Robinson, Phil Scott, and Wright voted against it with Dels. Bagby and Gooditis not voting.  In the Senate, Sen. Chase voted against it.

Prescription Drug Affordability Board – HB 1596 (Delaney) & SB 957 (Petersen)

We know medicine doesn’t work if people don’t take it. 1 in 4 Virginians are being forced to not take their medicine as prescribed due to price- gouging by pharmaceutical companies.

This bill would have established a Prescription Drug Affordability Board for the purpose of protecting people from the high costs of prescription drug prices. This legislation would have allowed the board to use the price transparency data that the Virginia Department of Health now compiles, and use that information to protect consumers from price-gouging by setting upper limits on the cost of certain prescription drugs. 

(Senate)

YEAS (Supporting the bill)–Barker, Boysko, Deeds, Ebbin, Edwards, Favola, Hanger, Hashmi, Howell, Lewis, Locke, Lucas, Marsden, Mason, McClellan, McPike, Morrissey, Peake, Petersen, Rouse, Saslaw, Spruill, Stanley, Stuart, Suetterlein, Surovell 

NAYS (Against the bill)–Chase, Cosgrove, DeSteph, Dunnavant, Hackworth, McDougle, Newman, Norment, Obenshain, Pillion, Reeves, Ruff, Vogel 

NOT VOTING – Bell 

(House)

HB 1596 was laid on the table in House Commerce & Energy Subcommittee #4 following the below vote count. SB 957 was laid on the table in House Commerce & Energy Subcommittee #5.  It had the same vote count with the following differences – Del. Sullivan and Del. O’Quinn did not vote on the measure, and Del. Batten voted YEA against SB 957.    

YEAS (Against the bill)–Byron, O’Quinn, Webert, McNamara

NAYS (Supporting the bill)–Bagby, Sullivan, Hayes

Affordable Energy Act – SB 1321 (McClellan) & HB 1604 (Ware)

No Virginian should be paying more for their electricity than what it actually costs. This bill gives the State Corporation Commission – the agency that regulates electric utilities – the authority to decide fair electric rates for consumers as well as a fair level of profit for monopoly utilities to ensure they can keep the lights on. It also gives the Commission the authority to decide what to do with any utility over-earnings, including whether the excess should be refunded to customers.  


This legislation passed both chambers unanimously!

Earned Income Tax Credit – HB 1653 (Price)

We need to make our tax system more fair by lowering taxes for hardworking families and ensuring that the wealthy pay their share. Virginia’s tax system is unfair and favors corporations and the wealthy. Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit would give families the freedom to use the extra money how they see it: be it paying for groceries, filling up their gas tanks, or making their rent or mortgages. 

(House)

This bill was laid on the table in House Finance Subcommittee #1

YEAS (Against the bill) –McNamara, Ware, Byron, Walker, Durant

NAYS (Supporting the bill)–Watts, Sullivan, Mundon King

Paid Family Medical Leave – SB 1101 (Boysko) & HB 2035 (Sewell)

Families should be able to take paid time off to care for a new child, themselves or a family member when they are facing a serious health condition – without sacrificing economic security, and 84 percent of voters agree. All hardworking people should have the opportunity to not choose between their family’s health and their income. 

SB 1101 passed the Senate by a 22-18 margin and would have set up a self-funded Paid Family and Medical Leave program. A portion of the cost would have been paid by employers and the other portion would have been paid by the employee (similar to how unemployment insurance is structured). 

(Senate)

YEAS (Supporting the bill)–Barker, Bell, Boysko, Deeds, Ebbin, Edwards, Favola, Hashmi, Howell, Lewis, Locke, Lucas, Marsden, Mason, McClellan, McPike, Morrissey, Petersen, Rouse, Saslaw, Spruill, Surovell 

NAYS (Against the bill)–Chase, Cosgrove, DeSteph, Dunnavant, Hackworth, Hanger, McDougle, Newman, Norment, Obenshain, Peake, Pillion, Reeves, Ruff, Stanley, Stuart, Suetterlein, Vogel 

(House)

SB 1101 was laid on the table in House Commerce and Energy Subcommittee #5 following the below committee vote.  HB 2035 was laid on the table in House Commerce & Energy Subcommittee #4.  It had the same vote count with the following differences – Del. Batten did not vote on the measure, Del. Sullivan voted NAY in support of HB 2035, and Del. O’Quinn voted YEA against HB 2035.    

YEAS (Against the bill)–Byron, McNamara, Batten, Webert

NAYS (Supporting the bill)–Bagby, Hayes

Oppose

Corporate Tax Breaks – HB 2138 (McNamara)

This bill would have increased the corporate income tax deduction. Virginia’s budget should prioritize the things Virginians need, like excellent schools, quality and accessible child care, affordable housing and tax relief for families – not more tax breaks for out-of-state corporations.    

(House)

YEAS (Supporting the bill)–Adams, L.R., Anderson, Austin, Avoli, Ballard, Batten, Bell, Bloxom, Brewer, Byron, Campbell, E.H., Campbell, J.L., Cherry, Cordoza, Coyner, Davis, Durant, Edmunds, Fariss, Fowler, Freitas, Greenhalgh, Head, Hodges, Kilgore, Knight, LaRock, Leftwich, March, Marshall, McGuire, McNamara, Morefield, O’Quinn, Orrock, Ransone, Robinson, Runion, Scott, P.A., Tata, Taylor, Wachsmann, Walker, Wampler, Ware, Webert, Wiley, Williams, Wilt, Wright, Wyatt, Mr. Speaker

NAYS (Opposing the bill)–Adams, D.M., Bagby, Bennett-Parker, Bourne, Bulova, Carr, Clark, Convirs-Fowler, Delaney, Filler-Corn, Glass, Gooditis, Guzman, Hayes, Helmer, Herring, Hope, Hudson, Jenkins, Kory, Krizek, Lopez, Maldonado, McQuinn, Mullin, Mundon King, Murphy, Plum, Price, Rasoul, Reid, Roem, Scott, D.L., Seibold, Sewell, Shin, Sickles, Simon, Simonds, Subramanyam, Sullivan, Torian, Tran, VanValkenburg, Ward, Watts, Willett, Williams Graves

(Senate)

This was passed by indefinitely in Senate Finance and Appropriations with the following votes

YEAS (Against the bill)–Howell, Barker, Saslaw, Lucas, Edwards, Deeds, Locke, Petersen, Marsden, Ebbin, McClellan

NAYS (Supporting the bill)–Norment, Hanger, Newman, Ruff, Vogel

Lowering minimum wage workers for under 18 years of age – HB 1669 (Marshall)

This bill would have lowered the minimum wage for workers under 18 by $3 per hour. We believe that a good job should allow you to provide for your family, should allow you to grow your wealth and should provide you peace of mind. When we lower the minimum wage, we are telling the Virginians working those jobs  – no matter their age – that they are worth less. Many studies have shown that paying workers a fair wage can lead to improved worker productivity, reduced employee turnover, and increased employee morale. Freedom Virginia condemns any legislation to lower the minimum wage.

(House)

This bill was referred from the House floor to the House Commerce & Energy Committee, where it was ultimately left. Before advancing to the House floor, it had the following committee vote to advance.

YEAS (Supporting the bill)–Byron, Marshall, O’Quinn, Ransone, Webert, Wilt, Head, Adams, L.R., McNamara, Batten

NAYS (Against the bill)–Ward, Kory, Bagby, Mullin, Lopez, Sullivan, Guzman, Gooditis, Scott, D.L.

NOT VOTING–Kilgore, Ware, Hayes