RICHMOND, Va. — Following Governor Glenn Youngkin’s 2026-2028 biennial budget presentation today, Freedom Virginia co-Executive Director Ryan O’Toole released the following statement:
“In his final budget, Governor Youngkin once again fell short in delivering fast and meaningful solutions to lower costs for hardworking families. While we believe that policies like the refundable state earned income tax credit and long-term increased standard deduction are important tools to lower costs for regular people, they are not enough. Virginia is in a crisis, and Virginians need more. We are beginning to feel the devastating consequences of Congressional Republicans’ actions, and without safety nets built into the budget, hardworking families’ financial situations will only come under more strain. Health care costs are set to skyrocket in two weeks, new investments in affordable housing are nowhere to be found, and families continue to be burdened by the rising cost of child care.
“Rather than incorporating President Trump’s anti-middle-class agenda into the budget, Governor Youngkin should have targeted affordable health care, child care, energy, housing, and consumer protection. Lowering the cost of prescription drugs, making sweeping investments in child care, guaranteeing paid time off, investing in new, clean, and affordable energy sources, supporting first-time homebuyers, and cracking down on corporate price gouging are tangible and fast solutions to Virginia’s affordability crisis. At a time when uncertainty and instability are the norm, we must ensure that Virginia is a place we can all afford.”
