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RICHMOND, Va. — Following Governor Youngkin’s budget proposal announcement earlier today, Freedom Virginia called out the Governor for once again introducing a budget that prioritizes special interests and the ultra wealthy, while ignoring hardworking Virginians who need an economic boost.
“Governor Youngkin’s ‘Unleashing Opportunity’ scheme would primarily ‘unleash’ even more opportunity for the wealthiest Virginians, while saddling hard-working Virginians with higher costs and underfunded schools,” said Rhena Hicks, Executive Director of Freedom Virginia. “Youngkin’s plan to lower the top tax rate would mark a huge tax handout mostly to wealthy Virginians and special interests, paid for by forcing working people and families to bear a larger burden of higher sales taxes. For a governor who ran on affordability, this budget would be a broken promise to Virginians. If Governor Youngkin gets his way, Virginia’s K-12 community schools will see a decline in state funding, while special interests get yet another tax break. While Virginians are trying to pay rent and afford their medicine, our budget should prioritize affordability and investment in our communities. Freedom Virginia is calling for the Governor and incoming House and Senate leadership to support a state budget where big businesses and the wealthy pay their fair share and hardworking families get the support and tools they deserve and rely on.”
The Governor’s proposal is not surprising following the budget fight earlier this year where Youngkin’s $1 billion in tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy stood in contrast to a proposed $1 billion investment in public schools from Democrats. Ultimately in the face of deep public disapproval of his proposals, the General Assembly and Governor adopted a budget with increased K-12 investment and no corporate handouts. Hardworking low and middle-income families are already paying more than their fair share and Youngkin’s repeated tax schemes will only exacerbate that.
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