Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed two top Democratic legislative priorities on Thursday: bills that would have allowed the recreational retail salesof marijuana to begin next year and measures mandating a minimum wage increase.

The development, which drew criticism from Democrats who control the General Assembly, did not come as a surprise. While Youngkin had not explicitly threatened to veto either set of bills, he told reporters he didn’t think the minimum wage legislation was needed and had repeatedly said he was uninterested in setting up retail marijuana sales.

In 2021, Virginia became the first Southern state to legalize marijuana, adopting a policy change that allowed adults age 21 and up to possess and cultivate the drug. But the state didn’t set up retail sales at the time and still hasn’t, due to shifts in partisan power and policy differences since then.

  • crusa187@lemmy.ml
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    8 months ago

    Youngkin really shoving his head completely up his own ass. Thinks taking a stand against massively popular ballot measures will cement his presidential run, while at the same time proving his inability to govern by leaving millions of tax revenue on the table. Here’s hoping this ushers in even stronger Dem representation in VA to keep the state blue.

    • cybersandwich@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Let’s not forget his swing and miss at the capitals arena move into Alexandria.

      He acted like he did a big thing for everyone, but most of the residents didn’t want it and DC just clowned him by offering a better deal.

    • theangryseal@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Fucking Terry McAuliffe cemented his loss with, “I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.”

      My jaw hit the floor. I knew his campaign was doomed. What kind of idiot tells voters that they shouldn’t have a say in what their kids learn? He destroyed his career with that mouth breathing comment and pushed the entire state into a pile of shit.

      I wanted to reach through the tv and slap him in his face. He pretty much handed this idiot the governor’s seat.

        • theangryseal@lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          Yeah absolutely. I get his point. He could have said something like, “I’m sure someone out there is going to be upset that schools don’t teach that 1+1=11. Kids should leave school with the skills to be adults in the working world and that’s where I stand. For parents who don’t want secular curriculum taught to their kids, homeschooling is a great option. I’m against indoctrinating kids in any way in public schools and for teaching them.”

          Bam, that easy.

          Some people would have spun it anyway, but headlines wouldn’t have said “MCAULIFFE WANTS PARENTS OUT OF THE PICTURE IN SCHOOLS. ANTICHRIST INDOCTRINATION INCOMING!!”