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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed two high Democratic legislative priorities on Thursday: bills that may have allowed the leisure retail sales of marijuana to start subsequent yr and measures mandating a minimum wage enhance.
The improvement didn’t come as a shock. While Youngkin had not explicitly threatened to veto both set of bills, he informed reporters he didn’t assume the minimum wage invoice was wanted and had repeatedly stated he was bored with organising retail marijuana sales.
VIRGINIA GOVERNOR VETOES DOZENS OF GUN CONTROL BILLS THWARTING DEMOCRAT LEGISLATORS
In 2021, Virginia grew to become the primary Southern state to legalize marijuana, adopting a coverage change that allowed adults age 21 and as much as possess and domesticate the drug. But the state did not arrange retail sales on the time and nonetheless hasn’t, attributable to shifts in partisan energy and coverage variations since then.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin delivers his State of the Commonwealth handle earlier than a joint session of the Virginia General Assembly, Jan. 10, 2024, on the state Capitol in Richmond, Va. Youngkin on Wednesday, March 20, vetoed almost two dozen items of crime and regulation enforcement laws, together with a invoice that may broaden the credit inmates can obtain to get out of jail early and one that may permit some immigrants who are usually not U.S. residents to turn out to be law enforcement officials. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Advocates say the disconnect is permitting the illicit market to flourish, whereas opponents have security well being and security considerations with additional increasing entry to the drug. In an announcement, Youngkin stated he shared these worries.
“States following this path have seen adverse effects on children’s and adolescent’s health and safety, increased gang activity and violent crime, significant deterioration in mental health, decreased road safety, and significant costs associated with retail marijuana that far exceed tax revenue. It also does not eliminate the illegal black-market sale of cannabis, nor guarantee product safety,” he stated in a veto assertion hooked up to the bills.
Currently in Virginia, house cultivation and grownup sharing of the drug are authorized. And sufferers who obtain a written certification from a well being care supplier should purchase medical hashish from a dispensary.
Under the bills, the state would have began taking purposes on Sept. 1 for cultivating, testing, processing and promoting the drug in preparation for the market to open May 1, 2025, with merchandise taxed at a charge of as much as 11.625%.
The laws was supported by a variety of business pursuits and opposed by non secular and socially conservative teams.
Virginia first took on legalization at a time when Democrats had been in full management of state authorities. Elections later that yr modified that, with Youngkin successful and Republicans taking management of the House of Delegates for 2 years, although Democrats at the moment are again in full management of the statehouse.
While there was some Republican legislative help because the 2021 session for organising authorized leisure sales, bills to take action have failed in 2022 and 2023.
As for the wage laws, which might have elevated the present $12-per-hour minimum wage to $13.50 on Jan. 1, 2025, after which to $15 on Jan. 1, 2026, Youngkin stated the bills would “imperil market freedom and economic competitiveness.”
The bills would “implement drastic wage mandates, raise costs on families and small businesses, jeopardize jobs, and fail to recognize regional economic differences across Virginia,” he stated in a information launch.
Virginia Democrats started an effort to extend the minimum wage in 2020. They handed laws that yr — which took impact with a delay because of the coronavirus pandemic — establishing incremental will increase as much as $12, with additional bumps requiring one other Assembly vote.
They and different advocates have argued the laws would assist working households afford primary requirements and sustain with inflation.
Youngkin took motion on a complete of 107 bills Thursday, in response to his workplace. He signed 100, together with measures that his workplace stated would “strengthen law enforcement’s ability to prosecute child predators and expand Department of Corrections inmate access to quality health services.”
Besides the marijuana and wage bills, he vetoed three others. One would have eliminated an exemption for farmworkers from the state’s minimum wage regulation.
Another would have required that roughly 315 people incarcerated or on neighborhood supervision with a felony marijuana conviction obtain a sentencing assessment, in response to Youngkin’s workplace.
“Ninety-seven inmates convicted of a violent felony offense, such as first and second-degree murder, kidnapping, and robbery, would be eligible for a reduced sentence under this proposal,” he stated in his veto assertion.
Thursday’s ultimate veto got here for a invoice that handled the kind of proof that may be thought-about in sure staff’ compensation claims. The governor stated present regulation gives a “balanced approach” whereas the proposal would “create a disproportionate imbalance in favor of one party.”
The part-time General Assembly adjourned its common session earlier this month and can meet once more in Richmond for a one-day session April 17 to think about Youngkin’s proposed amendments to laws. They may additionally try and override a number of vetoes, a transfer that requires a 2/3 vote of each chambers, that are solely narrowly managed by Democrats.
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The marijuana laws superior principally alongside social gathering traces, and the minimum wage bills handed strictly on social gathering traces, that means any override try could be nearly sure to fail.
Youngkin introduced the vetoes a day after the general public collapse of one in every of his high legislative priorities: a deal to convey the NHL’s Washington Capitals and NBA’s Washington Wizards to Alexandria. The groups’ majority proprietor introduced they’d as an alternative be staying in D.C.
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