Economic JusticeRichmond – As Virginia students head back to school this month, families that are already feeling cost-burdened by gas and groceries are having to make room in their budgets for rising prices on everything from glue sticks to new sneakers to college tuition bills. Nationally, the Century Foundation and Groundwork Collaborative project that the 2026-27 school year […]
Economic Justice
Press Release
General Assembly Passes Governor’s Budget, Averting Threat of Shutdown.
Richmond – Today, the General Assembly has approved a $205 billion budget proposal, following fourteen amendments by the Governor. This averted a government shutdown, which became an increasingly looming possibility during the tense months of negotiation preceding the special session. The most significant debate on the Governor’s amendments came around the Governor’s fifth amendment, which addressed […]
Press Release
Lawmakers Haven’t Found the Courage to Fully Invest in Virginians
Richmond – After a tense month of budget stalemate, cancelled convenings, public disagreements, and a growing concern that Virginia could face a government shut down, members of the General Assembly have approved a $205 billion budget proposal. It will now head to Governor Spanberger for a signature or amendments, which would have to be passed before […]
Press Release
The 2026 General Assembly: Protecting Working Families, Failing on Revenue
Richmond – With the 2026 General Assembly session now concluded, our community is reflecting on a legislative session that delivered significant progress on constitutional rights, economic justice, public safety, and support for working families, but missed significant opportunities to build out avenues for new revenue and to regulate the data centers that destabilize our energy grid and […]
Press Release
Virginia General Assembly Budget Amendments Include Key Investments but Fail to Advance Fair Share Revenue
Richmond– On Sunday, the money committees in the House and Senate released their respective budgets, which provide a sharp change of course from the budget outlined by former Governor Youngkin. While lawmakers rejected many of the former Governor’s proposed tax cuts and made several meaningful investments in housing, education, and support for working families, they […]
Press Release
Workers Celebrate as Virginia House of Delegates Passes Paid Sick Days Legislation
Richmond—Workers and advocates across the Commonwealth are celebrating today as HB5, legislation sponsored by Delegate Kelly Convirs-Fowler that guarantees paid sick days for working Virginians, passed the Virginia House of Delegates on a vote of 65-35. When working people get sick, far too many are forced into an impossible decision: go to work sick and risk […]
Press Release
Bill Extending Minimum Wage Protections To Farm Workers Passes House
Richmond, Virginia—Advocates across the Commonwealth are celebrating the passage of HB20, sponsored by Delegate Adele McClure, legislation that removes the long-standing exemption allowing farm workers to be paid less than the minimum wage. The bill passed the House of Delegates on a vote of 65-35, and it will now crossover to the Senate for another vote. […]
Press Release
ICYMI: Virginia’s Economic Growth Collapses Under Trump, Now Among The Lowest In US
Richmond, Virginia—Yesterday, Cardinal News published a sobering piece about Virginia’s long-vaunted economic growth and how it has radically reversed under the Trump regime. Just a year ago, Virginia’s GDP was tied with New Hampshire for 6th-fastest GDP growth in the nation; it has now fallen to among the lowest growth rates in the US, at just 1.7%. Northern Virginia […]
Press Release
Earle-Sears Brings Chaos, Conspiracies, and Confusion to Virginia’s Only Gubernatorial Debate
Norfolk, VA—Last night, Virginia gubernatorial candidates Abigail Spanberger and Winsome Earle-Sears squared off at Norfolk State University for their first and only debate of the campaign. The hour-long debate was marked by constant interruptions by Lieutenant Governor Earle-Sears and even more baffling responses to the moderator’s questions. “Our community deserves a governor who takes the […]
Press Release
Republicans Force Government Shutdown, Play Politics With Virginians’ Health Care
Washington, DC—Tonight, Congressional Republicans shut down the federal government, leaving thousands of workers across the Commonwealth in limbo and causing thousands more to worry about their continued ability to access health care. It is appalling but not surprising that Republicans have chosen the needs of millionaires and billionaires over the hardworking families they supposedly represent. […]