Richmond, VA — Today, DPVA and Mayor Levar Stoney hosted a virtual press conference to discuss Glenn Youngkin’s disastrous right-wing economic agenda. As The Washington Post editorial board recently illustrated, Youngkin’s plan would drive Virginia’s economy “into a ditch.”
Youngkin’s extreme agenda hinges on eliminating the state income tax, which would decimate Virginia’s essential services — from education and infrastructure to public safety and health care. Youngkin’s far right economic agenda would be devastating for the commonwealth — and Virginia Democrats will work tirelessly to ensure he never has a chance to enact it.
See below for key excerpts and watch the full conversation here.
DPVA Chairwoman Susan Swecker
“Glenn Youngkin is pushing a right wing economic plan that would be disastrous for our commonwealth. Youngkin is proposing an extreme economic agenda that would destroy our economy, decimate public safety, and blow a massive hole in our public education funding. If he gets the chance, Glenn would send Virginia straight into the ditch he likes to talk so much about.”
“Youngkin wants to get rid of the state income tax — but he has absolutely no plan to pay for it. This is the source of 72% of revenue in the general fund budget. Enact Youngkin’s plan, and essential services so many Virginians rely on would be decimated.”
Mayor Levar Stoney
“I’ve said it before, but there is no better person to continue lifting up Virginia and build a stronger post-pandemic economy than Terry McAuliffe. So let’s be clear: the first step to keeping our economy strong and our commonwealth moving forward is electing Terry as governor. [...] Terry’s record of bringing jobs and funding to Virginia is exactly the kind of leadership our Commonwealth needs.”
“Glenn’s agenda would be beyond damaging to our economy — to communities and families across Virginia. [...] What Glenn doesn’t know or care about is what I know first hand as a Mayor: that gutting our essential services like this would devastate our communities and make us less safe.”
“Who does Glenn think will protect Virginians when his tax plan defunds our police and eliminates hundreds of officers? If his economic plan went into effect and the cuts were applied across the board, his economic plan would cut $11 million from our city police department and almost $12 million from our Sheriff’s office. Our Commonwealth’s attorney would lose close to $2.5 million."
“Who will educate our students when his tax plan eliminates funding for our schools? His plan would reduce funding for our schools by $76 million. [...] Glenn has refused to address these basic questions, and we all know why: he has no answers.”
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