RICHMOND, Va.- House Democratic Leader David J. Toscano and Caucus Chair Charniele Herring today issued the following statement praising Governor Northam’s proposed budget:

“The proposed budget is the budget Virginia voters voted for last fall and deserve. It includes major investments in education and job creation. It provides Medicaid expansion in the most simple and direct way possible. Nearly 400,000 Virginians will finally have access to health care and this will allow us to make vital investments to improve the lives of all Virginians by providing more funding for education, economic development, and tackling the opioid crisis. We are also in support of Governor Northam‘s amendment that is set to protect our Commonwealth from any economic volatility by requiring any revenues above those that are forecast in this budget to be invested in a revenue reserve fund. We are motivated to return for special session to pass a budget that will make Virginian lives better.”