TCI Statement on the Special Session: Lawmakers at Impasse, Must Prioritize Parents

Budget Impasse Continues, Delays Stem from Proposals That Would Do Little to Help Parents Living Paycheck-to-Paycheck

VIRGINIA – Ashley C. Kenneth, President and CEO of The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis (TCI), released a statement regarding the special legislative session that began today:

“This morning marked the beginning of a special session focused on finalizing the budget. As that work continues, we urge elected officials to deliver a budget that prioritizes parents who are struggling to make ends meet and invests in the next generation. This means making the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) fully refundable, increasing investments in public K-12 education, and providing economic relief through one-time tax rebates targeted to parents. 

“While there is common ground to build on in the proposed House and Senate budgets, a final agreement has—and continues to be—delayed because of proposals that would do little to help many of the working families in Virginia who need it the most. This includes the governor’s proposal to double the standard deduction, which would cost about $2.1 billion over the next two years and drain resources for essential services like public education. Another example is the governor’s proposal to temporarily suspend Virginia’s 26-cents per gallon gas tax—an idea that would primarily benefit the oil industry and people who don’t live in the commonwealth while depleting resources to meet critical transportation and infrastructure needs in Virginia.

“Budgets reflect our values and signal our priorities. It’s critical that the governor and every member of the General Assembly prioritize the needs of parents.”