RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – The Virginia Senate is set to return to Richmond Tuesday to take up key issues, including skill games and the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP).
Last month, the budget passed by the Virginia General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Glenn Youngkin made VMSDEP, which waives college tuition for the kids and spouses of qualified disabled military veterans, harder for families to access.
After considerable backlash, Youngkin has called on the General Assembly to repeal the changes entirely. However, Democratic leadership has stopped short of calling for a full repeal. Instead, they favor exempting gold-star families and those wounded in combat from the changes.
“Like I said, I support the issue, I support our military families and our veterans as well, and we will make sure we solve this issue when we get back to Richmond tomorrow,” Senator Aaron Rouse (D-Virginia Beach) told 8News.
Also on the docket are bills to legalize skill games in Virginia. Earlier this year, Youngkin vetoed a bill to do just that, after it received bipartisan support in the General Assembly. A spokesperson from Youngkin’s office shared the following statement with 8News in regards to both issues:
Governor Youngkin has been clear that he will not consider any other legislation until the General Assembly has done the right thing for our military heroes, first responders and their families by fully repealing and reversing the VMSDEP waiver changes. The Governor made his position on skill games legislation clear in his amendments and has indicated a willingness to continue the discussion, but only after the VMSDEP issue has been resolved.
This is a developing story, stay with 8News for updates.
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – The Virginia Senate is set to return to Richmond Tuesday to take up key issues, including skill games and the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP).
Last month, the budget passed by the Virginia General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Glenn Youngkin made VMSDEP, which waives college tuition for the kids and spouses of qualified disabled military veterans, harder for families to access.
After considerable backlash, Youngkin has called on the General Assembly to repeal the changes entirely. However, Democratic leadership has stopped short of calling for a full repeal. Instead, they favor exempting gold-star families and those wounded in combat from the changes.
“Like I said, I support the issue, I support our military families and our veterans as well, and we will make sure we solve this issue when we get back to Richmond tomorrow,” Senator Aaron Rouse (D-Virginia Beach) told 8News.
Also on the docket are bills to legalize skill games in Virginia. Earlier this year, Youngkin vetoed a bill to do just that, after it received bipartisan support in the General Assembly. A spokesperson from Youngkin’s office shared the following statement with 8News in regards to both issues:
Governor Youngkin has been clear that he will not consider any other legislation until the General Assembly has done the right thing for our military heroes, first responders and their families by fully repealing and reversing the VMSDEP waiver changes. The Governor made his position on skill games legislation clear in his amendments and has indicated a willingness to continue the discussion, but only after the VMSDEP issue has been resolved.
This is a developing story, stay with 8News for updates.