The Virginia House of Delegates reconvened to act on governor's recommendations across more than 80 bills, passing contested measures on paid family medical leave, firearms regulations, energy storage, housing, and elections while referring 22 bills to be passed by for the day. The session featured sharp partisan divisions on gun safety, labor, and clean energy legislation, with most contested votes falling roughly 64-36.
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Joseph P. McNamara directly asked the patron whether payroll contributions under the bill are voluntary or required; the patron from Prince William did not directly answer and instead spoke about the 84% of Virginians who support the benefit. McNamara then argued before the body that the contributions are not voluntary — 'They are a forced contribution to this fund' — and characterized the bill as 'the largest tax since the creation of Social Security in the Commonwealth of Virginia,' urging a no vote and a gubernatorial veto.
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“So payroll contribution to this fund shall be authorized. They are not voluntary. They are a forced contribution to this fund. If I back up about 20 or 25 lines on line 495, it says this fund is created as part of the state treasury. So Mr. Speaker, I say we have this session. We've done. We've been able to kill a lot of pretty rough taxes. We've killed taxes on mattresses and killed taxes on car repairs and killed taxes on door dash deliveries.”
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Sign in to subscribeHouse will come to order. Members, please take your seats. Sergeant in arms. The House is now in session. All persons not entitled to the privileges of the floor, please retire to the gallery. The members will rise and be led in prayer by the honorable JJ Singh, the delegate from Loudoun, and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance of the flag of the United States of America, which will be led by the delegate from Alexandria, Delegate Herring. Let us pray. Holy creator Wiguru, on this reconvened session, we ask you to bless and guide all of us, the House, the Senate, the Governor and her administration, the staff here at the Capitol, and the great citizens of our commonwealth. Let us remember the spirit in which we all came to this assembly Seva selfless service. May we work together today and every day in good faith to do the people's work. From the opening prayer of Sikhism, Wagrjiga Khalsa, Wagrjigi Fateh Ikon kar, Satanam Kartarpurak Nirbo Nirve Kalmur, Ajani Sabang, Gur Prasad. Universal creator, truth is your name. You are the doer of all, without fear, without enmity, and timeless by the grace of God, lead us…
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