#vabudget
❌Cuts to #HealthCare
❌No improvements for #K12
❌No new resources to invest in our communities

#Virginia can do better — and we must.

Our full statement on the outgoing #VaBudget:
http://bit.ly/tci-budget-statement-Dec25
December 17, 2025 at 6:23 PM
#Virginia has long underfunded key programs — and federal cuts will only deepen the strain.

#VaLeg faces tough choices, but TCI’s new report outlines commonsense tax reforms that can increase fairness and boost community investment.
#VaBudget

Details ⤵
Policy Choices to Protect and Increase Investment in Virginia Communities - The Commonwealth Institute
Reforming Virginia’s tax code can create a fairer system, strengthen communities, and help us invest in the future. Here are some options.
thecommonwealthinstitute.org
November 12, 2025 at 5:38 PM
The recent federal bill will be damaging to the people of Virginia and also to our state’s capacity to help families meet their basic needs.

More details on the growing cost for the #VaBudget. ⤵️
Impacts of Recent Federal Bill (OBBB) on Virginia’s Budget - The Commonwealth Institute
By understanding the federal impact on Virginia's budget, we will be better equipped to respond to challenges posed by recent Medicaid and SNAP choices.
thecommonwealthinstitute.org
September 11, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Federal uncertainty makes our state work even more critical.

The progress we made this #VaLeg session highlights the power of the #VaBudget, what we can accomplish together, and how continued collaboration can impact our future.

More in our recap⤵️
Doing Our Work in Virginia: How Virginia’s Legislature is Investing in Communities (2025 Session Recap) - The Commonwealth Institute
The progress we made during Virginia's 2025 legislative session is a good reminder of what we can accomplish when we work together.
thecommonwealthinstitute.org
May 12, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Need more good news?!

The final #VaBudget includes two key #VaLeg choices to #FundOurSchools:

1. Covering the state share of an additional 4,725 support staff to help students succeed in class
2. Additional $ specific to helping students with special needs overcome barriers — a 1st for Virginia!
May 7, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Need some good news?

#VaLeg's choice to improve Virginia's refundable #EITC was included in the final #VaBudget!

A married couple with two children and a $30,000 income, for example, will get over $1,000 back at tax time next year — $300+ more than this year.
May 3, 2025 at 6:59 PM
For Senator Locke, the fight to #SaveSNAP isn't just personal.

Shifting just 10% of costs to #Virginia would:
❌ blow a $352M hole in #VaBudget
❌ put 827,000 Virginians at risk of going hungry
❌ esp. harm Hampton Roads, where 1 in 4 people who use SNAP live
Column: Proposed SNAP cuts would leave Hampton Roads families hungry
A federal reduction in SNAP benefits would harm Virginians and blow a massive hole in the state budget, Virginia Sen. Mamie E. Locke writes in a guest column.
www.pilotonline.com
April 28, 2025 at 7:59 PM
You've seen some news articles. Maybe you've perused the governor's 200+ #VaBudget amendments.

But wouldn't it be nice if someone made a simple side-by-side comparison of key budget choices by #VaLeg and #VaGov?

We thought so. Get your copy here ⤵️
Session 2025: Key Budget Policy Choices - The Commonwealth Institute
Virginia's budget affects everything and everyone in our lives. Here's summary looks at each proposal being considered during Session 2025.
thecommonwealthinstitute.org
March 27, 2025 at 6:48 PM
The governor’s #VaBudget amendments include a key choice for working families (i.e. #EITC), but overall will stand in the way of critical progress made by lawmakers in February.

#VaLeg should reject harmful proposals and #ProtectOurProgress.

Our statement ⤵️
Governor’s Budget Choices Attempt To Give Many Misguided and Failed Policies A Second Life - The Commonwealth Institute
The governor’s budget amendments include an important choice for working families, but stands in the way of important progress the General Assembly made in February.
thecommonwealthinstitute.org
March 25, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Some initial insights from TCI's pres/CEO on what we know of the gov's #VaBudget choices ⤵️
While we wait for the Gov’s proposed budget amendments to officially post, it sounds from his speech that some of them would harm Virginia families and students. Here’s a look at a couple of them…
March 24, 2025 at 6:54 PM
🔥 Hot off the (digital) press 🔥

Our #VaBudget comparison now includes the compromise proposal released on Thursday. The compromise budget is a win for Virginia students and families. #VaLeg

See what choices budget negotiators made ⤵️
Session 2025: Key Budget Policy Choices - The Commonwealth Institute
Virginia's budget affects everything and everyone in our lives. Here's summary looks at each proposal being considered during Session 2025.
thecommonwealthinstitute.org
February 21, 2025 at 3:04 PM
#VaBudget negotiators released their proposal, which includes transformative investments that will expand opportunity and support for people across #Virgina.

#VaLeg will vote on this soon, and we urge #VaGov to sign it into law.

Full statement ⤵️
Conference Budget Increases Tax Fairness, Strengthens Public Schools, and Creates Opportunities for Workers - The Commonwealth Institute
We strongly urge Gov. Youngkin to approve transformative investments in the conference budget that will expand opportunity and support people across Virginia
thecommonwealthinstitute.org
February 20, 2025 at 9:59 PM
We expect a final #VaBudget proposal next week.

Reach out to key lawmakers to share what your priorities are: bit.ly/invest-in-va

#PolicyValentines
#TciValentines
February 14, 2025 at 11:07 PM
#VaLeg can protect the #HealthCare of over 630,000 people who access coverage through Medicaid expansion in their final #VaBudget proposal.

Reach out to key lawmakers today: bit.ly/action-va-health-care

#PolicyValentines
#TciValentines
February 14, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Take action today to urge #VaBudget negotiators to include "counsel at first appearance" in the final budget: bit.ly/cafa-action

#JusticeFromTheStart
#PolicyValentines
#TciValentines
February 14, 2025 at 7:56 PM
And by locality, we mean school divisions.

Get the data on the benefits of this #VaBudget choice: bit.ly/lifting-the-cap

#FundOurSchools
#PolicyValentines
#TciValentines
February 14, 2025 at 5:30 PM
If everything runs on time, we expect a negotiated #VaBudget proposal on/around Wednesday, Feb. 19.

That makes this next week a critical time to reach out to lawmakers about your priorities. (Do that here bit.ly/invest-in-va)

Details on their starting points⤵️
Piecing it Together: House and Senate Budgets Hold Opportunities for Protecting and Investing in Families and Communities - The Commonwealth Institute
Recent House and Senate budget proposals provide a key opportunity to share what’s important to our families and our communities. Details...
thecommonwealthinstitute.org
February 13, 2025 at 6:34 PM
In their recent #VaBudget proposal, Va. Senate would require a meeting to consider options b4 automatically disrupting #HealthCare coverage if fed govt cuts MedEx $.

Urge lawmakers to strengthen the final budget proposal to give #VaLeg more time to act: bit.ly/action-va-health-care
February 12, 2025 at 7:35 PM
The latest from @wvtf.bsky.social shows some highlights from the recent #VaBudget proposals. 🔗⤵️

Get our full side-by-side here: thecommonwealthinstitute.org/tci_research...
February 11, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Congress should say no to federal MedEx $ cuts, which would have harmful ripple effects.

In the final #VaBudget, #VaLeg should support both our #HealthCare safety net & protect the coverage of over 630,000 people who access care via MedEx.

🔗 Daily Press
Budget proposals call for funding free clinics. Advocates say it won’t be enough if Medicaid is rolled back.
In 2023, 71 clinics in the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics saw 108,000 patients, a 44% increase in demand from 2021. The increase in demand is due in part to a growth of underin…
www.dailypress.com
February 10, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Recent #VaBudget choice requires a key convo to weigh options if fed govt cuts Medicaid expansion $.

“It’s a step in the right direction to try to create a timeline where addressing cuts doesn’t start w/ people's automatic coverage loss,” Mejia said.

#HealthCare
🔗@virginiamercury.com
Virginia weighs response to potential Medicaid rollbacks affecting 630,000 • Virginia Mercury
With the threat of federal budget cuts looming, Virginia lawmakers are laying the groundwork to respond to potential changes that could impact healthcare coverage for roughly 630,000 residents.
virginiamercury.com
February 7, 2025 at 9:52 PM
No one should lose their job, home or family simply because they lack access to legal representation or can't afford bail.

With active opportunities through the #VaBudget & a #VaLeg bill (@delegatecallsen.bsky.social), we can advance justice from the start.

Read more/take action⤵️
Justice from the Start: The Importance of Counsel at First Appearance - The Commonwealth Institute
No one should lose their job or home simply because they lack access to legal representation. Counsel at first appearance is a proven solution
thecommonwealthinstitute.org
February 7, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Lifting the cap on state funding for support staff is vital for students, schools & communities overall.

A #VaLeg bill has received bipartisan support. And this #VaBudget funding is a critical step in providing students with the support they need.

#FundOurSchools

🔗 @cbs6-richmond.bsky.social
Virginia lawmakers push to increase funding for school support staff
Advocates and lawmakers held a conference Thursday to say it was time for Virginia to lift an arbitrary cap on how much the state helps school divisions pay for support staff.
www.wtvr.com
February 7, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Honored to be a part of this important day of speaking with #VaLeg about the need to #FundOurSchools!

It's a great day to celebrate that both money committees lifted the arbitrary & harmful cap on state funding for support staff in the #VaBudget!
We are here at the Capitol this morning for our Advocacy Day, including a press conference on the importance of fully lifting the support cap in this year’s budget!
February 6, 2025 at 4:23 PM
What’s included in $ committee #VaBudget proposals is key to getting critical investments into the final budget.

Our side-by-side look at governor and $ committees' choices is here! Check out some key wins in the House & Senate columns 🎉

We'll continue the work until we cross the victory line!
Session 2025: Key Budget Policy Choices - The Commonwealth Institute
Virginia's budget affects everything and everyone in our lives. Here's summary looks at each proposal being considered during Session 2025.
thecommonwealthinstitute.org
February 5, 2025 at 9:58 PM