Sen. Lucas Checks CD2 Candidate as College Program for Vets Still Not Fixed; 7 Events 🧨 #July4
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Chairwoman Lucas Hits Dem CD Candidate Over College Payment Program for Relatives of Vets as Senate Fails to Act
The Virginia Senate again failed to arrive at the moment where a vote on Senate passage for the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) takes place. The program pays the college tuition of the survivors of disabled or deceased military veterans.
Though Senate Finance Chairwoman L. Louise Lucas announced an agreement that doesn’t include cuts to the program at a July 1 Finance Committee meeting, the Virginia Senate, controlled by Democrats, was unable to vote reach a final vote.
“I support veterans and their families… SB6011 includes a full repeal of the VMSDEP budget language, appropriations and additional 45 million, for a total of $85 million,” Chairwoman Lucas stated in her opening remarks at the start of the hearing.
The bill (SB6011) added a provision for “satisfactory academic requirements.” Any changes to the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program would not apply to current beneficiaries, only future ones.
In recent years, the cost of the program has greatly expanded. During a Senate Finance Committee meeting on July 1, Democrats explained that there were procedural reasons why the bill the House of Delegates passed, which repealed changes cutting back on the program, could not be acted on by the Virginia Senate during their July 1 special session. Republicans, led by Senate Republican Leader Ryan McDougle and Republican Bryce Reeves, pushed back and argued that a clean repeal could have passed on July 1.
The Friends of VMSDEP, assisted by a PR firm whose primary client is Gov. Glenn Youngkin, are pushing hard against any changes to the VMSDEP program. But VMSDEP has grown from $19 million in 2019 to over $65 million in 2023 — the 400 percent expansion was a key issue for Senate Democrats.
But the politics of being on the opposite side of an issue Virginia’s veterans care deeply about is politically dangerous. So far, Republicans and Gov. Youngkin are winning the public relations battle. In Virginia, it is virtually unheard of for elected officials to vote against policy supported by veterans. The population of the Commonwealth is almost 10 percent military veterans and with over 700,000 service members all over Virginia, even Virginians who have not served in uniform often have relatives and friends who are in the military or who have served.
On Friday, June 28, the House of Delegates unanimously approved a bill that fully repealed changes to VMSDEP that veterans and their families opposed. The vote in the House of Delegates was a unanimous 92-0 vote. Delegates passed a Republican sponsored bill with the help of Democratic Speaker Don Scott, a U.S. Navy veteran, to repeal changes to the program. But yesterday, Democrats who control the Virginia Senate could not reach a final agreement and vote on passage with Senate Republicans that mirrored what the House passed.
Though Chairwoman Lucas explained the situation in a statement on July 1, the politics of delaying the changes to VMSDEP have positioned Democrats who hold the majority as the cause for the delay.
“The Governor does not understand that my bill actually protected him from signing a defective solution that would make him an even weaker Governor than he already is. My bill provides a clean repeal and is the only vehicle to appropriate an additional $45 million for VMSDEP. Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP), which provides tuition-free college to spouses and children of military members killed or disabled as a result of their service,” Senator L. Louise Lucas stated on social media at the end of the legislative day.
Seeing the clear political advantage Republicans have to damage Democrats unable to come to an agreement on policy impacting a core constituency in Virginia, Gov. Youngkin hit back hard. The political leverage in support of Virginia’s military community provided the Republican Governor a clear political advantage.
“The Senate Democrat leadership is hurting our military heroes, first responders and their families every time they show up and do nothing, as well as wasting time and taxpayer money,” Governor Youngkin began his statement.
“A full, clean repeal, which passed out of the House unanimously, and was supported by a bipartisan majority in the Senate, could have been signed today. An additional $45 million appropriation could have passed the Senate today, as well. Senate Democrat Leadership instead insisted on making changes to benefits without an open process. Changes to VMSDEP need to occur in an open, transparent process during the regular legislative session,” Gov. Youngkin added.
When Missy Cotter Smasel, a U.S. Navy veteran and Democratic candidate for Congress in a key swing seat vital to Democrats taking back the U.S. House, released a statement on the state of play around VMSDEP on July 1.
An unhappy Chairwoman Lucas responded.
“Missy, like I told you, the first rule of HR [Hampton Roads] politics is to stay the hell of my and Don’s business. How dare you attack me for trying to find a long term, sustainable solution to an issue that you KNOW that I care so deeply about. And, shame on you for walking out on Joe Biden.”
Chairwoman Lucas was referring to Smasel not showing up to a veterans event hosted by Virginia Democrats on June 28 as a counter to Donald trump’s rally in Chesapeake. Though Smasel has not clarified, the no-show has been attributed to the poor debate performance by President Joe Biden on June 27. The event was attended by Democratic Party of Virginia Chair Susan Swecker who kept focus on politically countering Trump during and after the event.
Meanwhile, at a moment when Virginia Republicans are buoyed by Biden’s bad debate performance and Trump’s rally in Chesapeake, which featured many veterans in attendance, Democrats are having to further explain why the VMSDEP repeal has not been signed into law.
"Senate Democrats have been the only ones focused on preserving the VMSDEP program for generations to come. Our proposed legislation, SB 6011, not only repeals the budget language passed this session but also fully funds VMSDEP through the fiscal year, giving the nonpartisan, Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC), the time to study and recommend lasting solutions. Meanwhile, the Governor, Senate Republicans, and the House of Delegates have failed to engage as productive partners. While they play politics and engage in political games, we remain the adults in the room, dedicated to sustainable, long-term solutions that honor the sacrifices of Virginia's military families with the dignity and resources they deserve," a July 1, statement from the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus read.
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