Virginia Senate Democrats make one other counteroffer in long-running price range talks

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Senate Democrats have proposed their newest counteroffer in drawn-out negotiations with House Republicans over the state price range, two lawmakers concerned within the talks confirmed Friday.

The full phrases of the proposal weren’t instantly disclosed. But Democratic Sen. Creigh Deeds stated in an interview that his caucus had made a proposal that included critical concessions, together with on among the everlasting tax cuts House Republicans and Gov. Glenn Youngkin have been in search of. It might pave the way in which for a deal, he stated.

“I think it certainly is the basis for getting this resolved in the next couple of weeks,” Deeds stated.

The politically divided General Assembly ended its common session in February with out reaching settlement on the complete spending plan. Private negotiations between representatives of the GOP-controlled House and Democrat-controlled Senate have been underway since then.

Because the state operates on a two-year price range, with the plan initially adopted in even-numbered years and amended in odd-numbered years, the deadlock hasn’t halted the functioning of the state authorities, even because the state moved into a brand new fiscal yr July 1. There’s already a price range in place.

But lawmakers have confronted criticism for not shifting extra shortly on the spending plan at a time when the state has a multibillion-dollar surplus, the precise dimension of which has been beneath dispute. School districts, native governments and a variety of advocacy teams and particular curiosity teams have been intently looking ahead to progress.

Del. Barry Knight, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, confirmed Friday that he had acquired a 21-page proposal from Senate Democrats a day earlier. He stated in a textual content message that the proposal was nonetheless beneath evaluation.

Deeds stated the supply represents a “consensus view” that Senate Democrats “had to swallow some toads to get to.”

He stated it includes tax reduction, principally within the type of rebates but additionally some everlasting tax cuts. The supply tried to cowl each events’ high priorities, he stated.

Deeds, who’s among the many small circle of price range conferees concerned in negotiations, declined to share a duplicate, deferring to Sen. Janet Howell and Sen. George Barker, co-chairs of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee. They didn’t instantly reply to messages in search of remark.