Youngkin Rallies at 2021 Campaign Location to Sign Budget

Governor Glenn Youngkin held a campaign-style rally to ceremonially sign Virginia’s fiscal year 2023-2024 budget. On Tuesday, Youngkin spoke from the aisles of the Tom Leonard’s grocery store where he filmed a grocery tax-related campaign ad and where he held one of his final rallies during the campaign.

“Nine months ago we were right here with many of you, and we in fact were talking about the impact that the rising cost of groceries was having on families,” Youngkin said to a crowd of supporters, reporters, former GOP candidates, and current GOP politicians standing next to bins of produce.

Before and after Youngkin spoke, a professional-grade sound system played songs similar to those on his campaign playlist, featuring decades-old hits including “My Way,” “Gloria,” “Macho Man,” and “Spirit in the Sky.” Staffers in updated red Youngkin vests abounded, and media consulting firm Poolhouse was also present.

In 2021, Youngkin campaigned on “kitchen table” economic issues, calls for public safety, a call for increased education spending, and a ban on Critical Race Theory, and promised to launch 20 charter schools in Virginia. On Tuesday, Youngkin highlighted key proposals related to those promises.

“We defined our commitment to freedom and we went to work to reduce taxes, all on day one, and cut taxes we did. This budget we will sign today cuts taxes for the typical Virginia family by $1,100 a year,” he said… (Excerpt from The Virginia Star)