Democrats unveil their agenda to help Virginians ‘Get Ahead’
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- From creating a Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) to providing tax credits, to Virginians looking to buy their first home, Democrats have big goals ahead of next year's General Assembly session. On Thursday, some Virginia Democrats unveiled the agenda that they say will help Virginians “Get Ahead.” “The five-point agenda empowers families to get ahead and puts our priorities in the right place,” said State Senator Ghazala Hashmi (D-Chesterfield). Part of that agenda will include introducing legislation to create the PDAB which would have the power to cap the prices of certain medications if it deems companies are charging too much. “The price of prescription drugs continues to skyrocket, while corporations reap bigger and bigger profits,” Hashmi said. Earlier this year, Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed a bill that would have created the board saying it could “hinder innovation” and may not lead to any savings for Virginians. Meanwhile, Democrats on Thursday also proposed providing new tax credits to parents who are struggling to pay for child care and for those looking to buy their first home. They say to pay for it, they would impose an additional tax on people making more than $1 million. “It’s skewed when executives who are being compensated with seven-figure salaries are being taxed at the same Virginia income tax rate as a public school teacher,” Hashmi said. Republican Senator Mark Peake (R-Lynchburg) said that, while he could support providing tax credits to struggling Virginians, a tax on millionaires would hurt the economy. “You don’t create wealth by taxing our hard-working people who are generating jobs. It is absolutely the wrong approach,” Peake told 8News.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- From creating a Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) to providing tax credits, to Virginians looking to buy their first home, Democrats have big goals ahead of next year's General Assembly session.
On Thursday, some Virginia Democrats unveiled the agenda that they say will help Virginians “Get Ahead.”
“The five-point agenda empowers families to get ahead and puts our priorities in the right place,” said State Senator Ghazala Hashmi (D-Chesterfield).
Part of that agenda will include introducing legislation to create the PDAB which would have the power to cap the prices of certain medications if it deems companies are charging too much.
“The price of prescription drugs continues to skyrocket, while corporations reap bigger and bigger profits,” Hashmi said.
Earlier this year, Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed a bill that would have created the board saying it could “hinder innovation” and may not lead to any savings for Virginians.
Meanwhile, Democrats on Thursday also proposed providing new tax credits to parents who are struggling to pay for child care and for those looking to buy their first home. They say to pay for it, they would impose an additional tax on people making more than $1 million.
“It’s skewed when executives who are being compensated with seven-figure salaries are being taxed at the same Virginia income tax rate as a public school teacher,” Hashmi said.
Republican Senator Mark Peake (R-Lynchburg) said that, while he could support providing tax credits to struggling Virginians, a tax on millionaires would hurt the economy.
“You don’t create wealth by taxing our hard-working people who are generating jobs. It is absolutely the wrong approach,” Peake told 8News.
