By Gregory S. Schneider
February 16, 2020
Virginia Democrats have money to go along with their newfound grip on power, and on Sunday, state lawmakers rolled out budget proposals that seek bigger raises for teachers and state employees along with a host of other spending increases.
House and Senate money committees both emphasized education as they presented separate packages of amendments to the two-year spending plan introduced by Gov. Ralph Northam (D) in December.
In the House, the Appropriations Committee proposed teacher pay increases of 2 percent for both years of the budget; Northam’s plan calls for a 3 percent raise only in the second year.