Today, I introduced my Unleashing Opportunity Budget, and I wanted to share with you directly how this plan will take our Commonwealth boldly forward.
Unleashing opportunity means Virginians have good-paying jobs, an affordable cost of living, best-in-class education, safe communities, better behavioral health care, and a government that works for them.
We must do all of this to continue the great progress we've made in Virginia under commonsense, conservative leadership.
We've gone from the bottom of the country in job growth to near the top of the list, and more Virginians are working than ever before. We've delivered historic tax relief – more than $5 billion – while making critical investments in students, schools, law enforcement, and our behavioral health system.
Our Unleashing Opportunity Budget takes this unprecedented success to the next level.
We're reducing the cost of living by reducing the tax burden for all Virginians – cutting the income tax rate and enhancing the Earned Income Tax Credit. I am also calling on the General Assembly to completely eliminate the car tax. This most hated tax belongs in your trash can, not your mailbox.
To bring more jobs to Virginia, we're devoting resources to attract transformative, new businesses to our Commonwealth. And these new businesses will be supported by the strongest workforce in America with resources for career placement and "Earn to Learn" programs.
This budget also doubles down on our priority to strengthen education in Virginia, with funding for teachers, students, and enhanced education opportunities like lab schools. And we're strengthening access to childcare and early education for working parents across the Commonwealth.
To address the continuing behavioral health crisis, we're devoting significant resources to the Right Help, Right Now initiative. And we are giving our law enforcement heroes the pay they deserve and the resources they need to keep us safe.
We are also devoting resources toward combating antisemitism and anti-religious bigotry, including funding to improve security at all houses of worship. There is no place for hate in Virginia and this budget gives us the resources to fight it together.
Finally, the Unleashing Opportunity Budget ensures we are protecting Virginia's natural beauty by devoting significant funding for conservation and stewardship programs and for the continued restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.
All of this will take us toward our shared goal of making Virginia the best place to live, work, and raise a family, and I urge the General Assembly to send this budget to my desk so we can unleash opportunity for all Virginians.
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