Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin Vetoes Bills Impacting Skill Games, Contraception, and Confederate Heritage Tax Breaks

Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed two bills that would have removed tax exemptions for the United Daughters of the Confederacy, a group that supports keeping statues of Confederate generals and other symbols from the Civil War. The governor vetoed these bills along with others, including those about birth control, saying they were not ready to become laws. The rejected bill aimed at the Confederacy-related groups would have taken away tax exemptions for their properties. Youngkin said targeting specific organizations for tax exemptions was not right, but he agreed that property tax exemptions needed to be reviewed for inconsistencies. The Democratic party leaders in Virginia supported the bills that Youngkin vetoed. They wanted to update the state laws to reflect modern values and not support organizations that romanticize the Confederacy. The United Daughters of the Confederacy, founded in 1894, disagreed with the bills, saying they unfairly targeted them. They believe the statues and markers represent their ancestors' bravery during the war and have been part of the southern landscape for a long time. Youngkin's veto came after a school board in Virginia decided to restore the names of Confederate leaders to two public schools. This decision is part of a larger pushback by conservative groups against changes made after protests following George Floyd's murder. At least 160 Confederate symbols have been removed across the country. In a statement, Youngkin vetoed several bills, including those related to the Confederate heritage organization and small businesses hosting skill games. He said he supported access to contraception but wanted to protect religious freedoms. The governor suggested a broader reform of property tax exemptions rather than targeting specific groups. He also vetoed a measure to ban skill games, which had been a contentious issue in the state.