Thread by @DeirdreByrneMCM

WATCH LIVE on @wusa9: @GovernorVA @GlennYoungkin is addressing the Joint Assembly in Richmond:

"Today we begin anew, all of us, together," Youngkin said. He said after a pandemic and mental health "incidents that have woken us up" to the challenges of the pandemic.

He says Virginians chose a new vision for the future and he's excited to speak to that future.

"We are all part of team Virginia," Younkin said talking about how he's enjoyed working with Democrats and Republicans.

He quotes MLK, saying, "We all came in on different ships, but we're all in the same boat now."

Youngkin recognizes his wife, Suzanne Youngkin - the new VA First Lady who is in the audience.

"After years of campaigning at diners, senior centers, schools, housing projects... even pickup basketball games, I've taken the measure of our people," Youngkin said. They all expressed a "desire for Virginia worthy of its people."

"It's been said that all great change starts at the kitchen table [in America]," Youngkin said.

Youngkin says voters are concerned "the cold halls of government are disconnected" from "realities" discussed at kitchen tables.

Youngkin says voters see "declining schools" and rising crime.

"From the perspective of the average Virginia family, times are tough," Youngkin says.

He says he hopes to lower taxes on Virginia families and have safer schools.

Younkin asks Democrats and Republicans to come together "and usher in a sweeping vision of change."

He notes that he signed 11 executive actions when he was sworn in. Read about these actions on @wusa9:

bit.ly/3tBhzvS

"We know on some issues there'll be deep disagreements. But I believe this chamber is big enough to talk through our differences," Youngkin said. The goal is to leave a better Virginia "to our children" -- Youngkin gets a standing O saying that.

Youngkin says they will invest in Virginia schools. "Our education standards for math and reading are now the lowest in the nation." He says "unelected appointees" are the cause of lowering standards in the commonwealth.

"60% of students don't meet national proficiency standards, including 70% of Latino students and over 80% of Black students. They're feeling to meet the standards on the math-made tests," Youngkin says.

Youngkin asks for funding to make 20 new charter schools. He notes that students from Green Rune Collegiate Charter school are in attendance to watch this speech.

Youngkin says he will build partnerships to create lab schools.

"The budget you'll pass and the one I'll sign will record a record investment in education." Youngkin promises that also means a boost in teacher pay. "We will pay teachers as the professionals that they are."

Youngkin tells parents, "You have a fundamental right, enshrined in law by this general assembly to make decisions with regard to your children's upbringing, education and care. And we will protect and reassert that right."

"Virginia's parents want our history--all of our history--the good and the bad to be taught and they want our children to be taught how to think, not what to think," Youngkin says.

Youngkin says this is why he signed an executive order "formalizing that we should not use inherently divisive concepts in schools including Critical Race Theory and why we should not be teaching our children to see everything through a lens of race."

Youngkin says he also wants parents to be informed when children see sexually explicit content. He wants educators to see the signs of sex traffickers. And he wants school resource officers on every campus.

"Whenever someone preys upon a Virginia school" it needs to be reported to law enforcement for an investigation, Youngkin says. He also says schools need to remain open.

Youngkin encourages everyone to get vaccinated and boosted and he gets a standing O for saying that.

He also says he signed an executive order to make masks optional in school saying it's a matter of liberty.

bit.ly/3tBhzvS

Youngkin says he will oppose vaccine mandates for healthcare workers but will protect "lives and liveliness."

"Virginia is open for business," Youngkin says.

Youngkin says there are now vaccines and boosters and "a less severe variant."

Youngkin: "There are 1.6 million unvaccinated Virginians today and speaking to you as your governor, I'll never tell you what you must do, but speaking to you as your neighbor and your friend, I strongly encourage you to get the vaccine."

Youngkin says he'll invest in jobs and megasites "to make sure we don't lose the next advanced battery manufacturing plant."

He would also like see football.

He will veto "forced unionization."

Youngkin says businesses - especially small businesses - are challenged by healthcare costs. He says he'll sign a healthcare associations bill that was vetoed 8x by previous governors.

Youngkin criticizes the federal government for supply chain issues. He says he'll suspend the new gas tax for one year and he'll eliminate the grocery tax.

Youngkin asks the assembly to eliminate the tax of the first $40k retirement pay for veterans.

Youngkin says "we need to provide more funding for our police departments." His budget provides pay raises to law enforcement officers.

"We should dedicate $100 million in ARPA funds to training and equipment grant program for law enforcement and provide capital funding for a new state police training programming."

He also asks $26 million to fund local police departments but only in municipalities increasing funding for police departments.

Youngkin says on Saturday he fired the entire state parole board.

Youngkin says he appointment a commonwealth chief transformation officer to make government more transparent and efficient. He says the commonwealth will use federal funds to make its infrastructure "the most reliable in the nation."

Younkin promises to end the dumping of raw sewage into the James River. He pledges to keep the Chesapeake Bay clean and protect the commonwealth's natural resources.

Youngkin says he's inspired to work with fellow lawmakers to strengthen the spirit of Virginia. The speech is now over.