{"id":2621023,"date":"2026-06-29T14:45:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T18:45:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/virginia-avoids-government-shutdown-as-budget-amendments-are-approved\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T14:46:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T18:46:10","slug":"virginia-avoids-government-shutdown-as-budget-amendments-are-approved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/virginia-avoids-government-shutdown-as-budget-amendments-are-approved\/","title":{"rendered":"Virginia avoids government shutdown as budget amendments are approved"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fvirginia-avoids-government-shutdown-as-budget-amendments-are-approved%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2621023&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Virginia\u2019s House of Delegates and Senate approved all 14 budget amendments proposed by Democratic Representative Abigail Spanberger just before teh state&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bois-the-nutcracker-and-the-dream-of-christmas\/\" title=\"Bois: &#039;The Nutcracker&#039; and the Dream of Christmas\">fiscal deadline<\/a> to avoid a goverment shutdown. spanberger submitted the amendments, which include proposals on <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >data center water conservation<\/a>, firefighter cancer screenings, and funding for statewide referendums, aiming to address priorities like reducing costs for Virginians, investing in education and communities.With both chambers passing these amendments, the final budget is set without needing further approval. However, Republican Minority Leader Terry Kilgore criticized the delay and expressed concerns about certain provisions that could increase costs for residents, though he acknowledged some benefits like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/black-mississippi-democrats-walk-out-of-senate-over-bill-to-would-prohibit-teaching-children-any-race-is-superior-or-inferior\/\" title=\"Black Mississippi Democrats Walk Out of Senate over Bill to Would Prohibit Teaching Children Any Race Is Superior or Inferior\">teacher pay raises<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>The budget agreement follows weeks of debate that nearly led to a legislative impasse, with both chambers voting in favor of the approved budget. The amendments will add $62 million in costs, funded from the state&#8217;s surplus, reducing it from $179 million to $117 million. Notably, the budget includes a $0.011 per-kilowatt-hour tax on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/northwest-power-planners-challenged-by-increasing-demand-of-data-centers-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Northwest power planners challenged by increasing demand of ... - Washington Examiner\">data center electricity<\/a>, capped at $600 million annually, with refunds provided once the cap is reached. Tensions surrounding data center regulation, including disputes over proposed taxes, played a notable role in the legislative process.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Virginia\u2019s House of Delegates and Senate approved all 14 budget amendments proposed by Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/abigail-spanberger\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11780\">Abigail Spanberger<\/a> (D-VA) one day ahead of the state\u2019s fiscal cliff.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Spanberger sent the amendments to the state legislature Monday, and the chambers had to pass the proposals ahead of 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday to avoid what would have been the state\u2019s first-ever <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/government-shutdown\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"18\">government shutdown<\/a>. The House of Delegates convened at noon on Monday to vote on the proposed amendments, and the state Senate met afterward.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4628845\/abigail-spanberger-virginia-state-budget-amendments-deadline\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Spanberger sends back over a dozen amendments to Virginia state budget on eve of deadline<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4628568\/kash-patel-girlfriend-alexis-wilkins-star-spangled-banner-brussels\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Technical error forces Kash Patel\u2019s girlfriend to sing national anthem twice during Brussels Freedom 250 event<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4628338\/american-pride-patriotism-record-low-semiquincentennial\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Pride in being American reaches new low ahead of 250th anniversary<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe House of Delegates and Senate of Virginia sent me a budget that addresses our shared priorities to lower costs for Virginians, invest in our schools and communities, and address the devastating impacts of the so-called \u2018One Big Beautiful Bill.\u2019 To further deliver for Virginia families, I am returning this budget with a request that the attached 14 amendments be adopted,\u201d Spanberger wrote in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/budget.lis.virginia.gov\/get\/amendmentpdf\/5274\/\">statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Spanberger\u2019s 14 amendments introduce a range of proposals, including provisions on <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/data-centers\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"22166\">data center<\/a> water conservation, cancer screenings for firefighters, and additional funding for statewide referendums. With both chambers approving all of Spanberger\u2019s proposed amendments during the special session, the budget with the amendments will be final and doesn\u2019t <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Jaaavis\/status\/2071614751872803145?s=20\">need to<\/a> head back to Spanberger\u2019s desk.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Virginia\u2019s House Minority Leader GOP State Rep. Terry Kilgore slammed the chambers for not being able to move forward on the budget sooner, saying they were 100 days late on their action because of gridlock.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere\u2019s a lot in a budget that we don\u2019t like,\u201d Kilgore said in an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Jaaavis\/status\/2071645600240513513?s=20\">interview<\/a> with Virginia Scope, pointing generally to provisions that raise costs for Virginians. \u201cBut also, there are some things that we do like: teacher pay raises and things of that nature. But this isn\u2019t a way we need to do the budget from now on. We just need to come together, we don\u2019t want to be like Washington.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/economy\/4616659\/virginia-lawmaker-fight-data-center\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4616659\">WHY VIRGINIA LAWMAKERS ARE FIGHTING OVER DATA CENTERS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The governor\u2019s proposed amendments come after the legislature finally agreed on a state budget after weeks of debate that hinted toward an impasse, passing the agreed-upon budget in the Senate by a vote of 23-16 and in the House 71-22. Both chambers are controlled by a Democratic majority, which has sparred mainly over a proposed tax on <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/infrastructure\/3826645\/loudoun-county-commercial-tax-base-initiative-data-centers-virginia-hub\/\">data centers in the state<\/a> as advocates seek to regulate the state\u2019s massive industry. Those against the tax did not want to impede the industry\u2019s growth and success.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Spanberger\u2019s amendments approved by the assembly will cost $62 million more to fund. That money will be taken from the state\u2019s surplus, decreasing the surplus balance from $179 million to $117 million.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The budget imposes a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eenews.net\/articles\/virginia-dems-clinch-deal-to-tax-data-centers-2\/\">$0.011-per-kilowatt-hour tax<\/a> on data center electricity use per month, with a cap of $600 million per year and a subsequent refund once the cap is reached.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Virginia lawmakers approve all 14 Spanberger budget amendments before deadline<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2621024,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26103450903679.jpeg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[81908,39629,5468],"class_list":["post-2621023","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-budget-amendments","tag-government-shutdown","tag-virginia"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26103450903679.jpeg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2621023","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2621023"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2621023\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2621027,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2621023\/revisions\/2621027"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2621024"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2621023"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2621023"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2621023"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}