By Anna Bryson

Democrats on Tuesday rebuked Gov. Glenn Youngkin over his vetoes of 157 bills and 205 budget amendments, arguing they would undermine public health, weaken worker protections and roll back Virginians’ rights.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, called Youngkin’s budget amendments “a really heartless series” of cuts, pointing to reduced funding for public education, free clinics and sugar monitors for people with diabetes.

Surovell also took aim at Youngkin’s vetoes of bills to create a prescription drug affordability board and to guarantee paid sick leave for all Virginia workers.

“These are just common sense policies that allow our workforce to remain competitive, especially in an environment right now where the governor’s allies are slamming the Virginia economy over the head with a sledgehammer,” Surovell said in a call with reporters on Tuesday. “These are the kinds of things we need to add to remain competitive for workers.”

Youngkin’s vetoes include several gun control bills, including legislation that would have banned the sale of assault-style weapons and required secure storage of firearms for households with minors.

Unintentional gun deaths are the leading cause of death among children in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Most responsible gun owners understand, if you have a gun you need to keep it secure from children,” Surovell said.

He also said that assault-style weapons, like AR-15s, are used in war and are not needed for home defense.

Speaker of the House Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, said Virginia needs a governor who will put Virginians first – “not cave to (President Donald) Trump and (Elon) Musk.”

“But once again, Republicans refuse to stand up for Virginians, blocking critical legislation that lowers prescription drug costs, raises wages, makes neighborhoods safer, and increases access to health care,” Scott said.

“It all looks just like a bunch of kowtowing to Trump and (Elon) Musk and this new administration … instead of paying attention to what Virginians value and what Virginians want…”

Democrats also jumped on Youngkin for his recommended substitute for the Right to Contraception Act, which aimed to establish a right to obtain and use birth control, including the pill, IUDs and emergency contraceptives such as the morning after pill.

He recommended a substitute that says “it shall be the public policy of the Commonwealth, independently of the requirements of the Constitution of the United States, that individuals possess the right to access contraception” as set forth in prior Supreme Court cases. Youngkin’s amended version also would include “conscience clause” protections for physicians who refuse to provide contraception services or procedures “if such refusal is based upon religious or conscientious objection.”

Democrats called Youngkin’s substitute a “gutting” of the legislation.

Former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor, said “Youngkin’s decision to gut this legislation leaves the rights of Virginians at risk.”

“Women across the country are watching anti-choice politicians block access to birth control and outlaw emergency contraception,” Spanberger said. “In response, Virginia leaders should be defending our fundamental freedoms, just as our General Assembly voted to do when it passed the Right to Contraception Act earlier this year. No politician should ever be able to dictate when and whether Virginians have access to contraception.”

She continued to say that she would sign the bill into law if she is elected governor.

Sen. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico, chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia, said Youngkin’s recommended substitute demonstrates “his extreme agenda.”

“He believes the government should have a say in women’s personal health decisions. By gutting the Right to Contraception Act, he made a choice to prioritize politics over women’s health,” Bagby said. “To be clear — Virginia remains the last bastion in the South for reproductive freedom because Democrats have blocked Youngkin’s dangerous, anti-choice agenda.”