A new bill in Virginia has been filed to repeal a 2021 law that made its vehicle emission policies follow California’s, where Gov. Gavin Newsom and state regulators are banning gas-powered car sales by 2035.
A statement provided to the Northern California Record by the office of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin noted that Democrat Ralph Northam, Youngkin’s predecessor, had made Virginia subject to the emission policies issued by California Air Resources Board (CARB), which two months ago also mandated that new vehicles sold in California must be electric by the year 2035.
Youngkin was elected governor of Virginia last November.
“They had signed legislation and tied Virginia to decisions that will be made in California, so not only did they pick a state that has demonstrated it has no idea how to run itself, but they abdicated their responsibility to serve Virginians,” Youngkin said. “That’s why I was elected governor, to stop a government that was very comfortable telling people what to do all the time…freedom in fact matters in Virginia…And I'm gonna go to work to make sure people can decide what kind of car they want to buy."
Economic issues have emerged as top concerns for voters in this year’s elections.
“What Virginians and Americans are worried about is inflation, and schools, a solid education, parents being listened to and safety in their communities,” Youngkin said. “Yet, here we have this Virginia legislature under Democrat rule last year forget that they work for Virginians and tie them to California. So this is a chance to reestablish Virginians making decisions for Virginians based on leaders they elect."
Virginia Sen. Steve Newman, R- Bedford, filed Senate Bill 779 last month.
In a statement provided by the governor’s office, Newman said the legislation is about uncoupling Virginia from California and its unrealistic climate policies.
“We got a small glimpse of the catastrophic nature of California’s choices when, in the same week it was announced that all new vehicles sold in the state must be electric by 2035, their Governor pleaded with citizens to cut back on their electricity usage due to the California power grid being overburdened,” Newman said. “Virginia should not be forced to follow California off this climate cliff.”
An overarching question if Newsom runs for president is whether the rest of America could support the climate change policies that Newsom is supporting.
“I have long advocated for Virginia to stay as far away from California’s policies as possible,” Sen. Newman said.
“Knowing the day would eventually come when California would go over the deep end with their radical climate policies, I led the opposition in the Senate to the bill that got us into this mess in 2021. We should never give up our sovereignty to any state in the nation, much less California and their unelected bureaucratic body of climate activists. I desire to be a good steward of this planet that God has entrusted us with but believe there are more sustainable, realistic methods of accomplishing that goal.”