Virginia Senate Democrats reject 3 Youngkin appointees

News Summary

  • The chamber approved resolutions containing dozens of Youngkin appointees after the names of those to whom they objected — Health Commissioner Dr. Colin Greene, parole board member Steven Buck and education board member Suparna Dutta — were stripped out.
  • Youngkin said the senators were attacking the integrity of “three highly qualified members of my administration” in “an appalling show of partisanship.”“Democrats are repeating loudly their clear beliefs: parents don’t matter, criminals first victims last, and petty politics above Virginia’s best interests.
  • House Majority Leader Terry Kilgore said Tuesday that House members hope to start meeting with Senators soon to “start sharing names and trying to narrow that down.”Surovell declined to comment on potential names.
  • Democrats voted to remove Dutta in part over what they said were concerns she was unqualified due to a lack of work history in education.Dutta chaired a coalition called Educators for Youngkin during the governor’s 2021 campaign and spoke at his inauguration.
  • Maria Reppas, a health department spokesperson, referred a request for comment to the governor’s office, which said Greene had ably led Virginia out of the coronavirus pandemic.
  • He was the subject of news coverage after, according to his own account, he said he was “prepared to use a small razor blade” to remove a sign with an obscenity from the door of a residence on the University of Virginia’s esteemed Lawn.
By SARAH RANKIN and DENISE LAVOIE Associated PressRICHMOND, Va. (AP) Virginia Senate Democrats voted Tuesday to reject several appointees of GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin, including the state health co [+5488 chars]