Democrats 'Sold Virginia Out': Youngkin Vows to Fight California's EV Rule

Leah Barkoukis / Townhall Tipsheet

 

Virginia Republicans are vowing to fight vehicle emissions rules that would turn the commonwealth into California.

Due to legislation passed when Virginia was dominated by Democrats, the commonwealth is on its way to following California’s footsteps in banning the sale of new gas vehicles by 2035.

California has a special Clean Air Act waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency allowing it to set vehicle emissions standards that are stricter than the federal government’s. The Virginia legislation, passed in 2021, adopts these standards.

Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin said he’s “already at work to prevent this ridiculous edict from being forced on Virginians” because “California’s out of touch laws have no place in our Commonwealth.”

House Speaker Todd Gilbert said Republicans are going to advance legislation in 2023 to “put Virginians back in charge” but Democrats control the state Senate by one vote. Read more and see tweet here.