Virginia State Senator L. Louise Lucas acknowledged in a Tuesday interview that Governor Glenn Youngkin could veto the budget proposed by lawmakers, but nonetheless insisted any compromise that would fund the creation of the Potomac Yards arena for the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals is a “non-starter.”
In her Tuesday interview with WTOP News, she acknowledged Youngkin’s remarks indicating “he may have to veto the budget,” calling it “his prerogative.” Still, she pledged, “at no point will I ever be in a position to say I am going to commit state tax dollars for an arena that’s going to benefit billionaires,” calling it “a non-starter for me.”
Lucas used her position as the chair of the Senate Finance Committee to kill the Senate version of the bill to establish a board overseeing the project’s financing and later blocked the version of the legislation proposed by Democrats in the Virginia House of Delegates.
Asked if there was a path for the arena to be built without Lucas’ permission, she told the outlet, “I don’t think so,” noting, “it still has to come through the Senate Finance Committee,” and she is “not interested in seeing an arena in Northern Virginia.”
After declaring Youngkin “wants to tie everything to the arena,” Lucas told the outlet, “I’m not sure that we’re going to ever get to a place of compromise.” Regarding the potential for Youngkin to veto the budget, she said, “if that’s what he chooses to do, I guess that’s where we are.”
Defending the General Assembly’s budget, Lucas noted to WTOP that she secured $101 million in toll relief for Hampton Roads residents. However, the senator did not mention the reports that Governor Glenn Youngkin offered more than $300 million in toll relief that would have been tied to the Potomac Yards arena.
Youngkin is widely expected to resurrect his plans to build an arena to attract two professional sports teams to the commonwealth on April 17, when lawmakers will meet in Richmond to consider bills the governor vetoed or amended.
However, WTOP speculates Youngkin could also “revive the plan by calling a special session to start over with a new bill.” The option would likely remain available to the governor even if his budget negotiations failed to secure funding for the arena.
The governor and Democrats, including Lucas, have offered a number of possible bargaining chips to achieve the arena.
Democrats have suggested Youngkin sign legislation regulating marijuana sales, increasing the minimum wage, or delivering toll relief, while a recent report speculated the governor could veto controversial skill game legislation amid his feud with Lucas over the arena.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Senator L. Louise Lucas” by Senator L. Louise Lucas. Background Photo “Virginia Capitol” by Jim Bowen. CC BY 2.0.
