“Virginia’s New Year, Same Old Ironies: Minimum Wage Rises Despite Billionaire Governor’s Veto”
As 2025 dawns, Virginians ring in the new year with a fresh set of laws—some of which highlight glaring contradictions in leadership. Among the changes taking effect January 1st is a bump in the state minimum wage to $12.41 an hour, despite Governor Glenn Youngkin’s veto of a General Assembly bill that would have increased it even further to $13.50. For a man whose portfolio reportedly puts him in billionaire territory, the decision to deny workers an additional $1.09 per hour raises eyebrows—and some irony.
While minimum wage earners will get their modest raise, they won’t escape the increasing cost of living. For starters, mandatory automobile insurance minimums are rising. Coverage limits will jump to $50,000 for bodily injury per person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. That’s more money out of workers’ pockets just to keep their cars on the road.
Another change comes in the form of transparency—or at least an attempt at it. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will now maintain a public database of utility work along highways in residential neighborhoods. While this might save you from a surprise jackhammer outside your front door, it’s not exactly the policy change that will help struggling families put food on the table.
Meanwhile, Youngkin’s veto of a higher minimum wage casts a long shadow. It’s a reminder that while the state legislature worked to give low-wage workers a small boost, the billionaire-in-the-red-vest put his foot down. For someone whose wealth ensures he never has to worry about inflation at the gas pump or the grocery store, denying a wage increase feels like a peculiar priority.
So, as Virginians welcome 2025, many will see a slight pay increase—but not as much as they could have. They’ll face higher insurance costs, deal with utility disruptions (albeit with more notice), and wonder why their governor seems more focused on protecting corporate bottom lines than lifting up working families. Happy New Year, indeed.
—Mountain Bee Satire
