Northam Reflects on Strange Year, Looks Forward to Recovery
Gov. Ralph Northam delivering the 2021 State of the Commonwealth Address to an empty House of Delegates chamber. (Photo: Craig Carper/VPM News)
The COVID-19 pandemic loomed large over Gov. Ralph Northam’s State of the Commonwealth address Wednesday night. The governor proposed a litany of legislative priorities to offset the effects of the virus which has claimed the lives of over 5,500 Virginians, including Sen. Ben Chafin who was honored by Northam and both chambers of the General Assembly Wednesday.
“We’ve all experienced loss this year, and it has made us all stop, and ask ourselves some basic questions: What’s really important? What do I believe in? Am I taking actions that reflect my values?” Northam posed.
In his State of the Commonwealth address Wednesday night, Gov. Ralph Northam laid out his agenda for 2021, which includes managing the COVID-19 pandemic, rebuilding the Virginia economy, getting children back into school and further addressing criminal justice reform.
Virginia governor Ralph Northam (D.) on Wednesday pushed his party to give voting rights to felons and make their state the first in the south to abolish the death penalty.
Governor Northam gives his final State of the Commonwealth address
Governor Northam gives his final State of the Commonwealth address By Steve Rappaport | January 13, 2021 at 10:30 AM EST - Updated January 13 at 10:50 PM
RICHMOND, Va. (WVIR) - Governor Ralph Northam used his State of the Commonwealth address Wednesday night to call the Commonwealth to action in time of crisis.
State legislators watched his remarks virtually as a pandemic precaution. It was a strange scene, as Governor Northam entered a virtually empty House chambers to wrap up the opening day of the final regular legislative session of his term.
Northam looked back at the last year, talking about how the pandemic highlighted the inequity in public health funding