Phuqqin Dems.
Sen. Stanley says Democrats voted down deputy pay raise for not enforcing 'gun control'
RICHMOND, Va. (WSET) -- Law enforcement officers will not be getting a three-percent raise from the Senate's version of the state budget, according to Senator Bill Stanley.
Sen. Stanley said he tried to amend the state budget on the Senate floor Thursday, February 20, just days after sheriffs from Virginia went to speak with lawmakers.
"I tried to amend the state budget to give all of our men and women of Virginia’s Sheriffs’ Departments a 3% raise for this year," Sen. Stanley wrote on Facebook. "It was defeated, with all democrats voting 'no.'"
Two of the sheriffs who went to Richmond this week was Bedford County Sheriff Mike Miller and Campbell County Sheriff Whit Clark. Miller said the focus of his visit was to speak on behalf of the men and women of Bedford County, including protecting their second amendment rights and raising deputy pay.
Sheriff Clark also said he wanted to speak with local lawmakers about deputy pay and benefits as well as Second Amendment rights.
Virginia sheriffs on the Virginia state capitol in Richmond on Feb. 19, 2020 (Campbell Co. Sheriff's Office)
Stanley said Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw approached him after the vote to tell him the reason sheriffs wouldn't be getting a raise is because "they came to our committees and said that they weren’t going to enforce our laws."
Stanley said he asked Saslaw which laws he was referring to, and he answered with "gun control".
RELATED | Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins speaks about Lobby Day in Richmond
"I was shocked that the Democrats are now punishing our local Sheriff’s Departments (by eliminating a pay raise for them)," Sen. Stanley wrote. "For the their choice to protect and defend our citizens’ Second Amendment rights. Democrats want to restrict a citizen’s right to protect themselves, but won’t pay our sheriffs’ deputies to protect Virginians. Hypocrisy has a name."
The Senate ultimately passed a plan that would fund Virginia State Police salary increases starting August 10 and then give sheriff's office employees a $200 one-time bonus in December, according to WTOP.
Under the House plan, Virginia State Police would get a salary increase of two percent effective June 10 with an additional increase based on each consecutive year or service and local registrars, sheriff's deputies, and others would get a one percent raise.
Governor Ralph Northam announced Saturday that there was "additional revenue from a mid-session revenue reforecast." He said the General Funds revenue will increase by $292.5 million for 2020.
The budget must be finished by March 5 so that the General Assembly can send a final version to Governor Northam before the session adjourns on March 7. Lawmakers would return to Richmond in April to consider any vetoes or amendments by Northam.
