RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Lawmakers are returning to Richmond to kick off the 2016 legislative session and to hear Gov. Terry McAuliffe's State of the Commonwealth speech.
The Democratic governor is entering his third year in office and will be seeking support from state lawmakers to support his $109 billion proposed budget that includes a billion-dollar increase in education spending, small corporate and individual tax cuts, and a 2 percent raise for state employees.
He delivers his third State of the Commonwealth address Wednesday night.
McAuliffe also wants to expand Medicaid and enact new gun control laws, proposals that have slim chances with the Republican-controlled General Assembly.
McAuliffe Lays Out Agenda
McAuliffe wants an overhaul of the state's high schools so that they are geared toward hands-on learning and helping students get jobs in advanced fields, like cyber security and biotechnology.
McAuliffe outlined a series of education and workforce development legislative proposals at the Capitol Tuesday, a day before lawmakers return for the 2016 legislative session.
Among them is a proposal allowing schools to hire industry experts as temporary career or technical education teachers.
The Democratic governor has made economic development a top priority. He has repeatedly stressed that the state's education system should be more focused on training students for jobs in high-demand areas, like in the cyber-defense industry and high tech manufacturing.
