Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares and state Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach, publicly sparred on social media Wednesday night. Miyares is seeking reelection this year, and Rouse is seeking the Democratic nomination to run for lieutenant governor.
The beef started with Miyares calling out Rouse for legislation he filed that would provide a tax credit for employers who hire someone who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor.
“So, you get a tax credit for hiring the criminal, but nothing if you hire their victims?” Miyares asked on his Twitter account. “This is what Virginia Democrats are pushing as their economic agenda on Day 1? C’mon, [Aaron Rouse] — seriously?”
The bill would create a nonrefundable second-chance employment tax credit for taxable years 2025 through 2029 at five percent of the amount of wages paid to a qualified employee.
The bill defines a qualified employee as an individual who was convicted of a felony or a Class 1 or Class 2 misdemeanor.
In response to Miyares’ post, Rouse said he is not interested in legislating on Twitter and pointed to statements from Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
“I’m not really interested in legislating over this app,” Rouse wrote. “Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s stated: ‘Every single returning Virginian has the opportunity to be a testimonial of hope or a recidivism statistic.’ He’s giving people a second chance and hiring them to state agencies. I’m giving business owners the opportunity to reduce recidivism and put people to work. Are you against Gov. Youngkin’s policy?”
Rouse then posted again, sharing a screenshot of a past quote from Miyares.
“… This you, AG Miyares? Stop the political games,” Rouse wrote.
The quote of Miyares’ statement that Rouse shared in the screenshot said:
“Employment for returning citizens is more than just a second chance – it’s a corner of public safety and community well-being. We must continue to improve the re-entry process, because effective re-entry is not just a matter of redemption – it’s essential in keeping Virginia safe and strong.”
Miyares then responded, saying, “Your bill gives tax breaks for hiring violent criminals. Not second chances… tax breaks.”
Rouse then responded, saying, “Business owners are only incentivized through my bill IF they adopt Gov. Youngkin’s second chance hiring policy. He’s hiring the same people on the state’s payroll. You’re either with Governor Youngkin on this or against him. Stop by my office if you want to talk further. My door’s always open.”
Miyares quit responding.
The bill being referenced will be heard in the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee.
This is not the first time Miyares has sparred with Democratic candidates on social media. Back in November, he attacked both of the Democrats seeking the nomination to run against him this year.
Former Del. Jay Jones, D-Norfolk, and Henrico Commonwealth Attorney Shannon Taylor are seeking the Democratic nomination.
“Both of the announced Democrat candidates for Attorney General are far-left, anti-police, criminal rights progressives who will make Virginia less safe. They will support the same criminal first, victim last policies that lead to a surge in violent crime,” he wrote on social media. “Public safety demands we put victims over criminals. We aren’t going back to four years of lawlessness in Virginia.”
Jones did not directly respond to Miyares’ statement at the time.
“You’ll have to ask him why he said that,” Jones said during a press conference in Richmond Tuesday. “We are focused on this campaign. Whatever he says and whatever he tweets out, that’s him and his campaign’s business.”
Taylor eventually replied to the Miyares tweet.
“Given that I am the only one of the three people referenced in your post (including yourself) who has actually dedicated her career to keeping our community safe and putting dangerous criminals behind bars, your right-wing talking points are misdirected,” she wrote.