In what one could argue is an acknowledgement of the negative impact minimum wage increases can have on businesses, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam last week proposed an amendment to delay a planned increase in the state minimum wage, rather than veto the measure outright. Virginia became the latest democratic trifecta state in 2019 (both branches of the legislature and Governor being controlled by the same party) and one of the top state priorities of the democratic state leadership was increasing the state minimum wage – and the General Assembly did just that. Under the legislation pending before the governor, Virginia would increase the minimum wage from the current $7.25 to $9.50/hour on January 1, 2021 and then gradually thereafter until it reached $12/hour in 2023. As the state battles the economic repercussions of the COVID-19 crisis however, the Governor wants to postpone that increase until May of next year. At the same time, Northam also asked the legislature to freeze state spending in light of the economic realities of the coronavirus pandemic. The General Assembly will decide on his amendments later this month.