Democrats in Virginia have introduced a series of tax proposals that could affect various services, such as dog walking and gym memberships, all while campaigning on a platform of affordability. Over 50 new proposals have emerged in the current legislative session, which includes suggestions for local sales taxes across each county and city in the state.
The proposed policies consist of:
- A tax on dog walking and grooming
- A tax on bullets
- A new income tax classification
- A tax for storage facilities
- A tax on dry cleaning
- A housing repair tax
- A new personal property tax on electric landscaping equipment such as leaf blowers
Additionally, there’s a tax for deliveries made by services like Amazon, Uber Eats, and FedEx in Northern Virginia.
In a significant shift, the Democrats gained several seats in the House of Representatives during the recent elections, securing a majority. They also maintain control of the state Senate.
Republican state Senator Tara Durant commented, “Virginians ought to assess Democrats based on their actual actions, not just their campaign slogans. And their actions are quite revealing—they’re advocating for numerous new taxes that will only increase costs for hard-working families. Virginians deserve leaders who truly aim to make life more affordable.”
Fox News Digital reached out to House Speaker Don Scott and State Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell to ask how these tax increases could possibly make Virginia more affordable and what the extra revenue would be used for. Newly elected Governor Abigail Spanberger had promised to make the state more affordable.
After taking office, she stated that Virginia would rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which would add extra fees to monthly electricity bills.
Americans for Tax Reform, a group pushing for tax cuts, criticized these new proposals, arguing that state Democrats are moving in the opposite direction of neighboring states, which are seeking to lower taxes. Grover Norquist, the group’s chairman, remarked, “Increasing taxes is rarely a good idea, but doing so now—when states are fiercely competing to lower their taxes—would be especially unwise. Many states are busy cutting taxes, or even eliminating them entirely.”
He further noted, “Individuals, families, and businesses looking to escape the unfavorable tax policies promoted by Democrats in Richmond have plenty of alternatives nearby.”
In addition to Spanberger, Fox News Digital also reached out to Scott and Surovell for further comments.
