1srelluc
Diamond Member
Affordability or Tax Hikes? Spanberger Agenda Caught in Political Crossfire
Gov. Abigail Spanberger made affordability the centerpiece of her 2026 agenda, promising relief for Virginians strained by high housing costs, rising energy bills, and everyday expenses. But less than a […]
royalexaminer.com
Gov. Abigail Spanberger made affordability the centerpiece of her 2026 agenda, promising relief for Virginians strained by high housing costs, rising energy bills, and everyday expenses. But less than a month into the General Assembly session, several dozen tax-increase bills filed by Democratic lawmakers have given Republicans a ready-made political weapon — and an opening to portray the new governor as doing the opposite of what she promised.
“There were some really good bills — Democratic bills, Republican bills — that really made Virginia more affordable,” McNamara said. “We are living under the guise that Virginia is in these desperate financial straits. Virginia is not in desperate financial straits.”
McNamara pointed to what he said were nearly $9 billion in budget surpluses over the past four years, alongside a similar amount in tax cuts, and said Youngkin left $2.7 billion for Virginians when he left office, which allowed for more tax cuts.
He argued Democrats are moving in the other direction, pointing to bills that would create new income tax brackets.
“If we look at where we are from the Democratic philosophies and bills that are coming forward, there are new tax brackets,” McNamara said. “There are 6%, or 8%, 10% tax brackets, and investment income tax brackets on the top.”
He warned higher top rates could push wealthy residents out of Virginia and raise the state’s marginal tax burden. “This is kind of what the Democrat version of affordability is,” McNamara said. “The Republican version of affordability is very, very different.”
McNamara also underscored GOP proposals to phase out the car tax, protect the standard deduction and eliminate the remaining 1% grocery tax — efforts he said Democrats routinely block.
From what I understand the dems are even looking at eliminating our "rainy day" fund to fund their various grift streams.
I suspect tough times ahead in the Old Dominion and it looks (tax wise) the very people (the six-figure cohort in NOtVA) who voted the dems in are gonna suffer the most.
