OPINION:
At first, it seemed like something from the satirical newspaper “Babylon Bee.” The new governor of Virginia, the “moderate” Democrat Abigail Spanberger, has proposed a tax hike on services such as dog walking and grooming.
Additional proposed tax hikes include levies on guns and ammunition, storage facilities, dry cleaning, home repairs, food delivery services and package deliveries, as well as a new personal property tax on electric leaf blowers (but not gas-powered blowers?) and electric landscaping equipment.
There is no economic reason for raising taxes in Virginia. When his single term expired last month, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin left behind numerous successes, including a $572 million budget surplus, above the forecast. That made four consecutive years of surpluses, resulting in $10 billion in surplus revenue.
Mt. Youngkin achieved this by cutting taxes and creating an economic environment attractive to new businesses while incentivizing taxpayers. He also started a mini revolution when he exposed some of the things being taught about gender and boys in girls’ bathrooms in Loudoun County public schools.
One would think such a record of achievement might be emulated, at least in part, by his successor, but Democrats are not used to cutting taxes, and many enjoy following the latest kooky trend. What they are used to is raising taxes and increasing spending, which nearly always result in outcomes that are counterproductive.
As if those proposed new taxes aren’t enough, Ms. Spanberger wants to raise the top marginal tax rate. Some Democrats are proposing a 10% tax rate on income over $1 million. One proposal would push the top rate to 13.8%. If enacted, that would put Virginia ahead of California and give the commonwealth the dubious distinction of having the highest state tax rate in the nation.
That cold wave Virginians are feeling is caused not only by the wintry weather. It’s the breeze created by people leaving high-tax states such as New York and New Jersey for no-income-tax states such as Florida, Texas and a growing number of others.
Ms. Spanberger sold herself to voters as a “moderate.” The media never challenged her on that label. Quick, can you define the word moderate? What does that mean when it comes to policies? Do moderates favor lower taxes? Are they opposed to men in women’s sports? What about open borders?
Being on the wrong side of these issues contributed to Democratic defeats in the 2024 elections, although recent special elections won by Democrats seem to have been more about disliking President Trump than opposition to his policies, most of which appear to be working.
Here is the dictionary.com definition of moderate: “kept or keeping within reasonable or proper limits; not extreme, excessive, or intense.” Given what Ms. Spanberger and some members of her majority-Democratic legislature are proposing in new taxes, that definition does not fit their political and economic profile.
It’s hard to believe a majority of Virginians would embrace a set of policies directly opposite the successful ones of Mr. Youngkin, but given the weak candidacy of his lieutenant governor, Winsome Earle-Sears, and a media that engaged in a cover-up of Ms. Spanberger’s true beliefs, combined with Mr. Trump’s unpopularity, it wasn’t difficult to predict the outcome.
If these tax increases are enacted, look for some Virginians and businesses that prospered during the Youngkin administration to join the exodus now underway from other states to warmer economic climes.
And they will be taking their dogs with them.
• Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book, “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America” (Humanix Books).
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