Virginia Gov. Spanberger gives Democratic response to Trump’s address

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger condemned President Trump Tuesday night in the Democratic response to Mr. Trump’s State of the Union address, saying that his policies have made life more costly for Americans.  

“Since this president took office last year, his reckless trade policies have forced American families to pay more than $1,700 each in tariff costs,” Ms. Spanberger said.  Small businesses have suffered. Farmers have suffered, some losing entire markets every day. Americans are paying the price.”

She said, “And even though the Supreme Court struck these tariffs down four days ago, the damage to us, the American people, has already been done. Meanwhile, the President is planning for new tariffs, another massive tax hike on you and your family, and Republicans in Congress, they remain unwilling to assert their constitutional authority to stop him.”
Ms. Spanberger said Mr. Trump and congressional Republicans are making “life harder.”

“They’re making your life more expensive. They’re even making it more difficult to see a doctor. Rural health clinics in Virginia and across the country are already closing their doors thanks to the so-called one Big, Beautiful Bill championed by the president and Republicans in Congress,” she said.

Ms. Spanberger said that in Virginia, however, she is working with the  state legislature to lower costs and make the Commonwealth more affordable.

Ms. Spanberger, the state’s first female governor, presented herself on the campaign trail last year as a moderate alternative to the radical base of her party by running on an affordability platform.

But immediately after taking office, she and the Democratic-controlled General Assembly revealed a liberal agenda that critics warned would raise costs through crippling regulations, and increase crime. Virginia Republicans criticized Ms. Spanberger after Democrats introduced a massive list of proposed tax increases.

The proposals would establish new tax brackets and raise the top income tax rate from 5.75% to 10% for individuals earning more than $1 million annually, with those earning over $600,000 paying 8%.

Other bills would impose a 3.8% tax on net investment income and expand the retail sales and use tax to services such as gym memberships, nail care, tattoos, dry cleaning, landscaping, and dog grooming and walking. Firearms and ammunition manufacturers face an 11% excise tax.

Virginia Democrats also have proposed a bill to create a sales tax on Amazon, FedEx and Uber Eats deliveries, a tax of up to 10% on admissions to events and certain businesses, and a $500 tax on firearm suppressors.

Republicans also went after Democratic-sponsored legislation that would allow local governments to install speed cameras and prohibit gas-powered leaf blowers.

Ms. Spanberger announced to the General Assembly that she would renew  green energy policies, including an initiative to return to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which critics say will increase energy prices on Virginians.

Her predecessor, Republican Glenn Youngkin, removed Virginia from the green energy program in 2024, which he said saved state ratepayers $937 million. Republicans say inclusion in RGGI will cost Virginia households over $1,000 a year in higher utility bills.

“Withdrawing from RGGI did not lower energy costs,” Ms. Spanberger said. “In fact, the opposite happened. It just took money out of Virginia’s pocket. It is time to fix that mistake.”

Ms. Spanberger intends to spend more on solar, wind and expensive battery storage for renewable energy. She said she plans to fight the federal government’s effort to halt offshore wind projects, including Virginia’s $11 billion wind farm.

“My administration is focused on working with our partners in the General Assembly to lower healthcare, housing, and energy costs for Virginians in every community across our Commonwealth,” Ms. Spanberger said in a statement. “I look forward to signing these bills — and every piece of legislation in our agenda — into law to bring down costs for Virginians.”

Virginia Democrats have also proposed over 40 pieces of gun control measures this legislative session, including legislation that would ban certain semiautomatic firearms and magazines.

One measure would make the import, sale, manufacture, purchase or transfer of an “assault firearm” a Class 1 misdemeanor, the most serious class of misdemeanor, punishable by up to 12 months in jail and/or a $2,500 fine.

The legislation defines an “assault firearm” as any semiautomatic center-fire rifle or pistol that expels single or multiple rounds and is equipped with a magazine that will hold more than 20 rounds, or is designed by the manufacturer to accommodate a silencer or equipped with a folding stock.

The Senate bill would ban magazines holding more than 10 rounds manufactured after July 1, while allowing possession of pre-July 1 firearms but prohibiting most future transfers.