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‘Massive buyer’s remorse’: Virginians face huge tax surge and worse after electing ‘moderate’ Dem governor

January 30, 2026 | | Print Article

Virginia voters who chose last election season to install a Democrat governor into office after four years of a successful Republican administration are now facing serious regrets.

Why? Because, despite fraudulently campaigning as a moderate, newly elected Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has, since assuming office weeks ago, pursued nothing but radically far-left policies.

In fact, one of the first things she did was revoke former Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s executive order allowing for coordination between federal immigration authorities and local law enforcement.

She also appointed a radical DEI director who’d previously cheered the “dismantling” of the Constitution, and she put in charge of public safety the author of the FBI’s infamous “radical Catholic” memo.

Meanwhile, the Democrats who now run the Virginia General Assembly have been passing an assortment of extremely radical bills designed mainly to benefit criminals and other degenerates.

One bill introduced by Virginia Democrats would eliminate mandatory minimum prison sentences for a wide range of deplorable crimes, including manslaughter, rape, possession and distribution of child pornography, and assault on a law enforcement officer.

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The lawmakers are reportedly also seeking to eliminate a mandatory five-day minimum sentence for certain first-time DUI offenses. They have defended this bill by claiming that mandatory minimum sentences are a “one-size-fits-all” rule.

“HB 863 is a common-sense proposal that eliminates the requirement for one-size-fits-all minimum sentences for certain crimes,” Delegate Rae Cousins, the bill’s sponsor, told local station WJLA.

“This change would give the experienced judges in our communities more discretion to make decisions based on the unique facts of each case. As the General Assembly session continues, I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this legislation and promote fairer outcomes in our justice system,” he added.

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But Josh Ederheimer, an assistant professor at the University of Virginia’s Center for Public Safety and Justice and a retired law enforcement officer, warned Fox News that removing mandatory minimum sentences could be perceived as a betrayal of victims.

“I think that the police and public alike have expectations that convicted criminals will be held accountable, and that full sentences should be served,” he said. “It is the circumstance when convicted felons are released early that victims may feel a sense of betrayal or that justice was not served. That’s the dilemma.”

The Democrats who now run the Virginia General Assembly have also proposed a gigantic list of new taxes, according to WJLA:

  • Additional local sales tax in all Virginia counties and cities
  • New personal property tax on electric leaf blowers and electric landscaping equipment
  • Large employer tax
  • Gun and ammunition tax
  • New income tax brackets
  • Delivery tax, which would hit Amazon, Uber Eats, FedEx, and UPS orders in Northern Virginia
  • Investment income tax
  • Event tax
  • Storage facility tax
  • Gym membership tax
  • Dog walking tax
  • Dog grooming tax
  • Counseling tax
  • Digital personal property tax
  • New car taxes and highway use fees
  • Increase in the hotel tax in Arlington
  • Statewide speed cameras (not a tax, but more fines for drivers)
  • Vehicle repair tax
  • Home repair tax
  • Dry cleaning tax

 

The lawmakers are reportedly also considering a 4.3 percent tax on rideshare trips, in addition to another 1.9 percent tax for on rideshare trips in Northern Virginia.

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“As Virginia residents continue to struggle with high cost-of-living, efforts to impose new taxes and fees on rideshare and delivery services are unwise,” an Uber spokesperson told WJLA.

“While we share legislative leadership’s goal of funding transportation and lowering costs for Virginians, these proposals will likely have the opposite effect: increasing costs on both riders and drivers, decreasing transportation options, and harming small businesses,” they added.

The good news is that Spanberger has the power to veto these outrageous proposals. The bad news is that, given the radicalism she’s embraced since assuming office, she probably won’t …

Vivek Saxena
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