Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger is leaving the door open to imposing new taxes on everyday services. The Democrat recently discussed the possibility of taxing gym memberships, digital subscriptions, and dog grooming during an interview.
"I think every idea, as long as it’s reasonable and makes some amount of sense, should be discussed," Spanberger told a local ABC affiliate.
She emphasized the need to look at modernizing state income. "I think there are worthy conversations to be had about what revenue generation looks like into the future as our economy changes in so many ways," Spanberger added.
These alarming comments come as the governor tries to explore new sources of state revenue. She is simultaneously attempting to fend off heavy criticism from the White House regarding her economic policies.
President Donald Trump recently painted the Virginia leader as a tax-happy progressive. "So sad! She is adding so many taxes: a food and beverage tax, digital services tax, utilities tax and more. People are leaving that would never have even thought of doing so!" Trump said in a post to Truth Social.
The President did not hold back in his assessment of her leadership. "This went from a thriving and powerful place to a commonwealth run by a person who has no concept of low taxes and economic strength," Trump added.
Those sharp criticisms stem from a handful of controversial bills introduced in the Virginia state legislature. If implemented, the legislation would extend taxes to storage facilities, counseling, dry cleaning, and vehicle repair. It would also hit website design, data storage, and digital subscriptions.
These bills were initially introduced by lawmakers during the tenure of former Governor Glenn Youngkin. However, the proposals never reached the floor of the General Assembly for a vote before the legislative session ended on March 14.
Spanberger recently signed a bill that incrementally raises the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2028. She has yet to sign off on any new state-based tax increases and claims the President is misrepresenting her record.
"The array of taxes that the president asserts move forward in Virginia is sort of ludicrous," Spanberger said.
Despite that defense, Spanberger openly admitted she could revisit ways to raise revenue from shifting industries. This approach could drastically change the tax calculus for ordinary citizens.
"You used to buy a DVD; there used to be sales tax. Streaming is different. So, I recognize there’s value in having these conversations," Spanberger said.
The Democratic governor claimed that any final decision would ultimately depend on the specific language of a proposal.
"Whether I would ever sign a bill is wholly dependent on what is actually in the bill and how it is outlined," Spanberger said.