Virginia Democrats Push to Double Own Salaries After Campaigning on Affordability

Virginia Democrats, fresh from campaigning on affordability and sweeping control of Virginia's government with Abigail Spanberger's gubernatorial win, now push policies that drain wallets while padding their own.

Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly introduced an amendment to the state budget bill SB30 that would more than double legislative salaries.

Sen. L. Louise Lucas, D, sponsored the measure in the Senate, and Del. Vivian Edna Watts, D, introduced it in the House of Delegates.

The proposal raises annual pay by about 150 percent, adding $27,360 for delegates and $27,000 for senators.

The increases would take effect after the next General Assembly election and add more than $2.1 million in annual state spending.

The Virginia Senate Republican Caucus criticized the move, warning in a post on X, "They ran on ‘affordability,’ but all they’ve done is introduce insane left-wing policies and take from your pocket to line their own. TOTAL CON JOB!"

Democrats simultaneously advance multiple tax increases.

Bills including SB978 propose new or expanded taxes on services such as counseling, dry cleaning and laundry, home repairs and maintenance, landscaping, cleaning services, vehicle repairs, storage units, shipping services, travel planning, website hosting, data and storage, and digital personal property.

Gov. Spanberger pursues rejoining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, described by detractors as a backdoor carbon tax on electricity that raises utility bills under the label of environmental investment.

Americans for Tax Reform cautions, "Virginia taxpayers just got a costly reminder that elections have consequences."

Virginia voters handed Democrats trifecta control after promises to ease living costs.

Instead, leaders deliver higher taxes on everyday services and a self-awarded windfall.

The contrast exposes a familiar bait-and-switch: campaign on relief for working families, then govern by reaching deeper into their pockets. Virginians now face the steep price of misplaced trust.