Cal Thomas: Tax the dog (walker)

Cal Thomas, Tribune Content Agency on Feb 3, 2026

At first it seemed like something from the satirical website 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, package deliveries and 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 Governor Glenn Youngkin left behind numerous successes, including a large budget surplus of $572 million, above the projected forecast. That made four consecutive years of surpluses, resulting in $10 billion in surplus revenue. Youngkin achieved this by cutting taxes and creating an economic environment attractive to new business while incentivizing taxpayers. He also started a mini revolution when he exposed some of the things being taught about gender and boys in girl’s 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 results in outcomes that are counter-productive.

As if those proposed new taxes aren’t enough, Spanberger wants to raise the top marginal tax rate. Some Democrats are proposing a rate of 10 percent on income over $1 million. One proposal would push the top rate to 13.8 percent. 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 not only caused by the wintry weather. It’s the breeze created by people leaving high tax states like New York and New Jersey for no tax states like Florida, Texas and a growing number of others.

Governor 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 Democrats’ defeat in last year’s election, 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’s the dictionary.com definition of moderate: “kept or keeping within reasonable or proper limits; not extreme, excessive, or intense.” Given what Governor Spanberger and some members of her majority Democrat legislature are proposing in new taxes, that definition does not fit their political and economic profile.

It’s hard to believe that a majority of Virginians would embrace a set of policies that are directly opposite the successful ones of Glenn Youngkin, but given the weak candidacy of his lieutenant governor, Winsome Sears, and a media that engaged in a coverup of Spanberger’s true beliefs – combined with President Trump’s unpopularity – it wasn’t difficult to predict the outcome.

If these tax increases are passed, look for some Virginians and businesses that prospered during the Youngkin administration to join the exodus that is now occurring from other states to m ore economically warmer climes, and they’re taking their dogs with them.

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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" (HumanixBooks).