{"id":2571398,"date":"2026-02-19T11:07:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T16:07:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/guy-benson-virginia-democrats-push-dizzying-tax-hikes\/"},"modified":"2026-02-19T11:09:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T16:09:19","slug":"guy-benson-virginia-democrats-push-dizzying-tax-hikes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/guy-benson-virginia-democrats-push-dizzying-tax-hikes\/","title":{"rendered":"Guy Benson: Virginia Democrats push \u2018dizzying\u2019 tax hikes"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fguy-benson-virginia-democrats-push-dizzying-tax-hikes%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2571398&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>An item from the Washington Examiner reports that Virginia Democrats, fresh from winning the governorship and flipping 13 House seats in the 2025 elections, are pushing an expansive package of new proposals and rules for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/parents-teaching-kids-how-to-shoot-could-be-criminal-with-new-mexico-dems-bill-gun-group-warns\/\" title=\"Parents Teaching Kids How To Shoot Could Be Criminal With New Mexico Dem\u2019s Bill, Gun Group Warns\">upcoming <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/update-letter-by-ted-cruz-and-6-gop-senators-and-4-senators-elect-sign-letter-to-reject-election-call-for-election-commission-10-day-emergency-audit-takes-place\/\" title=\"UPDATE: Letter by Ted Cruz and 6 GOP Senators and 4 Senators-Elect Sign Letter to Reject Election \u2013 Call For Election Commission 10-Day Emergency Audit Takes Place\">legislative session<\/a><\/a>. They have introduced more than 50 measures, including taxes on dog walking and gym memberships, signaling a shift toward <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >widespread <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/schumer-spokesman-celebrates-1-9-trillion-covid-relief-plan-erases-ny-budget-deficit\/\" title=\"Schumer Spokesman Celebrates: .9 Trillion COVID Relief Plan Erases NY Budget Deficit\">tax increases<\/a> alongside culture-war issues\u2014criticism<\/a> against which argues it diverges from what they campaigned on. guy Benson,the paper\u2019s senior columnist,contends that Democrats have moved from affordability and democracy talking points to a dizzying array of tax hikes and controversial policy ideas,raising questions about which proposals will pass or be vetoed by the governor. He contrasts this approach with developments in New York City and cites comments about Mayor Zohran Mamdani to illustrate the broader political dynamics. The piece situates thes moves within the 2025 election context and notes accompanying elements like recommended stories and a paywalled video.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Virginia Democrats introducing &lsquo;dizzying array&rsquo; of tax increases: Guy Benson<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2504711\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><em>Washington Examiner<\/em> senior columnist <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/author\/guy-benson\/\">Guy Benson<\/a> said Democrats have been focusing on issues they didn&rsquo;t campaign on since winning the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/virginia\/\">Virginia<\/a> elections in their &ldquo;little blue wave.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The democrats mouth these platitudes of affordability and democracy. That&rsquo;s how they got elected,&rdquo; Benson said Wednesday on Fox Business&rsquo;s <em>Bottom Line<\/em>. &ldquo;As soon as they seized control of everything with their little blue wave in Virginia, it has been this dizzying array of increased tax proposals from every direction.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4463320\/marjorie-taylor-greene-zero-epstein-related-arrests-us\/\">Marjorie Taylor Greene vents &#8216;zero Epstein related&#8217; arrests in US as UK arrests Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4463343\/ro-khanna-thomas-massie-try-force-war-powers-resolution-vote-iran\/\">Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie try to force war powers resolution vote over Iran<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4463231\/watch-live-trump-holds-board-of-peace-inaugural-meeting\/\">WATCH LIVE: Trump holds Board of Peace ceremony<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<div style=\"width: 100%; max-width: 640px; max-height: 360px; min-width: 320px; min-height: 180px; overflow: hidden;\">\n<div style=\"position: relative; width: 100%; padding-top: 56.25%;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/share.grabien.com\/share?id=3383382&amp;userid=11311&amp;usertype=user&amp;loginid=9421&amp;playercolor=%23000000&amp;playersize=auto&amp;code=0a0f477ad03395565d606b35a48fdd31\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0px;\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2025-elections\/\">2025 elections<\/a>, Democrats took control of the Virginia governorship and flipped 13 House delegate seats.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Virginia Democrats have introduced more than 50 new proposals and new rules for the new legislative session, including taxes on dog walking and gym memberships.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Benson said in addition to raising taxes, Virginia Democrats have been focusing on &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/no-surprise-david-french-completely-botches-lord-of-the-rings\/\" title=\"No Surprise, David French Completely Botches &#039;Lord Of The Rings&#039;\">culture war&#038;rdquo<\/a>; issues and &ldquo;gerrymandering.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;That has been their priority &mdash; it is not at all what they campaigned on,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In comparison, Benson said the tax increases in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/New-York-City\/\">New York City<\/a> aren&rsquo;t a surprise because Mayor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Zohran-Mamdani\/\">Zohran Mamdani<\/a> is a &ldquo;communist.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In New York, you can at least say, listen, he&rsquo;s a communist, you knew what you were going to get,&rdquo; Benson said. &ldquo;He could put on a nice grin and a nice smile and say nice words, but he was an unrepentant communist.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;So, this was going to come [in New York City], this was not the sell job in Virginia, and yet the outcomes are looking quite familiar, isn&rsquo;t that interesting,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4461228\/mamdani-proposes-property-tax-hike-in-nyc-as-part-of-new-budget\/\"><strong>MAMDANI PROPOSES 9.5% PROPERTY TAX HIKE IN NYC AS PART OF NEW BUDGET<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Benson said Virginia Democrats&rsquo; new tax proposals are &ldquo;crazy.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s crazy, like if it moves or doesn&rsquo;t move, tax it,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll see how much of this actually gets passed, we&rsquo;ll see if the governor decides to veto some of these things to try to cling to some veneer of moderation.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Virginia Dems push a flood of tax hikes after victory<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3984,"featured_media":2571399,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/GettyImages-2256791372.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[7983,3685,43525,39004,38033],"class_list":["post-2571398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-budgeting","tag-democrats","tag-state-legislature","tag-tax-hikes","tag-virginia-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/GettyImages-2256791372.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3984"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2571398"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2571402,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571398\/revisions\/2571402"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2571399"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2571398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2571398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2571398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}