Virginia Democrats reportedly claimed in a Wednesday press conference that the proposal by Governor Glenn Youngkin to end the commonwealth’s unpopular car tax is “dead on arrival” in the Virginia General Assembly.
State Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax) said Democrats would block Youngkin’s budget proposal to end the state’s unpopular car tax, calling it “dead on arrival,” according to 13 News Now.
“The personal property tax, at least in Fairfax County, that’s the only place I’ve done research on, generates about $3,500 per student,” Surovell said, reported Virginia Public Radio. The Democrat added, “I haven’t heard from the governor how he intends to replace that kind of money,” declaring Youngkin’s plan “irresponsible.”
He said, “So that, that ain’t happening.”
Surovell (pictured above, right) explained, “Putting out a car tax proposal without making the hard decisions to build it into your budget, explaining exactly what you intend to do, is not serious policy-making,” according to The Richmond Times-Dispatch, which reported Surovell said Youngkin’s plan to eliminate the tax “a campaign stunt.” Surovell added, “The governor needs to get out of campaign mode.”
State Senator Lamont Bagby (D-Henrico) also seemed less certain of Democrat opposition to removing the tax, reportedly acknowledging in a separate own press conference Virginia Legislative Black Caucus press conference that “we don’t have much of a choice but to work” with Youngkin.
House of Delegates Minority Leader Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah) told Virginia Public Radio that Democrats are offering a “knee-jerk reaction to anything with Governor Youngkin’s name on it.” He said the opposition to “something that’s so hated by Virginians” shows “they have no intention of working with him whatsoever.”
Surovell and Delegate Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke) previously indicated their opposition to removing the car tax in late December when they claimed the commonwealth would not adequately fund education and mental health without it.
According to Rasoul, the governor’s plan failed to face the “reality” of “where you get the resources.” Surovell, speaking on December 27, 2023, claimed Youngkin’s plan “does not get us off on the right foot when we have to govern together for the next two years.”
The pledge by Democrats to block a key part of Youngkin’s agenda came just one day after Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) predicted the governor will find “areas of agreement” with Democrats and ultimately pass bipartisan legislation during his final two years in office.
Kaine, who was Virginia’s governor from 2006 through 2010, highlighted “substance abuse treatment and prevention” as a “nonpartisan issue” on which Youngkin and Democrats could find common ground.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Scott A. Surovell” by Scott A. Surovell. Background Photo “Virginia Capitol” by Doug Kerr. CC BY-SA 2.0.
