Two state Senate Democrats want tax cuts; Wittman's campaign stresses Spanberger; and more
The latest in Virginia politics.
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The two Democratic senators that want to cut taxes for the first $25K of income
Only their 21-19 majority in the state Senate can protect Democrats from the Republicans who won all three statewide races and seven seats in the House of Delegates giving them the 52-48 majority there.
Now the two Democratic senators that have given the party the most reason for concern are speaking about….tax cuts. Cuts were and continue to be a key platform issue for Republican Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin.
"My fidelity is to the commonwealth, not the party,” state Sen. Joe Morrissey said in an interview with a conservative radio show earlier this week. (First reported by the Washington Post)
Morrissey and his Democratic colleague Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax) both say they want to increase the income exemption for joint filers to $25,000.
"Every single Democrat in Virginia should sign on as a co-sponsor. It is a no-brainer,” Petersen told the Washington Post earlier this week.
That Washington Post reports: “The idea isn't new to Petersen, who has been advocating for months to raise the state standard deduction for Virginia tax filers to the same level as federal filers - from $4,500 to $12,500 for individuals and from $9,000 to $25,100 for couples filing jointly.”
Youngkin said on the trail that he wants to increase both of those deductions by doubling them, which is not as drastic as the proposals from Petersen.
Petersen’s tax cut plan would be more costly than Republican Gov.-elect Youngkin’s plan, which is to double the standard deduction for Virginians. Petersen’s would cost $2.2 billion in the first year; compared to Youngkin’s plan which would cost $1.1 billion in the first year. (Numbers from the Virginia Department of Taxation)
Everyone involved is using the Virginia surplus estimates as their reasoning for being able to afford these changes to the tax code. Officials are expecting an extra $13 billion over the next three years.
“As I’ve said all along, there is ample, ample, ample money to provide tax relief, to bring our cost of living down to Virginians so we can compete more effectively with the states around us,” Youngkin said Monday.
The office for Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA-01) commented on the redistricting process that is currently plaguing Virginia. Continue reading and see what Wittman’s team also said about possibly being drawn into a district with Rep. Spanberger: