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NewsBusters summarized the situation bluntly:
“Va. Dems Seek to More than Double Their Pay – While Rushing to Impose Flurry of New Taxes”
The report notes that after campaigning heavily on “affordability,” Virginia Democrats are suddenly prioritizing their own compensation now that they control the governor’s mansion and both chambers of the legislature. With Democrat Abigail Spanberger now serving as governor, the party holds unified control of the state government — and critics say lawmakers wasted no time using that power to benefit themselves.
The Virginia Senate Republican Caucus sounded the alarm in a post on X.com, warning that Democratic lawmakers are asking taxpayers to foot the bill for both higher taxes and higher legislative salaries at the same time. Their message pulled no punches:
“Virginia Democrats are now trying to give themselves a PAY RAISE after proposing thousands of dollars in new taxes hammering working families, the Virginia Senate Republican Caucus warned in a X.com post highlighting how the legislators’ pay raise would hurt taxpayers:”
The post continued with an even sharper rebuke:
“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!”
At the center of the controversy is an amendment to Virginia’s state budget, known as SB30. The amendment was introduced by Democratic State Senator L. Louise Lucas and Democratic Delegate Vivian Edna Watts. If approved, the measure would increase legislative salaries by roughly 150 percent — effectively more than doubling pay for members of both the House of Delegates and the State Senate.
The timing of the proposal has sparked outrage across the state. Democrats have only recently regained full control of Virginia’s government, yet they are already moving to dramatically increase their own compensation. Critics argue there has been no justification offered for such a drastic raise, particularly given the state’s economic pressures and the new taxes being pushed on residents.
For many Virginians, the question is simple: what exactly have lawmakers done to deserve a raise of this magnitude? Their time back in power has been short, and their legislative priorities so far have focused heavily on expanding government and increasing revenue — not delivering tangible relief to struggling families.
To conservatives, this latest move feels painfully familiar. Voters were promised moderation, affordability, and responsible governance. Instead, they’re seeing higher taxes, more spending, and now a push for self-enrichment by politicians who claimed to be fighting for everyday people.
The situation serves as a stark reminder of what happens when one party gains unchecked control. Once again, Virginians are left to wonder whether they are being asked to relearn a hard lesson — one that many believed the state had already learned in previous election cycles.
As the debate over taxes and legislative pay continues, the outcome will likely shape how voters view the Democratic majority heading into future elections. The bigger question remains: will Virginians accept this course, or will they push back against what critics see as a betrayal of trust?
