In a Saturday morning social media post, President Donald Trump attacked Gov. Abigail Spanberger over legislation she has not signed. The bills that the president alleges Spanberger is pushing did not even pass out of the Democratic-controlled General Assembly.
“I can’t believe what this new Governor, Spanberger, has done to the Commonwealth — So sad! She is adding so many Taxes, a Food and Beverage Tax, Digital Services Tax, Utilities Tax, and more,” Trump wrote.
Spanberger has pushed for Virginia to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which could increase utility bills by $2 a month, but no utilities, food and beverage, or digital tax bills have even made it to her desk.
“The President and his allies are talking about taxes that our state legislature never even voted on and I certainly didn’t sign,” Spanberger said in a statement on social media. “Why? Because if they don’t flood the zone with fake news about fake taxes, people might hear about the bills I am signing to lower energy costs, strengthen our schools, make housing more affordable, and bring billions of dollars of business investment to Virginia.”
State Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, also responded to the statement from Trump.
“Once again, President Trump shows how misinformed and inept he is,” Lucas wrote. “None of those taxes passed my committee so none of them made it to the Governor’s desk.”