Virginia Gov. Spanberger Open to Taxing Gyms, Digital Subscriptions and Dog Grooming

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger left the door open to imposing taxes on services like gym memberships, digital subscriptions and dog grooming during a recent interview with a local ABC affiliate.

"I think every idea, as long as it’s reasonable and makes some amount of sense, should be discussed," Spanberger said.

"I think there are worthy conversations to be had about what revenue generation looks like into the future as our economy changes in so many ways."

Spanberger made the comment as she seeks to explore new revenue sources for Virginia while countering White House accusations that depict her as a tax-happy Democrat.

President Trump criticized her on Truth Social. "So sad! She is adding so many taxes: a food and beverage tax, digital services tax, utilities tax and more. People are leaving that would never have even thought of doing so!" he wrote.

"This went from a thriving and powerful place to a commonwealth run by a person who has no concept of low taxes and economic strength."

The criticisms arose from bills introduced in the Virginia General Assembly. If passed, they would extend taxes to storage facilities, counseling, dry cleaning, vehicle repair, website design, data storage and digital subscription storage.

Lawmakers first introduced the bills during the tenure of Spanberger’s predecessor, Gov. Glenn Youngkin. They never reached the floor for a vote before the legislative session ended on March 14.

Spanberger has signed only one new state measure so far: a bill to raise the minimum wage incrementally to $15 an hour by 2028. She said Trump misrepresents her record on taxes.

"The array of taxes that the president asserts move forward in Virginia is sort of ludicrous," Spanberger said.

She added that shifting industries have altered the tax landscape and warrant discussion. "You used to buy a DVD; there used to be sales tax. Streaming is different. So, I recognize there’s value in having these conversations," she said.

Spanberger stressed that any decision would hinge on a proposal’s details. "Whether I would ever sign a bill is wholly dependent on what is actually in the bill and how it is outlined," she said.