Staff Reports
Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, made a major campaign promise during the 2021 Virginia governor's race. He had promised to get rid of the state's grocery tax. On January 1, the tax was eliminated, and it was the Democrats who took credit.
🛒 If your weekly grocery bill feels lighter this year, that’s because it is.
Democrats ended the 1.5% state sales tax on groceries — and that starts today.
— Virginia Democrats (@vademocrats) January 1, 2023
After becoming governor, Youngkin visited a local grocery store in Northern Virginia to talk to families about the high costs they are experiencing.
This isn't the first time that Democrats in Virginia have supported Youngkin's proposal. In December 2021, prior to Youngkin's inauguration, Ralph Northam, the governor at that time, supported the idea of scrapping the grocery tax.
Today, I sat down with Virginia parents to discuss my administration’s plan to combat rising inflation and its impact on families. I look forward to working together to address the rising costs of raising a family in the Commonwealth, starting with eliminating the grocery tax. pic.twitter.com/zpzzH5ROwK
— Governor Glenn Youngkin (@GovernorVA) February 3, 2022
It's part of Youngkin’s larger plan to cut taxes in Virginia. During an interview with an outlet, the governor noted that they would begin cutting individual rates and increasing the standard deduction.
Shortly before the tax was eliminated on December 29, Youngkin released a video on Twitter, where he talked about how it was "good for Virginians" and how it was "what the people elected us to do." A news segment from ABC News Now featured the video. According to the outlet, the initiative that Youngkin had talked about during his campaign was providing relief to supermarkets.
Virginia is cutting taxes on groceries. We are delivering on promises made nearly two years ago. This is what Virginians elected us to do. pic.twitter.com/rJMbdpwzyz
— Governor Glenn Youngkin (@GovernorVA) December 29, 2022
On Monday, the "Youngkin" hashtag was trending after people criticized the Virginia Democrats for a "shameless" tweet. The post, which had received over 250 replies, was widely shared on social media.
You're such liars, lol. Youngkin ended it … you sat on your asses and did nothing for YEARS. Oh, unless you count blocking his efforts to give us a gas tax holiday as well.
Virginians aren't as dumb as you think. 🙂 https://t.co/WxEIjxe4DJ
— The🐰FOO (@PolitiBunny) January 2, 2023
@RalphNortham & @vademocrats eliminated (some) of grocery tax in VA (refused to kill local 🍱 taxes, which @GlennYoungkin wanted) ONLY AFTER Youngkin started campaigning to do so.
It wasn’t on Dem agenda until Youngkin’s rise in polls
Youngkin delivered b4 even being in office https://t.co/JMiGSTn9Dg
— NOVA Campaigns (@NoVA_Campaigns) January 1, 2023
The 48 quotes from the post criticized the Democrats for lying, as well as the Virginia Republican Party's account, which had also shared a story about Youngkin's plan.
Ah yes, Governor Glenn Youngkin, well-known Democrat 🤡🤡🤡 https://t.co/Gg2PAS26xj pic.twitter.com/HSG5oCpnTO
— Virginia GOP (@VA_GOP) January 2, 2023
.@GovernorVA made eliminating the grocery tax (and billions more $ in tax relief) a central pillar of his campaign.
On January 1, those changes officially went into effect. Promises made, promises kept. pic.twitter.com/vY46J6UV3j
— Virginia GOP (@VA_GOP) January 2, 2023
The preceding is a summary of an article that originally appeared on Townhall.
