Taxation to Confiscation! Virginia Assembly Again Comes After Heritage Groups
House panel moves to end tax breaks for Confederate-affiliated groups
The House of Delegates Finance Committee on Monday by a 12-10 party-line vote advanced legislation that would strip the Virginia Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) and similar organizations of their tax-exempt status in Virginia.
A similar measure passed both chambers of the legislature last year but was ultimately vetoed by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who argued it was unnecessary and divisive.
Sponsored by Del. Alex Askew, D-Virginia Beach, House Bill 1699 would remove state recordation tax exemptions and revoke the tax-exempt status of real and personal property owned by a range of Confederate-linked groups.
The panel passed the legislation without discussion Monday, and no representative of the UDC or related group addressed the committee. Askew said in a brief interview after the vote that it is time for Virginia’s tax code to reflect the state’s current values.
“Last year, we saw a few people come and speak for members on behalf of the UDC, but to me, it’s a good policy,” Askew said. “It’s not that we’re looking to take away anybody’s right to exist at all, but I think our code should match our values in Virginia.”
Besides the UDC, the legislation targets groups like…
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