GRAVEN CRAIG'S CATTY TAX CLAIMS ON FOWLER
MAGA cat OCB gives Cravin' Graven a lie detector test and his claims belong in the litter box. OPINION
Lawyers that defend criminals for a living are always suspect when it comes to their perception of truth, especially those that enter government; take Pontius Pilate, for example, he knew the prevailing laws well and applied them first to his own purpose. He knew the Swamp of his time and we know how he dealt with problems.
When I see a campaign mailer that makes specific claims (especially by a shifty lawyer) rather than boilerplate talking points, I hand it to my sidekick Orange Cat Bad for research.
The first thing I had OCB check out was this claim by Graven Craig.
"I am pleased to report that my campaign was the FIRST to turn in our required signatures and paperwork to file to be first on the ballot June 20th.
It is now up to the Department of Elections in Richmond to determine the authenticity of the paperwork and choose which candidate will appear first on your ballot.
Thank you to everyone who signed my petition to make this happen! Due to your support and momentum we have been picking up along the way, we are excited for the road ahead!
On to June 20th!"
What did you find OCB?
Meow, meow, meow, Meow, Meow, Reeeeeeoooooooooow!
Let me translate: It’s BS.
Like so many things Counselor says, they turn out to be shy of the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. He and Delegate Buddy Fowler showed up simultaneously, but Fowler will be at the top of the ticket. Again, yet another self-serving ‘perception’ of Lawyer Craig. I’ve seen this door rush for the top billing on the ballot before in Hanover and wrote about it here. This ‘perception’ is becoming a familiar pattern with the lawyer.
The Mailer: OCB calls Delegate Fowler to ask about the claims.
Graven cites a bill about peanut excise taxes but doesn’t mention that the bill lowers the tax rate, typical lawyerese! This bill was put forth by the peanut farmers association to help cover the costs of advertising as Made In Virginia! Farmers have a lot of expenses keeping rats out of the peanuts, maybe they need a bill for that. 1. See the bills at the bottom.
As to increasing licensing fees, the bills in question concern docking fees; there is no fee whatsoever for anyone in possession of a valid access permit. This is an interesting bill as the docks were essentially being used for free like an Obama Phone at the expense of citizens purchasing fishing and other licenses! The casual user clogged up the docks while sportsmen and other licensed users had to wait to get out on the water to fish. The Fish and Game Commission actually opposed the bill! Clearly, this vote put sportsmen, who pay the costs of those docks, at the head of the line where they belong and the deadbeats that Craig defends at the rear where they belong. THIS BILL HAS BEEN REPEALED ANYWAY!! 2.
The fees for Alcohol Beverage Control cover the cost of regulating alcohol- but note the costs are associated with criminal behavior among other issues. 3.
On the front of Lawyer Craig’s mailer, he makes a claim completely without substance- he is gonna lower taxes and create a strong economy! Excuse me, one of the reasons taxes increase is due to the cost of law enforcement to capture and prosecute criminals- read the bill Cravin’ Gravin cites: SB884 '“each manufacturer or wholesaler who makes a false or fraudulent return, where willful intent exists to defraud the Commonwealth of any excise tax due on each liter of wine. Current law provides for these criminal and civil penalties with regard to failure to pay…”
Counselor Craig makes his living necessitating such a bill and subsequently the cost of law enforcement! The only economy he has ever improved is that of himself and his clients.
OCB says Cravin’ is citing nickel & dime stuff while Fowler saved the taxpayer $8 Billion including a major piece of legislation for Louisa- Lawyah Craig’s County!
OCB gave Fowler a call.
BUDDY FOWLER RESPONDS:
During the 2022 General Assembly Session. I voted to cut taxes by $8 billion. Here is the breakdown:
1. Increased the VA Standard Income Tax deduction to $8,000 per person
2. Provided a $250 income tax rebate per person filing a tax return
3. Eliminated the state's portion of the "grocery" tax
4. Lowered taxes on military retirees and low-income workers.
During the 2023 Session. My bill, House Bill 1563, provided an agricultural sales tax exemption on internal components and/or construction materials for producing agricultural products in an indoor, closed, controlled-environmental agricultural facility. This will allow farmers to produce crops year-round, and increase their productivity. This tax cut will add up to millions of dollars overall.
One such facility is already taking advantage of this opportunity and is in the process of building a massive facility in Louisa County near the Louisa airport.

These bills and the intent of serving his community are why Delegate BUDDY FOWLER received Governor Glen Youngkin’s endorsement over Graven Craig.
It is why Hanover Conservative Caucus and the Five & Dime are also endorsing him.
Five & Dime VA/HCC is an opinion blog. I employ satire, commentary, and fact to entertain and convey my opinions on religious, cultural, and political issues. I expect you to know the difference.
TEXT FROM THE BILLS IN QUESTION
Excise tax on peanuts: Extends from July 1, 2021, to July 1, 2026, the sunset date of the excise tax on all peanuts grown in Virginia and reduces from $0.30 per 100 pounds to $0.25 per 100 pounds the excise tax rate. The proceeds from this tax are used for promoting the sales and use of Virginia peanuts.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries; boat ramp fees; exemptions: Authorizes the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to charge a fee for the use of any facility that the Department manages and any boat ramp that the Department owns or manages. Current law authorizes such fee only for a facility that is owned by the Department. The bill adds exemptions from such fees for a person holding a valid access permit issued by the Department and any person who is a passenger in but not the owner or operator of a paddle craft or registered vessel. The bill includes technical changes.
Alcoholic beverage control: Increases the alcoholic beverage general license application fee from $65 to $195. The bill also increases the application fee for mixed beverage special event licenses from $15 to $45 and increases the state tax on wine shipper's licenses, beer shipper's licenses, and wine and beer shipper's licenses from $95 to $230. The bill establishes that it is a Class 1 misdemeanor for (i) any person to sell wine to retailers or consumers without paying the wine excise tax or (ii) any retailer to purchase, receive, transport, store, or sell any wine on which such retailer has reason to know such tax has not been paid and may not be paid. The bill provides for a civil penalty for (a) each manufacturer or wholesaler who fails to make any return and pay the full amount of the wine excise tax or (b) each manufacturer or wholesaler who makes a false or fraudulent return, where willful intent exists to defraud the Commonwealth of any excise tax due on each liter of wine. Current law provides for these criminal and civil penalties with regard to failure to pay the excise tax imposed on beer and wine coolers but not for failure to pay the excise tax on wine. This bill is identical to HB 826.
Governor Glen Youngkin makes it official and endorses Del. Buddy Fowler
How many lawyer jokes are there, anyway? Only three. The rest are true stories.