Gov. Kaine proposes $2.5 billion in cuts to state spending

Two fold. One, instead of calculating a modest increase they went for the "best" expectations. Now, I can get a 20 thousand dollar raise at the start of the New Year when I finish my BS degree and have about 3 certifications completed. However; I'm not going to increase my spending based on a 30% raise in revenue that I've not seen yet.

Two, instead of thinking that I will base my spending on a 30% raise I am basing exepcted spending and savings off a 5% increase which would be my normal raise amount. This state however; wanted all pipe dreams to come true and overspent itself.

VA took BEST case and made it the only case. So they based all spending projections off this BEST case. Had spending been left at a level consistent with "Normal" growth rates we'd probebly be talking about a surplus now instead of a deficit.

How hard would it be for ALL state agencies to cut their budgets by 3%? or even 5%. A 3% cut across the board would balance the budget. A 5% cut would give us a surplus. I know the government is not an efficient machine and could have a 3% cut and no one would notice. Times are tough for everyone, suck it up, tighten the belt and make due with what you get. You may have to get creative, which may not be possible for the government employees.

Some of you act like you've been living in a cave the past few months. The budget is out of balance because of a dramatic decline in tax revenue caused by the dramatic decline in the nation's economy. You can fault the gov for overly optimistic revenue projections if you want, but keep in mind that the projections were from economists and were developed from data that is now over a year old. Did any of you know how drastically the economy was going to tank a year ago? I doubt it. In VA, the budget must balance and that's a good thing - painful sometimes, but good. If the feds were forced to live within their means, maybe the national economy wouldn't be so messed up.

How much can the state save if Kaine enforces the law and cleans out Death Row. Has the pilot or anyone else determined how much state money was spent for the Governor to follow Hussin Obama around like a puppet? Is than info available to the public? What are the daily expenses the state pays for the governor to tour the sate. He was elected run the state not run through it. Are there any plans to cut the number of state senators and delegates. Don't cut the 2% raise for the hard woking state employers!!!

I hear Ireland is good this time of year.. and they arent broke... lol

How did we get into this current economic mess which beside a potential global economic meltdown, has led to reductions in tax receipts across the country. Read this article from SEPT OF 1999 that was published by one of the most liberal rags in the nation. As you read this, keep in mind that both Bush and McCain introduced legislation in 2003 to rein in Fanny Mae and Freddy Mack and the Dems shot down both. Paste to your browser and Enjoy:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE7DB153EF933A0575AC0A96F958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1

Not just this nation, the world cannot afford anymore of this entitlement mentality.

I opened and read yesterday’s mail as well as others from Tuesday.
Due to the State's budget crisis, Richmond is looking for funding.
ALL military personnel, if you had used computer based software to figure your personal income tax and filed electronically, get your old W-2s and be prepared to mail them. Apparently, electronic filing W-2’s do not display your home of record/state.
The Department of Taxation is expecting me to remit just under $2300 for 2005!!!
Total assessment come to $1800 and change plus the penalty since they could not confirm I was in a combat zone....I can show them the scars if it helps.

...but isn't a balanced budget part of our State's Constitution?
Times are lean for many of us. Our State Government should be no exception.
Yes-I am aware of the syntax error in the subject line.

After watching all the debates it is obvious that Democrats think it's fair to take money from hard working people and give it to the leeches. So why does Kaine take a salary? In my liftime I have only made out once under a Democrat. That was when Carter was President and I could get 10% intrest on a CD at the bank. LOL

Richmond Times is reporting there will be six correctional facilities closing (please see article for list). So......what happens to these people??? Seems like the economy is tanking and now "emergency" cuts
are being abruptly made. Revenues could easily be made with "vices" such as taxes on lottery, illegal cell
phone use (someone suggested) or how about a huge cigarette TAX. Another suggestion was raising revenue with the ferry in Jamestown. Sound like great ideas...where we aren't left wondering about the NEGATIVE impacts...like that many correctional facilities being closed! Lock those doors!!!

I checked my posts; I did not say anything about voting for Democrats. But if I have to explain to you why I am voting for Mark Warner instead of Jim Gilmore, you are not educable and I simply will not bother. Nor, of course, did I say anything about corporate welfare; I am not even sure what you mean by that phrase. If you mean that advocating that the Commonwealth fulfull its duty in regard to transportation improvements in the Commonwealth, then of course I am guilty as charged. Of course, I would never call the funding of transportation improvements corporate welfare; I would call that enlightened government policy in support of our citizens and our economy.

Why all the venom, people? Mike has simply stated his opinion. However, I must say I'm not surprised. This type of behaviour is quite the norm for RepubliCONS.

The much talked about Surplus from a couple of years ago was based on revenues coming in at that time. Revenue is now dropping off considerably from that point, hence no more surplus.

Because we cannot afford 4 more years of RepubliCON politics! That is why!

Why vote for Democrats? Because Lord Barrett said so - and he'll flame everyone that disagrees with his corporate welfare agenda. After all, everyone knows that all we want is the "Be like Mike", right?

Please tell me again why we should vote for a Demoncratic president.

Last night on the news it stated that Kaine was cutting grocery bill at the governor's mansion. So, he gets a salary AND his food purchased for him by our tax dollars? Not a bad deal. My salary has to buy my food - seems like his salary would be required to do the same.

"Kaine's action can be compared favorably to a recent Governor who left office still denying that cuts needed to be made, and that Governor continues to this day to be haunted by knowledgable people of both parties for his failure to act responsibly." I would compare it to Warners phoney budget deficeits argument where he built a bloated budget and spent money he didn't have, like Kaine, and then forced a huge tax increase through to make up for the excess. At least, at this time, Kaine is not pushing for a tax increase but I think that is only because he is afraid that it would look bad on NObama and all democrats if he tried. Wait until after the election though.

The budget was very poorly written and orchestrated from the start. It was never going to work from day one. The economy was already sliding when it was written. Does the Governor expect kudos for eliminating bottled water? The honorable solution would be to forfeit all of his salary, cut the budget 5% across the board, and then resign. It is evident by his recent actions he would rather be working for Obama anyway.

Plain and simple. Va has some of the best public schools in the country. The reason this tax has been palced directly on students is thefact that schools can raise tuition. Kaine's way of hiding a tax increase. He has hit the group that deserves a break to provide for those who do not.

Well actually, of course he considers politics; that does not make his choices partisan. I happen to support cuts in higher education if they are necessary to preserve a balanced budget, and in fact, given the seriousness of the business downturn, he may have to institute cuts in other programs usually off the table like the environment, public safety, and courts and justice. This is a serious economic downturn, and I support the power of the Governor, of either party, to deal with the issue with the advice of elected officials in both the House and the Senate. Frankly, that is what I expect from the Chief Elected Official of the Commonwealth. Kaine's action can be compared favorably to a recent Governor who left office still denying that cuts needed to be made, and that Governor continues to this day to be haunted by knowledgable people of both parties for his failure to act responsibly.

Individuals, Companies, and Governments need to create there budgets based on fact, not inflated projections. That's the origin of this problem. Our state government created budgets based on projections using data from the boom, when it was evident that the boom was dying out. They failed in preventing this ball from rolling. I do respect the efforts in attempting to get ahead of the ball. I'm a state worker and for a few months now, I've felt that their would not be a raise this year. I'm glad that unlike the state, I didn't budget for the raise before it arrived.

A fine one to reprimand posters for adhering to an ideology - your's is apparent in this and every other post of yours. You are in denial if you don't believe that the governor has discretion in where to cut. The fact that he chooses to cut high profile programs that impact everyone only shows that his choices are political, and designed to ultimately advance his own agenda. He knows how to play the game as well as anyone. There's plenty to cut from the budget without touching education. (I know that you're not in denial, just playing the game that you play so well.)

get those democrat votes out on the street.....everybody stay calm....mikeys here to explain this .....

I may typically vote Republican, but I've got to hand it to Governor Kaine for having the guts to make the hard decisions to make the needed cuts in the budget. Our Republican representatives have proven to be too politically scared to make such needed moves. I'm willing to give him a chance. Now if the rest of the representatives will just stop playing politics, do what they need to do and work to implement the cuts, Virginia might just stand a chance at coming out of this crisis.

To say that the state only produces "mindless idiots", is well, idiotic. UVA, Tech, JMU, VCU, NSU, ODU -- all state schools, just to name a few and most are attended by students from VA public schools. Which of these did YOU get into?

Governor Warner inherited a budget deficit from Governor Gilmore that was due to Gilmore's Car Tax Relief Act, Gilmore's illegal deficit spending on road construction, and declining revenues resulting from a nationwide economic downturn that affected almost every state. Governor Gilmore kept the budget crisis a secret until Governor Warner took office and discovered it. Governor Kaine is facing another nationwide budget crisis, an issue beyond his control, and please notice that he is NOT asking a for a repeal of the Car Tax Relief Act, something he should rightfully do.

It scares me to think that some of the uninformed know-it-all folks writing the comments below might be registered voters.

To me, this action is simply what the chief executive of the Commonwealth needs to do to comply with the constitution of Virginia which requires a balanced budget. Seems to me his actions are bi-partisan, necessary, and have been made as early as possible to ensure that the spending cuts will bring the budget into balance. The reaction herein by libertarians and anti tax republicans is truly astounding; instead of simply commending the Governor for dealing with the issue, they attempt play the blame game and gain political advantage from the pain all of us will endure because of the cuts. I guess that is really not surprising at all; they let their anger and ideology trump rationality and common sense every time. That's why they are poised to suffer another electoral defeat and that is well deserved.

Don't try and blame this on the wall street meltdown. You do realize you just spent 700B to quiet that down right? And that Pelosi is asking for another session of congress before the new congress takes over in January, to get another 150B bailout, only this time for food stamps, welfare, and unemployment. Seems to me our tax dollars are being spent on things they shouldn't be. The state had a surplus, Timmy said we had no money for roads..where did that go, because we did. People need to take responsibility for their actions, and the government, federal, and state, need to take responsibility for those. Anyone with a brain could see the meltdown coming. 20 years ago you never saw ads on TV for debt reduction companies, didn't have check cashing, loan places on every corner either. The American people need to live within their means. The average American has 10 credit cards....what in the world do you need all those for? Timmy is responsible for VA, he blew it.

Hey Mark Warner - you imposed the largest tax increase on the people of Virginia and now your buddy and successor, Tim Kaine, budget is short yet again. I guess you both will somehow blame Gilmore for this.