RICHMOND
The General Assembly's job this winter is to inflict pain.
Virginia is short $2.9 billion needed to balance its recession-racked budget, and the chasm is expected to grow. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has proposed cutting money for public schools, colleges and health care, in addition to doubling the cigarette tax.
Legislators will begin scrutinizing Kaine's plan on Wednesday when they convene at the Capitol for the start of a 46-day session. What they don't like, they'll have to replace with other cuts or tax increases because Virginia is constitutionally required to balance its two-year budget, now at $77 billion.
"It's not going to be fun," said House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith, R-Salem.
"I don't think people realize how deep that's going to cut," said state Sen. Kenneth Stolle, R-Virginia Beach. "You can't cut $3 billion out of the budget and not have a significant impact for years and years to come. I can't think of any time in the 18 years that I've been a member of the General Assembly when the stakes have been higher."
Lawmakers will make reductions with their eyes focused on November when the state government's three top offices - governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general - are up for election, in addition to all 100 House of Delegates seats.
They'll also take up a host of perennially unsuccessful issues such as background checks for firearms transactions between private sellers and buyers at gun shows, restaurant smoking bans and relaxing requirements for in-person early voting in elections.
"It's the same thing with them every year," Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw, D-Fairfax, groused about House Republicans. "No taxes, no abortion, no gays, plenty of guns. Since they've been in power, that's essentially what it's been."
Transportation funding - the key issue of the past two General Assembly sessions - also is expected to be debated. But with money scarce and no consensus on how pay for roads, little relief is expected for those stuck in traffic jams.
Kaine's budget is balanced on a proposal to double the state cigarette tax to 60 cents a pack. The governor says $148 million generated by the increase would help compensate the state for $400 million in annual smoking-related costs to its Medicaid program for low-income Virginians.
Lawmakers are expected to stomp out the tax proposal, noting they significantly raised the cigarette levy earlier this decade. The General Assembly also is wary about hurting Virginia's declining tobacco industry and offending Philip Morris USA, the nation's largest cigarette producer, and its parent company, Altria, both of which are based in Richmond.
Bill Phelps, a spokesman for Altria, disputed Kaine's contention that cigarette taxes don't pay for smoking-related Medicaid costs. He said Kaine considered revenues from only the excise tax, now at 30 cents a pack, and did not factor in other levies on cigarettes, including sales and local taxes.
Kaine wonders how the legislature could for go the tax increase without making additional harmful budget cuts.
"I can't figure out how to," he said.
The governor also has proposed:
- Cutting $429 million from public education, largely by reducing support personnel at schools such as nurses, clerical workers and curriculum specialists.
- Cutting $418 million from Medicaid, in part by capping admissions to community-based nursing homes and homes for the mentally impaired.
- Cutting funding to four-year colleges by 15 percent, and to two-year colleges by 10 percent.
- Cutting $62 million in aid to state and local police and commonwealth's attorneys offices.
- Releasing some nonviolent inmates 90 days early to create prison space.
Virginia is hardly alone in its woes. Thirty-eight states are facing budget shortfalls this year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
A key point in the General Assembly session will come in February when the governor's office re-estimates the budget shortfall. Many legislators expect it will grow by another $500 million or more, a prospect that Kaine acknowledges.
"This isn't a budget where people are going to walk out of here doing cartwheels," Kaine said during a recent interview. "This is a tough budget where you have to make tough decisions to do what is best for the commonwealth and its position going forward."
Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
Warren Fiske, (804) 697-1565, warren.fiske@pilotonline.com
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He hasn't mentioned cutting
He hasn't mentioned cutting the Pre Kaine der garten program yet. What's up with that?
CENSORED
Why did you censor me? What was wrong with suggesting an independant audit of Welfare and WIC recipients in order to identify those that are "robbing" the system. By cutting some Welfare and WIC programs for those that get it and don't really need it, we will be better for it.
I get sick and tired of the Pilot's censorship and you wonder why subscriptions are down.
Where's the money
While Governor - Warner pushed through the largest tax hike in Virginia history and left us with a surplus. Now part-time Governor Kaine does not have enough money to balance the budget. Where did the money go? Good thing he is a Democrat because if he were a Republican he would be getting blasted in the media on how he failed to manage the strong finances of Virginia that he inherited from Gov. Warner. And I don't know if Timmy could handle that....
Innumeracy runs rampant!
It might behoove some of the people posting here to actually study the state budget. Virginia has a budget of more than $37 billion in FY2009. Just four services--education, health, transportation and public safety--account for 86% of the budget.
http://dpb.virginia.gov/budget/budget.cfm
It's easy to take pot shots at the services that bug you. You might find a few million here and a few million there in savings. But keep in mind that a $2.9 billion deficit is equal to 2,900 millions.
If you thought the Lottery was going to pay completely for anything, you were not showing your critical thinking skills. The Lottery has provided subsidy to taxpayers to the tune of $6.6 billion over 20 years. But in any given year Lottery net profits make up barely 1% of the state budget.
Kaine plays the Republican card, and repubs dont like it
Kaine slashes funding for public schools and colleges (institutions long detested by the 'anti-intellectualism' Republican party). Kaine also wants SMOKERS who are responsible for adding $400 million to the State's medicaid costs to participate in the paying of thoses costs - thereby paying for their own behavior - and reducing the costs to us Average Joe NONSMOKER Taxpayers. Two major planks of the republican platform, yet the Kaine detractors wont give him credit.
Reduce Expenses
If Kaine really wants to reduce spending, that has gone through the roof it is a simple matter.
Just post all of the things that are in the budget on line, and let the Taxpayers (screwees) make the cuts!
A 50 % reduction in pay for the General Assembly and all of the other elected officials and colleges would be a good start.
Then a 20 % reduction in pay for all of the other bureaucrats would help loads.
When the Citizens are loosing jobs and income and having to tighten belts there is no good reason why the politicians and bureaucrats and Colleges should not share in the pain!
I agree Saslaw is running true to form.
As far as Colleges I agree with another poster that was for a big reduction in their huge over charges for an Education.
How to raise a trillion dollars
Put a 10 cent state tax on every cell phone call, text message and spam e-mail made. Problem solved.
Saslaw sees no need to curtail personal income
In a related story on the political blog, Mr. Saslaw, who grouses about Republican adherence to "No taxes, no abortion, no gays, plenty of guns", apparently prefers more taxes to less personal pay. House Republicans will save $1.1 million by adopting several cost cutting measures such as a salary freeze, and maintaining a cut in per diem. When they pointed out to the Senate that they could save the State an additional $100,000 by adopting similar measures, Saslaw's response was, " We’re fully capable of running our own business,” and noted the House savings will have little effect on achieving the estimated $2.9 billion in spending cuts needed to offset a revenue chasm in the budget.
Mr. Saslaw, if the VGA shaves 1.2M off your expenses, that's $1.2M less you’ll need to take from your constituents. Obama says everybody will have to put skin in this economic recovery game. Suit up, Saslaw!
What is the point of Saslaw's quote in this story?
The previous paragraph said the VGA will be dealing with other named issues, none of which were about taxes, abortion, or gays. It didn't say where Republicans stood on guns, the only remaining issue referred to in his quote. It leaves the reader to make assumptions about the Republican's stand on the gun issue. I was expecting some sort of follow-on in the following paragraph, but it made no reference to the quote at all. Newspapers should report enough facts so their readers can make decisions, not vaguely related statements that leave their readers to make assumptions.
About time
For years and years there has been spending, spending and more spending without taking into consideration what would happen when a serious downturn in the economy happened. Republicans joined in the spending frenzy instead of being the voice of moderation and working to control spending. Now comes the hard part: spending MUST be cut back. No matter what happens, someone's not going to be happy.
Kaine
You think Kaine is bad just wait until Mr. Change Obama gets in the white house. We will be taxed to "death", mark my words. I hope all you people who voted for these idiots get a belly full!
Again, one-sided reporting by the pilot
I see that the Pilot writers here is more than willing to indirectly take a shot at House republicans by citing the following quote:
"It's the same thing with them every year," Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw, D-Fairfax, groused about House Republicans. "No taxes, no abortion, no gays, plenty of guns. Since they've been in power, that's essentially what it's been."
But if you look at the quotes they provide from the Republican House members, they are quotes that do not attack Democrats, and quotes that somehow suggest they are the ones that are going to cause Virginians pain with the immenent budget cuts, not the Democrats.
Yet another reason I don't trust the liberally biased main stream media and I WON'T purchase a subscription to this newspaper.
Core Services and Competition
After many years of balancing the budget with one-time revenues and/or temporary reductions to expenses, it is time to have the serious discussion regarding "core services" that can only be provided by the government vs. services that are discretionary or could be provided through the private sector. Traditionally public safety, health, and education are viewed as core services. But even these services should be looked at from a cost to benefit perspective. Can they be provided in a less expensive and possibly better manner through competition? Do they need to be provided at all. Maybe, mabe not. But without the analysis, we will never know. The Commonwealth of Virginia has a Competition Council with the responsibility of looking at these issues. It is time for the state and local governments to crtitically examine core and discretionary services and in particular activities that add little or no value for the citizens of Virginia. Outsourcing is not a panacea, but can be very useful in tough fiscal times.
We got what we wished for.
Gilmore doesn't look so bad now. I guess Kaine will try to blame this on him. We can only blame ourselves. Kaine didn't just walk into the governor's mansion, we put him there.
Hey PILOT PEOPLE: You
Hey PILOT PEOPLE:
You censored my Kaine is ocming so hold on to your wallets message??? What do you think I meant? Let go your might pen and publish it. I dont mean that he is going to steal your wallet, I mean everytime we hear from him he WANTS TO RAISE TAXES.
Wow, did you even read it?
Kaine is surely Obama's boy
Kaine is surely Obama's boy !
Budget cut
Thanks alot for all you who voted DEMOCRAT. NOW LOOK WHAT YOU DID. BIGGER GOVERNMENT=LESS FOR THE PEOPLE (UNLESS YOU ARE PART OF THE 40% WHO DO NOT PAY TAXES AND VOTED IN THIS NEW HORRIBLE PRESIDENT, CABINET AND SENATE. You will understand why you should have voted Republican over the next four years when All of us are paying for it out of our sweat and tears!
More taxes to pay for stupid spending!
This may sound cold hearted but.......
Having worked hard since 1967.......I'm TIRED of supporting so many who choose Not to work and stay home having babies they can't feed!
I've smoked for years....BUT I do not smoke around others now...We pay HUGE premiums for our "own" personal health insurance and I totally resent paying for the lower income health problems because they choose to smoke and have free medical coverage, including free maternity! Even prison inmates have Free dental & medical?
Go to the Grocery store and watch the Food Stamp users...they always have the CASH to pay for beer, wine, & cigarettes?
I have voluntarily helped many over the years who fall on hard times through no fault of their own.
Can Stupidity be taxed?
RE Richard Saslaw, D-Fairfax
Typical Liberal this guy has the nerve. He loves BIG govt listen to him. Loves taxes taking more of your money and funding social programs notice he cant stand the fact we can have as many guns as we want per Constitution. Doesn't understand the gay agenda and welcomes abortion. He has told you who they are.
"santa" wrote......
Oh sir I beg to differ....I think he knows exactly what he's doing!
And it will happen and there's not a dang thing we can do about it. As I get older and watch more about what goes on in our govt, I learn that this problem gets worse and worse with no end in sight. No matter who gets elected into office, Senate or Congress. Those "leaders" should be embarrassed to show their faces with they way they've run this country into the ground. Great job people!