Virginia: Rallies call for budget action, while state officials examine stalemate plans

Richmond Times-Dispatch ^ | 03/23/2004 | Rex Bowman, Paul Bradley

[cogitator]

City and county officials from Northern and Western Virginia joined Gov. Mark R. Warner yesterday in urging state legislators to compromise on a state budget plan.

They said the uncertainty of not knowing how much money local treasuries will get from Richmond is hampering their ability to govern.

[cogitator]

From the Washington Post:

Va. Officials Prepare For Long Stalemate
Little Progress Expected in Budget Talks

Excerpt:

"The state's budget expires June 30, and there is significant debate in legal and academic circles about what would happen if there is no agreement on a spending plan by then.

Warner's chief counsel, Robert Blue, said his office is discussing the possibilities, which include the legislature and the governor agreeing on a temporary budget.

"There is nothing in the constitution that directly addresses it, but nothing prohibits it," Blue said. "Right now, it's in the realm of lawyers thinking about it."

Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore (R) has said his attorneys have researched the possibility of an extended stalemate and believe that the government would have to shut down July 1 without a budget agreement."

[Salgak]

When the RINOs in the Senate and Governor Weenie get a clue. . .the people want PROGRAM CUTS, not a TAX INCREASE. . .

[familyofman]

"When the RINOs in the Senate and Governor Weenie get a clue. . .the people want PROGRAM CUTS, not a TAX INCREASE. . ."

You should also include the House Repubs because even their plan calls for increased revenues. The inability to reach an agreement is a joke & will probably mean a bond rating downgrade, very soon.

[mrsmith]

Potemkin County and Potemkin City officials joined Governor Warner and "said the uncertainty of not knowing how much money local treasuries will get from Richmond is hampering their ability to govern. "

Potemkin County and Potemkin City are frequent venues for Governor Warner's appeals for the tax increases he said during his campaign he wouldn't ask for.

(Or are they technically "reverse Potemkins"?)

[cogitator]

the people want PROGRAM CUTS, not a TAX INCREASE. . .

Vince Callahan's budget in the House didn't have a lot of program cuts. So apparently the House isn't listening very hard to the people, either.

[talleyman]

All those in favor of tax increases may pay as much as they wish. Nobody's stopping them.