Posted on 01/08/2010 10:56:08 AM PST by freespirited
Virginia Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell said Tuesday he would cut his Cabinet's paychecks after he took office in a ceremony that would cost dramatically less than prior inaugurations, setting up an austere transition of power to reflect the bleak economy.
McDonnell, who will be sworn in Jan. 16, pledged an economical ceremony marked by visits to food banks, a jail and a homeless shelter along with the traditional parade and balls.
The incoming governor said he planned to raise $1.5 million to pay for the inauguration, with major state employers such as Dominion, MeadWestvaco and Altria contributing to the event, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, which tracks money in state politics. Gov. Tim Kaine raised $3.1 million for his inauguration four years ago, while former Gov. Mark Warner pulled together $2.5 million.
Dialing back the swearing-in ceremony to suit the times is not without precedent in the Old Dominion, said Mark Greenough, tour supervisor and historian for the Virginia Capitol. Former Gov. Colgate Darden pared down his 1942 inauguration during World War II.
"That was a case where he thought less was more, given the circumstances," Greenough said.
Virginia did little to mark the change of executives for much of its history, especially before 1851 when the General Assembly, not voters, selected the governor for a single-year term. The current concept of the inauguration "is pretty much a 20th-century phenomenon that's been reasonably consistent in the last three or four generations," Greenough said.
McDonnell said Tuesday he would cut his 15 Cabinet members' salaries by 5 percent, on top of his own, a largely symbolic gesture given the state's yawning budget deficit estimated at $4.2 billion through 2012. After he takes office, McDonnell is expected to roll out a raft of cuts to replace Kaine's proposed tax increases.
"In these tough budget times, everybody's got to contribute, and I intend to do our part," McDonnell said.
Bob McDonnell for President in 2012? Sounds good to me.
Bob McDonnell for President in 2012? Sounds good to me.
Still the stupid party, I see.
Cut the friggin’ inauguration, and don’t raise money from it from corporations. It looks like pay to play, and it is.
The cost of the inauguration should be measured in five figures or less.
While I have empathy for people in bad circumstances, why do these politicians always have to do the food banks and soup kitchens. It’s so phony!
Oh, bite me. Why don't you fix your own state and leave Virginia alone?
No consideration on your part that the inauguration is 1) much, much awaited, and 2) a boost to the economy.
8. More. Days.
Go tell that to 0bama.
Cutting the costs from Tim Kaine's $3.1 million to just $1.5 million sounds pretty good to me.
This is even better:
After he takes office, McDonnell is expected to roll out a raft of cuts to replace Kaine's proposed tax increases.
Good for McDonnell! (And he better succeed, too. Just sayin'.)
I hope I’m wrong, but I have a feeling we might get more of the same from McDonnell. Pardon my cynicism, but the Virginia GOP has not exactly inspired any confidence in the last 30 years. I’m glad he is onboard with offshore drilling, but until across the board spending cuts are proposed, I will remain cynical. Let’s see if he produces results before we think about 2012.
First let’s see if Bob keeps his promise to drill off of the coast within his 4 years.
If not, no more support for The Mac.
“After he takes office, McDonnell is expected to roll out a raft of cuts to replace Kaine’s proposed tax increases.”
Let’s hope this light rail boondogle in Norfolk/Virginia Beach is #1 on the list. The elite here won’t be happy until we are all living in cheaply constructed stalinist style condos on the railroad tracks that shake your bed when the choo choo passes by (developer kickbacks). Mark my words all: the new commie phrase of the decade is, “Transit Oriented Development”. We need to oppose this at the local level in droves when this phrase is used. It currently threatens to destroy Hampton Roads.
I hope that he and Cuccinelli will take on the Federal Behemoth as well.
State spending and tax cuts will be great but probably won’t mean much if unfunded mandates out of DC keep piling up.
The last 30 years? Are you kidding? I’ll give you the last 12.
More to the point, take a look at Bob McDonnell’s career as a legislator and as attorney general. He does what he says he’s going to do.
This is the first I've heard of it. I'm in central va. Thanks for the heads up.
Yes, but the legislature is filled with RINOs. Will he sign whatever they send regardless of budget impact, or will he take on his own party?
Will he reject federal funding where necessary to avoid the mandates? Will he challenge the constitutionality of of federal mandates that are unfunded? I don’t believe he did as AG.
I’m sure it will come to Richmond soon enough, bit it is in the guise of alleviating traffic congestion, which is not much of an issue there. It also comes in the guise of “new urbanism”. It has been shoved down our throats in Hampton Roads for the last 10 years. Norfolk is now building a $250 train to nowhere (basically goes from downtown to the slums) and now Virginia Beach wants to link to it against the will of the people. It’s all about the developers and money. If you search light rail in the Virginia Pilot, you will be amazed at the amount of corruption involved. Even the liberal rag that the newspaper is is beginning to catch on.
That would be $250 million and it is only the start up cost. It is a 7-mile route and based on the bus ridership, it would be cheaper to buy everyone a new Hummer every 10 years and pay for their gas for the next 100 years.
Wow, I'm really out of touch with the latest "helpful" programs and concepts. New urbanism sounds truly terrible and I'm not quite sure what it even means yet. I'll look this stuff up. I believe you when you say it will spread from your area and it needs to be slowed down and stopped. Thanks again.
The House is not filled with RINOs. Most of the ones who bent over and voted for Warner’s tax increase are gone. And the Senate, while still Dem by a slim majority, has been purged as well.
Everybody, McDonnell, Bolling, Cuccinelli and the legislators I’ve heard from have all been talking budget cuts and have said no to tax increases.
He was AG under a Democrat Governor. He didn’t have budgetary authority.
Look, do I think McDonnell is perfect? No. But he’s pretty solid and a darn sight better than the alternative would have been.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.