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Kaine, legislators talk about stimulus plan Date published: 1/29/2009
RICHMOND --Gov. Tim Kaine expects Virginia will receive about $4 billion from the proposed economic stimulus package currently being debated in Congress.But he and legislative leaders all said that money shouldn't absolve them from making difficult budget cuts this session to close a $3 billion budget shortfall. "I don't know at the end of the day this will reduce budget cuts," Kaine told reporters yesterday. "I think it's shoring up against the erosion of the economy. I don't think it's going to take hard decisions off our shoulders." Details of the federal stimulus package are vague because it could--and is likely to--change as it passes through the House and Senate. As it stands now, it seems that states would get some money already earmarked-- such as money for transportation infrastructure or for federal programs such as Medicaid. The state's portion of Medicaid funding is among many programs for which Kaine has proposed to reduce funding to cover the budget shortfall. The shortfall could grow if the state's revenues have worsened since Kaine's last projections. Officials are due to find out at the end of this month. Kaine said the federal money could mean not that the $3 billion in cuts won't have to be made, but that more cuts won't need to be made even if revenues have dropped further. He said he wrote his proposed budget knowing that President Obama would push for an economic stimulus plan but without counting on money from it. "I felt the right thing to do was write the budget as if there was no stimulus package," Kaine said. "None of us have a crystal ball about when [the economy] is going to turn around." At least two state lawmakers agree with Kaine that the stimulus money shouldn't be viewed as a bailout to save the state from budget cuts. State Sen. Edd Houck, D-Spotsylvania, a member of the budget-writing Senate Finance committee, said the budget cuts will still be necessary. But, he said, federal money would "ease some of the pain. "It won't resolve all of our problems, but it will help," Houck added.
Kaine is a used car salesman disguised as a partisan govenor
Kaine still plans to further denigrate public education with almost $700M in cuts. VA is the 7th wealthiest state yet ranks 43rd in per pupil expenditure and 44th in teacher salary. How can we be globally competitive when we rank near the bottom in the US.
It is best to use it all to pay off Richmond debts, and that will keep VA State Income Tax affordable.
"Infrastructure" spending will benefit our grandchildren AND stimulate the economy by putting more people to work and getting money circulating. I agree, Southwest, Medicaid needs an ongoing source of funding outside of this "stimulus" money. And Kaine has proposed an intelligent, practical, common sense solution: A 30 cent increase on the price of cigarettes which goes directly to Medicaid. But we have two Republican Obstructionists (Howell & Cantor) who have been bought by Tobacco interests blocking this.
I think stimulus money should be primarily directed
towards those projects that will benefit our grandkids (roads, buildings, waterlines). Immediate benefits like job creation should be secondary. If we're always focused on "easing our pain", we are just transferring the pain to the next generation.
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