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Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell smiles yesterday during a news conference with transition members Phil Cox (left) |
RICHMOND
--Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell and current Gov. Tim Kaine both pledged yesterday to cooperate to ease McDonnell's transition into a job where one of his first orders of business will be grim budget cuts.The recession has created a series of budget shortfalls that are expected to continue, and under Virginia's budget cycle, Kaine will write a two-year budget proposal before he leaves office.
Kaine said yesterday he will try to make "the hard decisions" in that budget, to give McDonnell time to adjust to being governor, but also said he will do so "in dialog with the governor-elect and his team.
"It's difficult when you get in office and you have to make the tough budget decisions," Kaine added.
McDonnell, in his own press conference later in the day, said he, too, hopes to be fully involved as Kaine writes the budget, although he said he recognizes "it's one governor at a time."
He hopes Kaine does not propose any tax increases, saying that would make his job more difficult.
"These are going to be very tough times to govern in Virginia," McDonnell said.
He added that he hopes to use the tough economy as an opening for finding more efficiencies in government, and plans to audit state agency spending and performance.
"This is an opportunity not just to fret over cuts," McDonnell said.
McDonnell announced some members of his transition team, including newly re-elected Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and Attorney General Bill Mims, and said his transition Web site, mcdon nelltransition.com, will be up and running next week.
He said he has not settled on any hires for Cabinet positions yet, but said he wants the "best and brightest," no matter what party they're from.
McDonnell also said he plans to spend the next two months outlining his plans in detail for job creation and for improving the economy, and working to put policy teams together on transportation, energy, education and other issues.
"I intend to govern the same way I campaigned," he said. "I intend to hold myself accountable for everything I said I was going to do."
He also said he thinks his relationships with legislators--he was one himself in the House for years--will help him get things accomplished as governor.
McDonnell said he thought he won Tuesday's election because he focused on quality-of-life issues, such as jobs, that voters cared about.
He defeated Democrat Creigh Deeds by a vote of about 59 percent to 41 percent.
It was a night of Republican victories in Virginia: The party won all three top spots and picked up several seats in the House of Delegates.
Kaine, who also serves as the national Democratic party chairman, said those losses for Democrats "will occasion some reassessments and rebuilding."
But he sought to put a positive spin on it, as well.
"We've turned the state into a very competitive state. I don't think any party can take Virginia for granted," Kaine said. "Part of being a competitive state is we're going to win our share and they're going to win their share."
Chelyen Davis: 540/368-5028
Email: cdavis@freelancestar.com
