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McDonnell says budget is his top priority Date published: 1/1/2010
BY CHELYEN DAVIS
Given what governor-elect Bob McDonnell is facing, it's a wonder he ever wanted to be governor at all. When he takes office Jan. 16, McDonnell will inherit a two-year budget, written by his predecessor, that contains about $2 billion in painful budget cuts and another $2 billion in tax increases. McDonnell has vowed to oppose tax increases, which means he'll have to oversee even more difficult budget cuts. And that's while he seeks additional funding for programs he believes will help create jobs to help ease the recession. "It's going to be a challenge," McDonnell said in an interview at his austere transition offices across 9th Street from Capitol Square. "There are no easy choices. We may make different choices, but they're not easy." McDonnell, a Republican, was elected in November with a nearly 20-point margin over his opponent. He has a Republican-led House of Delegates--where he once served himself--to help smooth the way for his proposals, but a Democratic Senate could stymie him if senators so choose. McDonnell doesn't seem inclined to incite partisan rancor, talking instead about cooperation. "I need to get people working together," McDonnell said. "We've got to have Republicans and Democrats work together to get anything done. I've got a Democratic Senate and a Republican House, I need coop- eration to get any of these things done." Elected on the heels of the worst recession the state has seen in decades, McDonnell said his top priority once he takes office will be revamping the budget written by Gov. Tim Kaine. Kaine made budget cuts--some of which, like a cap on state support for school staff, McDonnell agrees with; and some, like cuts to public safety, that McDonnell dislikes. But Kaine also included some tax increases, the most prominent of which is a plan to eliminate the state's nearly $1 billion payment to localities for the car tax, and let local governments replace it with an income tax. McDonnell says he doesn't want tax increases, but that he hasn't delved deeply enough into the budget to know just what he'd rather cut.
Date published: 1/1/2010
to arrest the growth of government and taxes as they have
often advocated as the ultimate fix for the Democrats way
of Govt.
but I am curious how and what should be done for
transportation without raising taxes and instituting tolls.
Education - remember is PRIMARILY a local responsibility.
The primary purpose of the SOQs is to essentially to help
localities that are less financially able to provide full
funding.
SOQs are not really designed to "help" the wealthier
counties like Spotsy/Stafford.
that can read, write and add 2 plus 2..we may give you more money. As it is cutting staff can't possibly make the results any worse. Your teachers are so "boring" to our young geniuses, 35% od them quit high school before graduating. You are doing about as well as Nigeria in the education department. Start getting results or find some other work.
I can probably get behind the new Governor on most things - but NOT Hot Lanes! There are many other ways to help transportation in NOVA - that do NOT include leasing our tax payer funded roads for 80 years to foreign company, and then making us all pay to use them - even the ones of us who don't drive in them have to pay. Did you know that? The stalled deal was not put together well. Many other viable options have been written about in Freelance Star and on channel 4.
Drastic education cuts could cost loalities million and the loss of 100s of positions. Despite their own study showing that support positions improve education the Dept of Ed is proposing cuts to the Standards of Qualtiy Funidng for support positions. Stafford could low $9M and several 100s of positions. Wake up Virginians. Our kids are the future.
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