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Houck calls on McDonnell to make his own budget proposals Date published: 1/29/2010
BY CHELYEN DAVIS RICHMOND --State Sen. Edd Houck yesterday called on Gov. Bob McDonnell to make his own budget proposals, and soon.McDonnell, who took office Jan. 18, has said he's still getting up to speed on the state budget bill left him by former Gov. Tim Kaine. He said he doesn't support tax increases in Kaine's budget but has not outlined areas where he would cut spending to cover another $2 billion in reductions that will be necessary without Kaine's tax increases. In a speech on the Senate floor yesterday, Houck, a senior member of the budget-writing Senate Finance Committee, said past governors have proposed actual budget amendments within days of taking office. "It's clearly understood. Pieces of paper, lines on a page," Houck said. "The legislature at least had some direction, then it's up to the legislature to act. But at least have the leadership to send it down, tell us what it is." He said the legislature particularly needs to know what budget items McDonnell wants to cut. Virginia is facing a $4 billion shortfall, and while Kaine proposed making up half of that with tax increases, McDonnell and other Republicans have rejected them. "What's the plan? What is our governor's plan to address the second 2 billion dollars?" Houck said. But a response from McDonnell's office suggests that a plan as envisioned by Houck won't be forthcoming. "There was no commitment by us to directly submit budget reduction amendments," said Stacy Johnson, McDonnell's press secretary. "We agreed to give the House and Senate suggestions and alternatives that would fit with the governor's initiatives and goals. We still plan to do this." McDonnell has said he plans to meet during the process with the budget negotiators--a dozen or so senior lawmakers on the House and Senate money committees, including Houck--and tell them his input. "Ideas based on bipartisan efforts will ultimately make their way into the budget in the final analysis," Johnson said. In the meantime, lawmakers will take Kaine's budget proposal and make their own adjustments before the session ends in mid-March. McDonnell has proposed changing the schedule of Virginia's budget--budgets are written in two-year increments, every odd year. That means every new governor is left a two-year budget written by his predecessor; McDonnell wants to change the schedule of new budgets to even years.
Has he said he'd like to work with the governor to explore offshore lease's for oil drilling, sell a tremendous asset like the ABC stores, or find cuts in spending. Where's the positve attitude? No, all he does is blow hot air and say he wants to raise taxes. Why does he keep getting re-elected?
Sounds like Senator Houck is trying to get some answers regarding the state budget. Governor McDonnell needs to focus on state issues instead of commenting on Obama's speech. Virginians deserve some answers.
Typical do nothing democrat. Why is it he demands the governr to do something after a week, and the same group of dems say Barack needs 3 years to accomplish something. Typical politics as usual. Mr. Houck you're a fool and just trying to get your name in the paper.
He's been there longer than most & I can't recall any
noteworthy accomplishments. Good argument for term limits.
A 1 week or one weak Gov doesn't have a plan!? The economy isn't fixed in Va? He promised. Where have we heard that type of critisism before?
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