Governor Tim Kaine managed to find nearly $29 million in unspent balances, savings and higher-than-expected lottery yields. So he proceeded to propose spending the money on a number of projects, including $1.4 million for Norfolk State University’s library. In all, the governor proposed 36 amendments to the $72 billion budget presented to him on June 21.
Not so fast, said the General Assembly. In today’s session, they took $22 million of the money, supposedly for transportation. Left untouched were $6.4 million in funding Kaine offered for direct aid to public schools and about $1.2 million to fund six new posts in the Office of Commonwealth Preparedness. In addition to the money for NSU, some of the other items removed from the budget:
- cash to boost reimbursement for state employees’ use of personal cars from 32.5 cents per mile to 44.5 cents per mile
- $2 million to locate a research institution along Interstate 81
- $3.75 million for a federally ordered sewage system project in Lynchburg
- $2.4 million to purchase and preserve 4,800 wildlife acres in Washington County
- $1.8 million for two community college building projects
- $500,000 for an Indian heritage program related to next year’s worldwide Jamestown quadricentennial celebration
It seems the House Republicans were upset that Kaine didn’t share his proposed amendments with them. But then he only had 7 days to look at it, instead of the normal 6 weeks.
I guess he should have seen this coming. Maybe if he had vetoed the estate tax repeal he would have had some leverage on this. Heck, the way I see it, he should have vetoed it, anyway.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Can you direct me to a report of Kaine signing the repeal. I have to see it with my own two eyes before I gouge them out with a fork.
The wheels of this administration seem a little wobbly right now. Vivian, do you see a strategy here to deal with the House GOP?
Josh – I have not specifically seen a report of Kaine signing the appeal. So far, the only thing I’ve seen is this, which refers to the house passing it and that Kaine is inclined to go along. It also says that Kaine “hasn’t decided whether to amend the bill.”
Bob – the only thing I can come up with in dealing with the House GOP is to have the Senate GOP lean on them. No one else has the power to try to get them to play nice, and even the Senate GOP’s influence is limited.
Of course, getting more D’s elected in 2007 should be the primary goal of the party. I think they should be recruiting candidates and raising major $$ in anticipation of running credible candidates in every Republican house district.
Either transportation is the “number one priority” or it isn’t.
The Democratic leadership is committed, of course, to electing more Democrats, but I fear they are using the tired strategy of “let’s raise more money so we’ll be able to spend more on brochures and polls and that’ll win elections.”
It won’t. They need a more sophisticated approach. I know Brian Moran is recruiting candidates. But what kind of candidates? How is he doing it?
It seems to me that Va. Democrats need to develop some themes, messages and strategies for attracting the best and brightest. They need to control the debate and be more effective in dealing with MSM. At the same time, a truly coordinated campaign can help induce moderate GOPers to vote Democratic. You can’t just find someone who will work hard and raise money and then send them out in September armed with a poll that tells them what to say. That’s what I’ve seen in the past and I’m not sure there is any new thinking in the run-up to ’07.
I think, for example, now is the time to lay the groundwork for a non-partisan redistricting commission. It will take a monumental effort to educate the public about why that is important, and then Dems could run on the promise to implement once they gain the majority. That will go a long way to returning moderation — and by that I don’t mean compromising your principles. It means Dems need to be willing to think about problems they’ve been willing to tackle in the past — economic inequality, discrimination, global threats, the environment, energy etc. — but with new solutions, instead of their tired response of throwing more money and not holding individuals more responsible. And non-partisan redistricting will ensure more moderates from both parties will be elected.
Funny, how Democrats didn’t seem to be interested in a non-partisan redistricting commission when they were in the majority.
I have heard that Brian Moran is recruiting candidates and I wish him well in trying to convince the best and the brightest to run for office. You are correct that a message needs to be developed – and it is not just “we aren’t Republicans.” The message has to be clear and concise, and must be one that the candidates truly believe in.
The redistricting is a major issue and one that the D’s could easily take the lead on, especially after the fallout from the 2001 redistricting. Of course, Insider is correct: when the D’s were in power, they were a lot less interested in this issue. Such is the arrogance of power. But the goal of electing more moderates on both sides is a worthy one, and I believe non-partisan redistricting is one way to achieve this.