Governor Tim Kaine made a presentation Wednesday to the money committees of the General Assembly regarding the expected budget shortfall. Kaine expects the shortfall to be $2.9 million billion and laid out a plan to close the gap. As expected, no one is happy, but unless there is a money tree in the back yard, I just don’t see how it’s possible to make up the difference without it being painful.
The “No” caucus (aka Republicans) immediately attacked the Governor’s proposals, even saying that the shortfall will be larger than projected. Typical of them, though, was the lack of any alternatives. In addition to the article above, I read through the releases from AG Bob McDonnell and LG Bill Bolling, the 2009 Republican candidates for Governor and LG, respectively. While acknowledging that the Commonwealth is facing difficult times and while pledging to work to solve the problems, both men seized on the cigarette tax increase as a whipping post.
Virginia has some difficult times ahead. It sure would be nice if everyone put the citizens of the Commonwealth first and politics last.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
You know, I am a smoker. You would think that the *last* thing I would want to see is an increase in the cigarette tax. I am for it. The fact is, we pay significantly less per pack than most other states. We just moved back into the area from Phoenix, AZ where we were paying almost $6 a pack. We pay about $3.70 a pack here in Norfolk. I’m not happy about the increase, but you have to do what you have to do when times are tough. Who knows? Maybe it will finally motivate me to quit 🙂
Small correction, shuoldn’t that read 2.9 billion and not million? If only it were 2.9 million, things would be much better.
Sara Houston,
Yeah, and the reason our cigarette taxes are so low is because a good portion of our economy is dependent on it.
We already have to put up with states like New York and California shooting us in the foot (without retribution mind you) but you would ask us to put up with shooting ourselves in the other foot.
Together, most smokers (other then a few like you Sarah) and those who get their livelihoods from tobacco still represent a significant portion of the electorate in Virginia.
If you want us to become one issue voters I think that can be arranged. Attempting to balance such a large portion of the budget shortfall on our backs gets that done as far as I am concerned.
If you non-smokers want the budget balanced then I expect you too to chip in. I’m willing to pay just as much as you do. If you are unwilling to pay any increase in taxes then I guess it is time for budget cuts.
I might quit if the proposed Kaine tax increase goes through, but I am going to hold a grudge.
Is the increased tax tied to a particular revenue stream for a specific state function?
I too resent the Va Pachyderms bogus approach to budgeting whether we have a surplus or a shortfall.
the party of “ideas” has no “ideas” just more blather…
I say even more of them need to be booted from office until they get relegated to the ankle-biter category.
Do none of you understand the role of the minioirty party?
Our job is to oppose and obstruct because we have no alternative.
Look our budget won’t pass. We dont have the votes in the senate or the governors manasion.
Also its politics 101 if we propose something it will get hacked by you guys just like we are hacking what you proposed to feed the base and boost fundraising.
It sure would have been nice if the people of the Commonwealth had been put first and the special interest groups and those that lobby for them had been put last. Especially the banking industry, what a bunch of greedy !*#!.
Claiming that without a cigarette tax hike we have to cut another $150 million from Medicaid does not exactly strike me as putting politics last.
Brian,
But you have to deal with the cigarette tax proponents that are in favor of increasing the tax to cut smoking.
Every time you increase the tax, more citizens quit due to economics.
Some of us in Virginia are going to become quite upset about your economic proposals.
LD,
I didn’t even know that I had any economic proposals. 😉
Kaine has played this one well so far. He’s figured out how to get into the Rainy Day Fund and he may even get a tax hike.