With three weeks to go in the current Virginia General Assembly session, it sounds like fun times in Richmond these days. Here's what's up:
House and Senate money committees approved vastly different versions of the state budget Sunday, setting the stage for a partisan showdown over spending and taxes during the final three weeks of the legislative session.Both committees approved more money for mental health programs, teacher salaries and public education. But a fierce partisan battle, which split the traditionally collegial Senate Finance Committee, developed over Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's plan to balance the budget while still doing more for the state's poorest residents.
In a unanimous vote, the Republican-controlled House Appropriations Committee pared or eliminated many of the Democratic governor's spending priorities, including several of his environmental initiatives and his plan to extend subsidized pre-kindergarten to more poor children.
So, there you have it -- House Republicans give their collective middle finger to the environment, poor people and young children. Watch out, grandma's probably next.
Meanwhile, the Roanoke Times reports that House Republicans "relied less heavily than Kaine on the state's 'rainy day' reserve fund to balance the current budget, partly by using debt rather than cash for some transportation and building projects." Well, isn't that great? House Republicans not only don't care about the environment, poor people, and children, they also like building up debt for future generations. Brilliant!
And why won't Republicans vote to fund these things? According to Senate Minority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr. (R-James City), it's all about unspecified "philosophical and policy issues where we differ." Yeah, Tommy, you can say that again! As Sen. Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Mary Margaret Whipple says, "We [Democrats] believe in Virginia's future, and we believe our recommendations will help make that future better for our economy, our environment and for our citizens." Unfortunately, Virginia Republicans apparently don't believe in those things. Sad.
The question now is simple: will House Republicans work with the Senate and the Governor to pass a budget that protects the weakest members of society and funds government programs in a responsible manner during a period of austerity? Or will they, as Gov. Kaine warns they might do, stick with their "'we're going to take our ball and go home' mentality?" We'll find out over the next three weeks. Which approach do you prefer?
P.S. Oh yeah, here's a huge philosophical difference: Gov. Kaine favors withdrawing $423.5 million from the state's rainy-day fund (designed for situations exactly like the one we're in now -- a "rainy day" economically), while House Republicans only want to withdraw $225 million. Seems to me that $200 million could protect a lot of poor people, children, and important environmental and public safety needs.
UPDATE: For more on this story, see GOP revolt threatens effort to craft budget and also House budget cuts Kaine projects-- clash looms with Senate version.
The pre K program is probably one of the most forward thinking investments we could possibly make and they are talking about philosophy.
While I don't like the idea of raiding the rainy day fund, it makes a lot more sense than racking up as much debt as we would have to for the transportation solutions. Why the hell would we want to pay that interest when we don't have to.
One thing I would like to know is...how much interest do we earn on the rainy day fund and how much we will have to pay in interest if we borrow to pay for the stuff. I am wondering how much earned interest we would lose and how that compares to how much we would have to pay if we borrowed.