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| Departing Gov Leaves Sucessor Little Chance for Success |
| 2009-12-14 |
| In the anxious days leading up to this Friday's rollout of an austere 2010-2012 state budget, outgoing Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has been sending up warning flares: "Everything is on the table," he's said repeatedly, when asked about possible tax increases and cuts. "People are going to see an awful lot in this budget they don't like." Perhaps no one will like Kaine's budget plan less than the man who succeeds him in five weeks - Republican Bob McDonnell. Democratic lawmakers, administration officials and others familiar with the details said that Kaine will balance the two-year spending plan and erase its anticipated $3.5 billion shortfall with priorities that run counter to the McDonnell agenda. Somehow, I am not shocked by this ugly display of partisan politics. The Kaine fiscal swan song, in addition to further layoffs and cuts, is expected to include new revenue, perhaps generated by proposals to provoke McDonnell and other anti-tax Republicans to either accept Kaine's version, or take the hit for making the unkindest cuts themselves. Kaine recently acknowledged that he's employed the strategy in previous fiscal cycles. In an interview, Kaine said that earlier this year he deliberately pressed for higher cigarette taxes - aware they would fail - to force Republicans to make tough choices and seek compromise in a bill to ban smoking in restaurants. I'll make those elephants think, not just remember. "There was some 'strategery' involved," said Kaine, quoting a "By putting the cigarette tax on the table, too, I gave every legislator one way to make Philip Morris happy, by voting against the cigarette tax. A lot of [legislators] voted against the cigarette tax and then they voted for the smoking ban." Something for everybody. Lower cost, fewer places to smoke. This time around, by relying on funding antithetical to Republicans, including new taxes or by delaying existing tax breaks, Kaine could force McDonnell to prune programs he pledged to protect. Among them: public education. "This is further evidence of the Washingtonization of Virginia politics," Farnsworth said. |
| Posted by:Bobby |
| #1 And the little weasel's actually proud of this bullshit. He's the head of the DNC; that, and this garbage, tells you all you need to know about the DemoncRats. Here's an idea, Timmy: You think Virginians need to be taxed more, YOU START. Triple your "donations" to the Va. tax man, and then maybe I'll listen to you, but I think it's more likely that you've got accountants on retainer figuring out how to lower your tax burden while raising ours. Good riddance. >:-( |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2009-12-14 14:27 |