Poverty task force presents report
Staff Report
News tips: freepress2@ntelos.net
Gov. Tim Kaine today received the recommendations of Virginia’s Poverty Reduction Task Force, a collection of public- and private-sector partners tasked with making policy recommendations to combat poverty in the Commonwealth.
The task force, co-chaired by Secretary of Health and Human Resources Marilyn B. Tavenner and Richmond attorney Robert Grey, advised that the Commonwealth focus on four primary goals to increase economic stability for approximately 750,000 Virginians – including 250,000 children – living in poverty:
- Invest in early childhood development and education
- Enhance workforce readiness by expanding access to career development programs and employment supports
- Promote savings and asset accumulation
- Expand safety-net opportunities for families in crisis Continue reading “Poverty task force presents report” »
Sneak Preview: Kaine’s final State of the Commonwealth
Staff Report
News Tips: freepress2@ntelos.net
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine will deliver his final State of the Commonwealth Address to the Joint Assembly in Richmond tonight at 7 p.m. The address will be carried on local PBS stations, streaming video will be available on the House of Delegates’ website, and text of the entire address will be available on the governor’s website.
Excerpts of his speech are as follows:
“When I was inaugurated governor in Williamsburg four years ago, I chose a simple motto for my Administration: ‘Virginia Leading the Way.’”
“As I leave office, I can say with confidence: Virginia has achieved that goal. No state in America has enjoyed the success we have seen in recent years. Some of the remarkable forward movement in Virginia has been obscured by the national recession that we saw starting in the Spring of 2007. But, Virginia is well positioned going forward because of our economic, educational, and political leadership.” Continue reading “Sneak Preview: Kaine’s final State of the Commonwealth” »
To conserve and protect
Biscuit Run grant pushes state past Kaine’s 400K-acre conservation goal
Staff Report
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Gov. Timothy M. Kaine today announced that more than 400,000 acres has been conserved since the first fiscal year of his administration in 2006. Several major acquisitions in Albemarle, King and Queen and Rockbridge counties, along with end-of-the-year easement recordings, helped the Commonwealth meet one of Gov. Kaine’s signature goals. The final total is 424,103 acres.
“This land conservation goal is one that strongly resonated with me personally, and it obviously resonated with other Virginians as well,” Gov. Kaine said. “It was truly a team effort among state agencies, land trusts and private landowners to make this a reality.” Continue reading “To conserve and protect” »
Petersen: Car-tax cut not a ‘mistake’
Democrat critical of Kaine on car tax; will push gas-tax index to boost transportation dollars
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Remember how upset Fairfax Democrat Chap Petersen was right after Gov. Tim Kaine proposed last month to replace the car-tax relief program that dates back to the administration of Jim Gilmore with a 1 percent state income-tax hike that would go to localities in exchange for their agreement to eliminate car taxes completely?
It doesn’t get much better than “hell, no, not for this Democrat.”
Petersen has had three weeks to mull the proposal over. “My thoughts haven’t changed a bit,” the state senator said in an interview with VirginiaPoliticsToday.com on Wednesday.
“People say the car-tax cut was a mistake. But that’s basically saying that helping middle-class families is a mistake. And I don’t think it’s a mistake. It’s a program that has helped families directly by giving them several hundred dollars of tax relief every year. So you may say that’s a misallocation of resources, and certainly we can debate that, but I would hardly call it a mistake when the money is going to the general population as opposed to a special interests,” Petersen said. Continue reading “Petersen: Car-tax cut not a ‘mistake’” »
McDonnell: Current state-budget system ‘needs to be reformed’
Gov.-elect will propose moving development of budget to odd-numbered years
Statement by Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell
www.bobmcdonnell.com
On Friday, Dec. 18th, Gov. Tim Kaine proposed his biennial budget for Fiscal Years 2011 and 2012. The governor made his proposal with only 28 days left in his single four-year term, carrying out his obligation as determined by our current budgetary calendar.
Unfortunately, the current budget development process leads to a situation, repeated every four years, in which the consideration, debate and adoption of one governor’s proposed budget takes place during the administration of his successor. Thus, one out of every two budgets submitted requires no subsequent accountability or management from the governor who proposed it.
The current system also requires a new governor to potentially submit sweeping changes to a budget just days after taking office with limited preparation and input. A sitting governor usually takes many months to analyze and develop a comprehensive state budget. It is likewise burdensome on the General Assembly to have to review and consider the potentially divergent budget recommendations of two governors in such a short period of time. Continue reading “McDonnell: Current state-budget system ‘needs to be reformed’” »
Focus | No car tax, but yes, local income tax?
Kaine gets heat for controversial proposed switch
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Goodbye, No Car Tax. Hello, New Local Income Tax.
Tim Kaine didn’t exactly say it that way, but that was the sum effect.
“Let’s keep the promise. Let’s get rid of the car tax on personal vehicles completely, but do it the right way,” Kaine said in his budget message to state lawmakers today in Richmond that accompanied his proposed 2010-2012 state budget.
The “right way,” in the form of a proposed 1 percent income-tax surcharge that would go to local governments in exchange for their agreement to eliminate the car tax, has raised quite the ruckus, and on both sides of the political aisle, too.
“Hell no. Not for this Democrat,” Northern Virginia Democratic State Sen. Chap Petersen wrote on his blog after the presentation from Kaine. Continue reading “Focus | No car tax, but yes, local income tax?” »
Traffic deaths in Virginia decline 13 percent in ’09
Kaine attributes increased safety to increased seat-belt usage
Staff Report
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Gov. Tim Kaine today noted that as of Nov. 30, 2009, preliminary data indicates there were 98 fewer traffic fatalities in Virginia compared to this same time period last year, a decline of 13 percent. The 821 traffic fatalities recorded for 2008 were the lowest since 1966.
“It’s clear that our coordinated efforts, and the increased use of seat belts, are having a positive effect on the number of traffic deaths in Virginia,” Kaine said. “While I am gratified to see our efforts paying off, we must continue to be vigilant and careful to ensure that this trend continues.” Continue reading “Traffic deaths in Virginia decline 13 percent in ’09” »
