House Dems call for government reform, budget transparency
Today, the House Democratic Caucus’ newly installed Minority Leader David J. Toscano (D-Charlottesville), Caucus Chair Mark Sickles (D-Fairfax), and House Democratic leaders from across the Commonwealth released the House Democratic Caucus’ agenda on Government Reform and Budget Transparency for the 2012 Session.
Constituents in Virginia have called for a state government that works more efficiently while reducing costs.
Today, the House Democrats propose initiatives in two areas:
- - Improving the way the General Assembly and state government works
- - Improving the way we budget
Continue reading “House Dems call for government reform, budget transparency” »
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 | ‘One governor at a time’
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
With AFP Video
“Obviously, there’s only one governor,” and Tim Kaine is the governor of Virginia through early January, and it’s up to Kaine and his staff to put together a proposed budget for the 2010-2012 biennium.
Kaine told VirginiaPoliticsToday.com that he met last week with Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell to get McDonnell’s input on the new state budget, but ultimately it’s his call as to what he will hand over to the General Assembly for review. Continue reading “Focus | ‘One governor at a time’” »
Focus | Does Virginia’s state-budget process make sense?
House Speaker weighs in
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
The Kaine administration is hard at work putting together a proposed two-year budget for state lawmakers to review in the upcoming 2010 General Assembly session.
Anybody see what might be wrong with this picture? The big thing is that Tim Kaine won’t be governor next year, and the man replacing him, Bob McDonnell, has a decidedly different view on budgeting to the Kaine view.
Another big issue: “Many of the people who are putting together the budget in the Kaine administration are leaving. You have to wonder, What’s your motivation if you’re a political appointee, and you’re leaving? You lose in the implementation,” said Chris Saxman, himself a lame duck of sorts after deciding this summer to step down from his 20th District seat in the Virginia House of Delegates at the end of his current term in January. Continue reading “Focus | Does Virginia’s state-budget process make sense?” »
Cigarette-tax increase, K-12 cuts get budget deliberations going
A proposed increase in the cigarette tax and $400 million in cuts to K-12 education are among the strategies being proposed by Gov. Tim Kaine for dealing with the state’s $2.9 billion budget shortfall. Continue reading “Cigarette-tax increase, K-12 cuts get budget deliberations going” »
