Virginia: Kaine announces budget cuts

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Gov. Tim Kaine wants to balance the fiscal-year 2009 state budget with $348 million in state-agency cuts, the utilization of $400 million from the state’s Rainy Day Fund and the bonding of $250 million in capital projects that the state had been planning to pay for with cash. The measures…

Virginia: Kaine cuts $2.3M from office budget

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] They’re cutting newspaper subscriptions, staff cell-phone costs, even the grocery bill for official events at the state residence. Yep, it’s getting serious in Richmond. “If Virginia families and businesses have to make difficult spending decisions in tough times, we need to show them we’re doing the same,” Gov. Tim Kaine…

Virginia Politics: Dems, Kaine fight back against GOP flame-throwing on prayer policy

Chris Graham

The Top Story by Chris Graham [email protected] House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith and Grayson Republican Del. Bill Carrico are promising a pitched legislative fight in next year’s Virginia General Assembly to overturn a Virginia State Police policy crafted in response to a ruling from the conservative Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals from the summer banning…

More on Obama-Kaine speculation

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Barack Obama is spending the day on Wednesday in Virginia, then is spending the night that night in Richmond, according to a report on the Washington Post Virginia Politics blog yesterday. You could say that this is fueling speculation about the announcement that is expected to come on Wednesday or…

Kaine addresses lawmakers on budget shortfall

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Everything is on the table, Gov. Tim Kaine told state legislators today as the two sides began to address a projected billion-dollar shortfall in the current biennial state budget. “The need to engage in a third major round of budget reductions will mean, by necessity, that all programs — including…

Is rumored Obama-Kaine event in Virginia on Thursday related to VP selection?

Chris Graham

Column by Chris Graham [email protected] Let’s put two and two together and see what we get, shall we? Politico is reporting that Barack Obama is likely to announce his vice-presidential running mate this week, and notes that Obama is scheduled to be in New Mexico today with VP contender Bill Richardson and on Wednesday in…

What Kaine was said to have said, and what he actually said

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] To hear John McCain’s Virginia campaign co-chair, Staunton Republican Del. Chris Saxman, tell it, Tim Kaine all but sold presumptive Democratic Party presidential nominee Barack Obama down the river this week in an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. “We are glad Gov. Kaine is following John McCain’s leadership and has…

Why Kaine is your go-to guy

Chris Graham

Special Commentary by Chris Graham [email protected] NBC News political director Chuck Todd broke it down for us last night on “Countdown with Keith Olbermann.” Assigning leaners in the Electoral College to the candidates that it appears that they will support, the 2008 presidential race comes down to four states – Colorado, New Mexico, Ohio and…

Fallout from Kaine-for-VP talk

Chris Graham

Analysis by Chris Graham [email protected] Tim Kaine is vice president, and Scott Sayre is your 24th District state senator. Think I’m reaching there? Let me take you where I am with this far-reaching scenario that’s been running through my head the past couple of days. Thinking things through, with Kaine as VP, Bill Bolling becomes…