Virginia House of Delegates Republican Caucus
Budget
Republicans Offer Real Solutions; Democrats Just Complain
Feb 26th
The House adopted its version of the Budget, HB 30, on a party line vote, 61-38.
Republican delegates produced a no tax, no fee increase budget by making tough choices about funding core government responsibilities.
Democrats had the opportunity to vote for former Governor Kaine’s $2 billion tax increase on January 29 (HB 1155), and voted “no.”
Democrats had the opportunity to offer amendments to increase taxes or change the way spending reductions were taken. They offered only 1 amendment to strike a cut, which would have left the budget out of balance.
They offered no alternative to the Republican proposal, all they offered were complaints with no solutions.
Del. Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights), House Majority Whip, first called out the Democrats during morning hour, losing patience with speech after speech of complaints about cuts with no alternatives presented in this speech: Del Cox Addresses the House on the Budget
Del. Dave Albo (R-Fairfax) and Del. Tim Hugo (R-Fairfax) returned to this key them in their speeches in support of adopting the Republican amendments to the Kaine Budget: Del Albo urges the House to adopt the Republican Budget and Del Hugo calls on Democrats to step up and offer an alternative.
Chairman Putney Releases House Republican Budget Proposal
Feb 21st
At today’s House Appropriations Committee meeting, Chairman Lacey Putney (I-Bedford), who caucuses with Republicans, released the House Republicans’ proposed amendments to the budget submitted by former Governor Tim Kaine, which accomplishes the following 8 objectives:
- Restore the Car Tax and reject higher taxes in a recession;
- Eliminate Fee Increases embedded in Gov. Kaine’s introduced budget;
- Modify Kaine’s “dealer discount” proposal on taxes collected by businesses
- Mitigate cuts to law enforcement and public safety since these activities are among the primary responsibilities of government;
- Invest in job-creating economic development;
- Minimize the impact of cuts on the health safety net;
- Provide school divisions maximum flexibility in implementing education budget reductions; and
- Establish a substantial reserve to replenish the Rainy Day Fund and help ensure a more structurally balanced budget going forward.
Chairman Putney summarized the proposal, saying: “our committee budget recommendations will clearly and strategically focus state resources on keeping our promises to fund the core services of government in a structurally more balanced manner so as the economy recovers we can begin to make new investments and enjoy growing levels of opportunities and prosperity.”
Chairman Putney’s full remarks are available here: 20100221 – News Release – Chairman Putney Remarks on Budget Amendments Released by House Appropriations Committee
Kirk Cox Discusses Crossover on WRVA
Feb 17th
The Lee Brothers, filling in for Jimmy Barrett, featured Del. Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights), House Majority Whip, on WRVA 1140‘s Richmond Morning News.
Del. Cox highlighted the House’s common sense conservative agenda and previewed the no-tax-increase budget to be released on Sunday.
Listen to the audio at: February 17, 2010 Jimmy Barrett Interview with Kirk Cox.
Kaine Budget “not intended to pass … not likely to be taken seriously”
Dec 20th
In today’s Richmond Times Dispatch, Paul Goldman, former state Democratic chairman, offers the most succinct summary of Kaine’s good-luck-see-ya-later budget:
“This is some kind of a statement,” said Paul Goldman, a former state Democratic chairman and critic of his party’s reliance on tax increases. “It’s not intended to be passed, and it’s not likely to be taken seriously.”
After noting opposition by House Republican leaders and Governor-elect McDonnell, RTD staff writer Jeff Schapiro couldn’t find a Democrat from the Senate (what he calls the Democrats “last redoubt of power on Capitol Square”) to say anything nice about the Governor’s proposal.
See the full article in the Richmond Times Dispatch.
Howell responds to Kaine’s Tax-Hike Budget
Dec 18th
Following Kaine’s presentation to the General Assembly’s money committees of his budget, Speaker Howell issued a statement (see press release) highlighting the impact of Kaine’s tax increase proposals on Virginia families.
Howell committed the House Republican Caucus to working with Governor-elect McDonnell to delivering a structurally balanced budget on times, matching spending to available revenue.