Virginia House of Delegates Republican Caucus
Posts tagged Budget
Chairman Putney Releases House Republican Budget Proposal
Feb 21st
At today's 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
, filling in for , featured (R-Colonial Heights), House Majority Whip, on '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.
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 ) 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.
Howell leads the way in budget cutting
Dec 16th
Speaker Bill Howell continued to show Republicans leading the way in their commitment to fiscal restraint, responding to shortfalls from the Governor's revenue estimates by cutting costs in the House of Delegates budget.
The Speaker announced cuts and cost saving measures of $1 million in the House operating budget for FY2010 (). That brings to $2.1 million the total savings initiated by the Speaker for FY2010 ($1.1 million in cuts were adopted during the 2009 General Assembly session).
Under Republican leadership, the Virginia General Assembly now ranks 46th among the 50 states in per capita spending on legislative operations (and 5 state legislatures meet only every other year). Virginia ranked 40th when Howell was elected Speaker in 2003.