Virginia General Assembly: Overtime
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Sixty days was not enough. Now they’re looking at 63.
Speaker Howell had this to say…
“Although the 60-day session is over, the General Assembly’s work remains noticeably incomplete,” declared Howell. “During a time of economic challenges when all Virginians are tightening their belts and the Commonwealth is tapping the Rainy Day Fund, the Budget conferees in the Democrat-led Senate continue to insist on new government spending programs and the expansion of existing ones. Among their seriously misplaced priorities, Senate Democrats are demanding new jail diversion programs for criminals rather than maintaining even existing levels of care for intellectually disabled persons. As a result of these strange and indefensible stands, the budget-writing task of the regular session remains unfinished at this time.
“It is apparent that acute partisanship, narrow special interests and the search for a gubernatorial legacy are overriding fiscal responsibility on the Democrat side of the aisle. The lack of fiscal responsibility became abundantly clear after the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the regional transportation plans. Rather than promptly remedy the constitutional defect in the regional mechanism proposed to the General Assembly by Governor Kaine last year, the Governor and Senate majority have chosen to hold that simple regional remedy hostage to their sudden demand for another half-billion in higher taxes on all Virginians.
“At a time when skyrocketing energy costs are clearly damaging the economy, killing jobs, and hurting working families, the Governor and Senate Democrats propose to pile on hundreds of millions in new taxes on energy purchases, imposing new cost burdens on Virginia families who have to purchase fuel everyday to get to work and meet their needs.
“Despite these last-minute obstacles, much of the people’s work was done during the 60-day session. We approved significant measures on mental health care, immigration reform, consumer protection, safeguarding citizens from violent criminals, and providing for the needs of our veterans. For this, and for the efforts of our delegates in sending approximately 900 pieces of legislation to the Governor’s desk, I congratulate the members of the House for their work on behalf of the people of Virginia.
“In the days ahead, we will continue working hard to resolve the remaining differences and complete the General Assembly’s business in a fiscally responsible manner – with timely action on regional transportation needs and a realistic recognition of the economic challenges that confront our Commonwealth and hard-working Virginia families every day.”
And Bearing Drift reported the budget trainwreck weeks before it happened.
Do they think that they’re close enough that they can get things done in 72 hours? If not, ….
You know, just like in football, if yoou treat the first quarter lik the 4th, you won’t need to scramble at the end.
Unless the referees (State Supreme Court) do something in the fourth quarter with five minutes to go that completely changes the face of the game (transportation authorities ruled unconstitutional) or the opposing team and you have great defenses where everyone is three and out (Senate Dems won’t budge on education and new taxes; House Republicans won’t budge on mental health, use of lottery funds, etc.).
Transportation should get done in that time. The budget will probably require Kaine calling the GA back for a couple days later in March.