AP does a fact-check in advance of the Gilmore-Warner debate today
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Published July 19th, 2008
Out at the Homestead today, there are likely to be lots of statements about Jim Gilmore leaving Virginia with a $1.4 billion deficit and Mark Warner’s course-correction causing the budget to grow by 36%.
So, which statements are true and which are out-right fabrications?
Bob Lewis of the AP does a “fact-check” on how the budget evolved through the two administrations.
For live updates on today’s debate, check out Shad Plank beginning around 11 a.m.
Jane posted earlier some details about the moderator, sponsors, etc.
So I guess Gilmore just mis-spoke when his signature program increased slightly from $600 million to $1 billion? I would call that a pretty big fib, too. As someone who was there at the creation, he began demanding reductions in state agencies in 2000, so he knew he was Liar, Liar even then. Heck, we had to reduce our budgets because we had computers on our desk! And another reduction next year because the state’s stinky eVa electronic purchasing program was going to save us so much. Still waiting for the savings, Bearing.
Boatswainmate:
Virginia’s economy has doubled in 10 years, the amount of automobiles is greater, and they have a greater value. Stimulating the economy with the car tax cut and the Bush tax cuts tend to do things like that….
Why is it that every government program can grow seemingly unchallenged, but a tax cut must remain static? Government spending has grown 99.2% since 1998. When you back out the PPTRA numbers, (6.3 billion) it only grew 66%… Wow if govt. can’t get by on 6%+ a year the sky will fall, the children will go stupid, the roads unpaved… and yet again our bond rating will crash into Enron territory….