Democrats have to level with the people of Virginia on the state of the budget
By JR Hoeft | Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008 | PoliticsHere in the Commonwealth of Virginia, since 2004, Democrats have been all over the map when it comes to discussing the state’s financial picture. And two of the key players — former presidential candidate and now Democratic Senate candidate Mark Warner and current governor and potential Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Tim Kaine — are among the worst offenders.
In 2004, then Secretary of Finance John Bennett informed then Gov. Mark Warner that state revenues were on the rise. Despite this knowledge, Warner shoved the largest tax increase in Virginia history — $1.4 Billion — down the throats of Virginia taxpayers.
Warner says that this tax jack was necessary and set the “course straight for Virginia’s future.”
So, if you’re a Virginian these days you’re thinking our budget is good, right? Plenty of money for transportation and other core services, right?
Not so fast. While Warner continues to talk a good game, his brand of fiscal management is like a kid in the candy store. While Warner was governor, the Virginia budget grew by double digits.
Now, fast-forward to the last two years under Gov. Kaine.
Kaine has been running around the state claiming the sky is falling on a purported transportation crisis, while at the same time putting his hand in the taxpayers back-pocket for increased spending on his pet-projects. Didn’t Warner fix this with the largest tax increase in Virginia history?
Now Kaine is saying that the budget is going to see shortfalls.
Why? Because the increased spending Kaine manage to hammer through the General Assembly and shoved down the throats of Virginia taxpayers was based on a rosy revenue picture painted by soon-to-be Democratic lieutenant governor candidate and current Secretary of Finance Jody Wagner, this, despite repeated warnings issued from Republicans earlier this year.
Whether it’s Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, or Jody Wagner — the pattern is obvious: they will say anything to get elected. They will fudge numbers to get their way. And they will spend the treasury into oblivion.
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About the author
Conservative to the core; liberal with his opinion! J.R. has been involved in politics for over a decade and has worked on several campaigns in Hampton Roads. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. He is also the director of “Blogs United” in Virginia. E-mail J.R.. Follow J.R. on Twitter.
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10 Responses to "Democrats have to level with the people of Virginia on the state of the budget"
[...] Democrats, distilled to their essence JR @ Bearing Drift says in better in three lines than I can do in three posts: Whether it’s Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, [...]
Yeah, like “Read my lips. No new taxes.” or before him, the famous udderances of St. Ronnie, “I cannot recall.”
Does double digits mean $10? Doesn’t sound too bad to me.
Interesting, Bo’sun. Don’t recall Reagan or 41 being on the ballot this election cycle or for any future campaign.
Besides, didn’t your mother tell you two wrongs don’t make a right?
Ha…funny Joel.
The budget under Mark Warner grew 36%.
Exactly JR:
$5.9 billion in new revenues from 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005…
2006 and 2007… $5.8 billion in new revenues…
[...] Hoeft at Bearing Drift sums it up the best: Whether it’s Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, or Jody Wagner — the pattern is [...]
[...] Hoeft at Bearing Drift sums it up the best: Whether it’s Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, or Jody Wagner — the pattern is [...]
Warner withheld the fact that Va was likely to be awash in revenues, he was officialy informed of this in Feb 03, Mar 03, Apr 03. His tax increase was approved in April, yet he remained silent and just two months later Va. posted a $324m surplus. What’s worse is that he scared Moody’s into putting Va on CreditWatch by reducing his FY04-06 revenue forecast by $3 billion. BTW, that forecast proved to be …$3 billion less than that which was actually collected. Yet he’s treated like a rock star…go figure.
[...] Hoeft of Bearing Drift has presented what is probably the best explanation of how Mark Warner hosed Virginians with a tax increase. Sure, we’ve all seen the video. We’ve all heard Warner explain it [...]
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