34 minutes.
Senators had only 34 minutes to review last years $77B biennial budget under the leadership of Democrat Dick Saslaw.
Now, with a state deficit of $3B, Democrats have only themselves to blame for a lack of transparency and oversight in the review of last year’s budget – where Republicans were stating that the funding estimates made by then Secretary of Finance Jody Wagner were way too optimistic. Had they been listened to, we wouldn’t be facing a state deficit.
To prevent this from happening again, Senator Ralph Smith (R-Botetourt) has introduced SB 934. The legislation requires that the conference committee report on the budget be posted on the General Assembly’s website for 72 hours before legislators could vote on it – giving ample time for transparency and discussion.
“Taxpayers deserve more than 34 minutes of thought before their government writes a 77 billion dollar check on their behalf,” said Smith. “I understand the need to move swiftly, but more transparency is needed.”
