If Kaine could’ve run for re-election, do you think he would’ve campaigned on increasing the income tax during a recession???

Mike, you’re a smart guy usually, but now you’re just making stuff up out of whole cloth.

Not only would he not have campaigned on this budget idea in a zillion years, he wouldn’t have turned around one month after being reelected and launched a tax increase that he would’ve disavowed during the entire campaign. He’d be pounded and the House of Delegates would’ve swarmed him.

In the end, Kaine has done him a favor, as at the end of this session when the budget negotiators are in the room, they can blame it all on Kaine and say they wouldn’t have accepted the end of the car tax if Kaine had done a better job.

Governance is the price you pay for getting elected, and since the republicans in the House have caused an eight billion dollar maintenance deficit in the condition of our roads and bridges, they have a long way to go to get back to zero.

The irony of this situation is that McDonnell and Bolling will start off by adopting a budget that will fire more people than they will cause to be hired in Virginia in their four years in office. That doesn’t fit on a bumper sticker.

If this were a direct cut the car tax / raise the income tax by an appropriate offset, we wouldn’t be having this discussion.

Instead, Kaine hopes to raise revenue by an additional $1B when Virginians just can’t afford it.

“In accordance with his responsibilities as the Chief Executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Governor Kaine has put forward his proposed budget for the 2011-2012 biennium. I fully recognize that this has not been an easy time in which to lead Virginia, and I respect the tough decisions that the Governor has had to make in this budget and in previous budget reductions. I also commend the Governor for his stated goals in preparing this document: preserving Virginia’s Triple A bond rating, funding core government services, and making tough decisions necessary to position the Commonwealth for future economic growth. These are the right considerations in the preparation of a budget. I would add to them a focus on promoting policies which encourage job creation, and a restructuring of government in order to make it both more efficient and effective.

“The budget put forward this morning contains numerous additional spending reductions and cuts. Budget adjustments of the magnitude necessary to equalize current state spending with the dramatic decline in revenue that the Commonwealth is experiencing cannot be made in a painless manner. The cuts proposed today will have a direct impact on Virginians in every county and city. While we both understand, and agree, that significant cuts must be made, we will differ on the specifics of those cuts. With that in mind, I am concerned with the effect that that the Governor’s suggested cuts to law enforcement could have on public safety, a core responsibility of government.

“I applaud the Governor for his willingness to make smart investments in Virginia’s future during these tough times. The increase in funding for the Governor’s Opportunity Fund in order to spur job creation is a step in the right direction, although more will be required to keep Virginia competitive. Further I support the Governor’s direction of more education dollars to the classroom and out of overhead and administrative offices, as I pledged to do during our campaign.

“I disagree, however, with the Governor’s proposal to increase taxes. It is bad economic policy to increase taxes on Virginians, especially as they continue to struggle with the worst economy in generations. Families and businesses are making strategic reforms and deep cuts, and government must do the same. We must be looking for every means by which we can attract businesses and entrepreneurs to the Commonwealth. Capital is mobile and I do not support any measures that could dissuade investment in Virginia, or put the state at a competitive disadvantage with our neighbors.

“In the weeks ahead I will review the Governor’s proposed budget in further detail. I will work with the House and Senate money committee leadership in a bipartisan fashion to ensure the budget is balanced, realistic, encouraging of private sector job creation, and makes economic development investments crucial to the future prosperity and welfare of our citizens and our Commonwealth.”

And here’s what the Speaker had to say…

“As Virginia taxpayers, families and businesses are struggling with the difficult decisions brought about by the national economic recession, it is terrible that Governor Kaine would propose increasing their financial burden even more through higher taxes. Despite failing to heed the recent warning issued by legislative leaders, including myself, that embedding tax increases in the state budget would hinder the positive progress we’ve made together in the Commonwealth, House Republicans remain committed to governing in a more prudent and fiscally responsible manner. While Governor Kaine’s latest tax increases once again have no chance of receiving General Assembly approval, House Republicans will fulfill our constitutional obligation to produce a structurally balanced budget by the scheduled adjournment of the 60-day Session on March 13, 2010. While difficult decisions must and will be made, the public would benefit from seeing their elected representatives complete their business within the constitutionally prescribed timeline and that’s doable if we all work together.

“Virginians rightly expect their state government to make the same tough choices being made around family kitchen tables and business offices throughout the Commonwealth. The Governor is to be credited for making a number of solid spending reductions that will assist in balancing the upcoming biennial state budget. The crafting of recent budgets certainly has not been an easy or enjoyable process and this year is no exception. Going forward, the General Assembly will closely examine the spending proposals now in front of us and make the targeted reductions that will result in a simpler, more efficient and more responsive state government.

“While Governor Kaine’s announcement today serves as an unfortunate obstacle to a final budget resolution, members of the House of Delegates and its strengthened Republican majority are prepared to work creatively and cooperatively with incoming Governor-Elect McDonnell during the 2010 General Assembly Session. Our shared commitment to job creation, economic development and fiscal restraint will remain our key focus in the upcoming session as we do what needs to be done to bring state spending in line with taxpayer revenues. Together with Governor-Elect McDonnell, House Republicans will continue offering practical solutions that balance the budget and delivering the real results on issues of importance to the quality of life of all Virginians.”

Looks like there will be a re-write to me. Irony being, Kaine’s Secretary of Finance, Ric Brown, remains in the position under McDonnell.

I think politicians measure the difficulty to respond to everyone. Perhaps you do not measure up? I do not think you even made the real effort.

Mainstream media? You mean those people who leave a message 15 minutes before deadline and print “did not respond to requests for comment”

Don’t get me started on the vaunted mainstream media.

Perhaps I am being too hard in my expectations from you as a blogger. However I think that if this is correct, it speaks up for the fairness the mainstream media attempts before they publish. But of course they have a few people on the payroll to get that job done.

NOT.

I do have an email response from his office that tells me he has no intention of listening to the majority of voters in his state, and I’m STILL looking for something that Mark Warner is a “radical centrist” about.

They don’t have to wait until their Byrd’s age to be “Wheeled” in the Senate. They’re being rolled right now.

As for Deeds, did you try to ask him what he thinks or did you post the questions here without giving him the benefit of answering? If the latter is what happened, perhaps J.R. can get him on a podcast and ask him those questions there. I think Creigh’s seat in the Virginia Senate is probably pretty safe for so long as he wants it. Unlike some that describe his political career as toast, I think he is going to remain an influential politician amongst his peers and his constituents.