Comments on: Governor-Elect Bob McDonnell Calls for Major Reform in Budget Development

By: J.M. Ripley

J.M. Ripley — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:35:36 +0000

Jokes on you Mike, since I am a public employee as well and have a MPA degree…I just hold to a different view of the role of government (limited) than you do (evident by your posts).

By: Mike Barrett

Mike Barrett — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:03:27 +0000

Thanks for those kind words. Reminds me of the time I first met John Moss. He was being paraded around the auto show at the new Pavilion in the tow of Meyera Obarndorf (yes, she was his mentor then) and she introduced me to him. John’s first words to me were, oh yeah, you’re one of those guys who eats from the public trough. Just about as intelligent as your comment, J.M. Anyway, later of course I found both he and his spouse were government employees. Of course, I happen to believe that every occupation is a worthy endeavor, whether it is public, private, or non profit, so I would not stoop to insult based on the nature of ones employment.

By: J.M. Ripley

J.M. Ripley — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:28:33 +0000

Jim, don’t mind Mike much, he is your atypical public administration bureaucrat who has sucked on the tit of government his entrie career…he also has a hard time with details…can’t determine whether Leo Wardrup retired/resigned or was defeated in an election as he is the devil(Wardrup) and the rest of the GOP in the HOD regarding our current transportation funding woes.

By: Brian Kirwin

Brian Kirwin — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:08:10 +0000

Mike, some people can actually do two things at once. We can pass a budget and talk about changing the budget cycle.

Ya know, just like HRT can tell some people what light rail will cost and then tell other people what the real cost is.

By: JR Hoeft

JR Hoeft — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:57:47 +0000

No, it’s not thin skin…I was just calling you out for sarcasm and misdirected fire. Frankly, we disagree and it’s as simple as that. I believe that this is exactly the right time to bring this up by Gov.-elect McDonnell. What better time to propose a change than when everyone is thinking about the process and the inauguration of a new governor? It’s timely and topical. It is certainly not a waste of time.

By: Mike Barrett

Mike Barrett — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:38:34 +0000

Wow, you and Brian must have awfully thin skin. Actually, I agree with your comment above…”Of course McDonnell understands the process and will have a solid number of budget amendments that will be prepared to be defended and debated.” That is my point as well, so why waste time and effort on reforming the timing of the budget process when you have crucial strategic issues to deal with?

By: JR Hoeft

JR Hoeft — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:27:29 +0000

No, Mr. Barrett, you decided to take an unnecessarily arrogant personal approach towards Governor-elect McDonnell when all he is trying to do is to take a positive step towards better government. You’re letting your personal ideology for transportation systems that would directly benefit your business interests cloud your judgment on what’s best for the commonwealth.

By: Brian Kirwin

Brian Kirwin — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:14:12 +0000

Small stuff like light rail?

By: Mike Barrett

Mike Barrett — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:04:50 +0000

No need for insult; my point is that with all the crucial issues facing this Commonwealth, including the laying off thousands of workers, cutting programs for the neediest among us, and implementing the crucial promises about funding transportation, I was surprised that such a big deal would be made about a process change. Point is, get to work on your priorities, then deal with the small stuff.

By: JR Hoeft

JR Hoeft — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 02:59:15 +0000

Mr. Barrett-
You presented yourself as a reasoned person at the transportation forum I attended. Is it because you’re now commenting on a blog that you have to act like an ass?

Of course McDonnell understands the process and will have a solid number of budget amendments that will be prepared to be defended and debated. Do you see such a problem with making a process change that Wilder, Kaine and McDonnell all agree should be made?

What’s your problem?

By: Mike Barrett

Mike Barrett — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 01:13:12 +0000

Gosh, I thought McDonnell presented himself as an experienced hand with broad knowledge of the Legislative and the executive branches. As the head of numerous past commissions dealing with the cost and efficiency of government, I thought we had elected a person with intimate knowledge of the way government works in Virginia. Who knew he had not a clue how to revise a budget presented by his predecessor? I’m surprised he did not let us know that during the campaign. I’m shocked.

By: Britt Howard

Britt Howard — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:23:29 +0000

I do find that humorous,MB. A well thought out process yields accountability, transparency, and efficiency. Things that some from both parties seemed to be allergic to. Anyone that has studied Lean Manufacturing, will be focused on process.

In order to make a wise and informed decision, you must be able to trust what you see. That means cutting through the smoke screens,spin, and at times……engaging in forensic accounting. It also involves planning and not just throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks just because somebody gets bored. I have to agree with Steve V. on some of this. I just know that the Democrats are just as guilty.

Also, keep in mind, I see an opportunity for me to learn here.

By: Steve Vaughan

Steve Vaughan — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:39:33 +0000

MB-Process is important. I’m convinced that if more attention was paid to getting the correct process in place, we’d seen better outcomes. One of the problems with the way the Republicans have run the House of Delegates is that they’ve decided what outcome they want and then set up a process to gaurantee that outcome. That’s not the way it’s supposed to work.

By: Mike Barrett

Mike Barrett — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:17:33 +0000

Oh for Pete’s sake, what a tempest in a teapot. If you don’t like Kaine’s budget, change it. That is what you would do whether it was the first or the second year. Stop with baloney about process and get down to implementing your proposals. This blame game stuff is getting tiring.

By: Steve Vaughan

Steve Vaughan — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:55:17 +0000

Britt– he can’t really “poison” it, he can just make it more difficult as Kaine did to McDonnell by putting in a tax increase instead of making even deeper cuts than he made. Now McD has to make them. This doesn’t just happen when the party in power changes. Doug Wilder complained bitterly that Jerry Baliles stuck him with a bad budget. George Allen went around the state giving away a surplus to non-state agencies …Monticello, Colonial Williamsburg, etc….and only put as much money in the budget to pay for the first year of Jim Gilmore’s “car tax cut” as Gilmore it would cost on the campaign trail. Everybody, including the Allen administration and the Gilmore campaign knew it was going to cost twice that. Allen’s move, although he set him up nicely for his senate run, forced Gilmore to negotiate with Democrats in the Assembly to get his “car tax cut.”