Draconian Cuts Ahead
By Brian Kirwin | Friday, March 12th, 2010 | PolicyI just read today in the Virginian Pilot of a massive cut planned that will impact the life of every man, woman and child. These are certainly tough times, and tough choices I know have to be made, but some cuts are just so draconian I expect to see massive editorials in the major newspapers decrying this cut.
Social services workers will be quoted talking about how it will impact their daily lives for the foreseeable future. McDonnell will be called “cruel” and “heartless” for tolerating such a cut.
Even though mathematically the cut figures to be just over 4%, teachers unions will lobby and attack the cut as “hurting the children” and saying the impact will go beyond the simple 4% cut, but stretch for months into the future.
The story of this massive cut is here.
Get to bed early Saturday. We lose an hour on Sunday. Daylight Savings time!
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About the author
The right wants to jeer him. The left wants to censor him. Moderates usually want both. Brian Kirwin is a political consultant and public relations strategist in Virginia Beach with a lightning-rod flair. Brian also serves on the VB Arts & Humanities Commission and frequently appears on Hampton Roads theatrical stages, if only to prove that all actors aren’t liberals. Kirwin’s columns stir up debate and hit the political scene with no punches pulled.
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28 Responses to "Draconian Cuts Ahead"
What a waste of time.
Then again, this cut could prove to be illuminating.
Yes, with victory at hand, I guess you guys can gloat. But of course, most business oriented, centrist republicans that I know are really worried about the effect of the cuts in McDonnell’s budget. I agree the Governor needs flexibility to weigh in and incent a good deal economic development deal for Virginia, but the way to attract businesses to Virginia is very simple; a transportation system that works, a public education system that provides a competent background for workers to learn, and human services and public safety that provide a high quality of life. So what is the score card for Governor McDonnell and the Legislature; total failure to address transportation, draconian cuts to K-12 education, cuts in human services and public safety, and a hugh step backward in support for the arts and humanities. Now, with this kind of record, the firms we really want will beat feet to more progressive states, and we will “buy” less attractive firms with the use of state incentives. Is that the kind of Commonwealth that is right for Virginia?
Guess we’ll have to just stick with firms like Runnymeade….
The guy has only been in office two months and he’s already screwed up the space-time continuum! I bet this has something to do with the rapture.
MB: Geez, lighten up dude. You’ll give yourself a stroke.
Mike is caught in a “time warp” and doesn’t get it. He would be a great regular on the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
I saw where Virginia Tech continues advertising for a Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, a Director of Diversity, and Professors of Africana.
There’s comfort in knowing these Draconian Cuts won’t affect student access to parties with roots music.
That is good Bud, because a college career without Bob Marley is wasted. Whereas a college career with Bob Marley is SPENT wasted. But what did your post have to do with McDonnell cutting the numbers of hours in a day?
Steve — I’m just comforted in knowing there’s still enough money in the budget for the truly important things. I’m worried about the free contraceptives at the campus health clinics though. I mean, Duuuude.
Since when does a re-locating company care about human services. Human services stakeholders are poor people and are provided food stamps, TANF, etc. So why would I as a CEO of a company looking to relocate and provide jobs to Virginia care about how good Virginia’s human services are?
Cry wolf some more Mike…Virginia has a Triple A Bond rating and has been awarded the “Best run State” and friendliest state for businesses on a number of occasions over the past several years, during the time frame inwhich you state the transportation system has been degraded to such a degree as to compare it slightly above third world countries.
Well J.M., of course, I would never expect you to take my word for it, but I would expect that you would have read and understood then candidate for Governor Bob McDonnell who presented his 26 point plan and devoted much of his campaign rhetoric telling the electorate that he would solve the transportation crisis created of course by his opponents. Now I know a little hyperbole is par for the course in campaigns, but no rational person could say that the now Governor McDonnell has set forth a strong vision for transportation improvements, but of course, it is the implementation that has fallen far short. Even the Washington Post noted… “Mr. McDonnell’s transportation plan—all 19 pages of it—deserves credit for the extent and specificity of its proposals.” Now, where’s the beef!
MB,
Yeah, damn shame that Tim Kaine’s horrific budget proposals that were rejected by not only the House but also the Democratic-controlled Senate had to be completely revised and solved. You’re right, the Governor should have put transportation before everything else, including day to day operations of state government.
Transportation would have sucked the air out of the room for every other proposal, large or small. There’s a time and a place, and McDonnell is smart enough to realize this session wasn’t it.
By the way, Brian, we know you were baiting MB by using his word “Draconian”…
Tim? Naaaaaw
Well D.J., given the fact that the majority in the House of Delegates has blocked increases in user fees and taxes to fund transportation when we had a budget surplus, a budget deficit, a neutral budget, in good times or bad, for the last 12 years at least, it is somewhat ironic that you would say that there is a time and a place. Fact is, for Howell and his cohorts, there will never be a time nor place, and in the meantime, the system just keep crumbling and getting more unsafe every day.
Just think Mike! With the draconian cuts in daylight, Governor McDonnell will have fewer day time hours in which to make more cuts. “Governor No!” wasn’t thinking clearly when he reduced daylight. He’ll also have fewer daylight hours to spend with puppetmaster Grover Norquist!
how will they plan something draconian?
Kaine on the other hand, recently added daylight this past fall.
Clearly, McDonnell is the “Bringer of Darkness” and Tim Kaine is an “Angel of Light”.
As a Libertarian I condemn these draconian acts of McDonnell, because it will reduce the number of daylight hours that hard working people can use to pay their taxes!! Fewer hours that Tea Partiers can carry signs!
Further, the loss of daylight will likely add to the cost of light rail in Norfolk! Just wait until another 80k gets lost in the dark.
We best not lose sight of the fact that Chuck Smith is talking to God which is the only one that can be draconian and can do anything about all of this. Let us pray….
High five, Britt. That was great!
Poor Mike Barrett – he’s in dire need of some new Talking Points, isn’t he? Mike keeps attacking anyone that is elected who doesn’t do the bidding of business lobbies Mike belongs to – you know, the business lobbies that spend a lot of money trying to buy control of government so that government will keep taking more and more money away from stressed families and redistribute the wealth to whatever boondoggles the business lobby want? Mike is still pushing wastful “light rail” which is a Marketing Pitch to attempt to disguise TOD (Transit Oriented Development), which is a attempt to disguise more “Public-Private Partnerships”, which in turn are an attempt to disguise CORPORATE WELFARE for the business lobby! Guys like Mike Barrett attack Governor McDonnell for his transportation plan, yet Mike Barrett’s “transportation plan” is a complete train wreck – and the voters of our region have soundly rejected it. Mike Barrett’s idea of “Transporation” really has very little to do with transportation – and a whole lot to do with a failed approach for government to run up massive DEBT and fund billions of the wrong projects – dumb projects like light rail and not-really-HIGH SPEED-rail service that require MASSIVE taxpayer subsidized to operate. Before Mike Barrett throws rocks at Governor McDonnell’s transportation plans, we should all take a good look at Mike Barrett’s “Transportation Plan” – oh wait, we already have – and we correctly rejected it!
Mike, we’re broke – we can’t afford your boondoggles anymore. Sorry Dude – I realize you have plans for TOD and more development, but you can’t keep expecting government to bail you out simply because your business lobbies write large checks to political campaigns. You guys have gone to the well too many times – and you maxed out the government credit cards too. The party is over – find another job ‘cuz the one you have now isn’t going to keep you and your pals living the high life.
Let me point out that McDonnell’s Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) is squarely behind not only Norfolk’s Starter Line, but extending light rail throughout Hampton Roads – including into Virginia Beach. Ask Thelma Drake.
Funny that Reid attacks Mike on Transportation. Reid’s position has been comical: oppose each and every roads plan, oppose High Speed Rail, and advocate that we dismantle mass transit. With a transportation plan like that, no wonder that the racist kooks who comprise the VBTA are the only ones lining up behind it.
Light rail will be built throughout Hampton Roads whether Reid and his friend Harvey like it or not.
Ole reliable liberal big spender Mike Barrett writes:
“So what is the score card for Governor McDonnell and the Legislature; total failure to address transportation, draconian cuts to K-12 education, cuts in human services and public safety, and a hugh step backward in support for the arts and humanities.”
Actually, Mike, that’s Tim Kaine’s record.
Henry Ryto, please stop the draconian race baiting! Either prove that the VBTA are racists or shut up about it and stick to the topic at hand.
Are your arguements so empty that you have to resort to lies, libel, & slander?
Henry, I’m not sure I agree with Reid on high speed rail. Oh, nevermind, even though you made a few good points in the beginning(McDonnell/Drake), why should I listen to anything you say? You lie about organizations you don’t like by calling them racists. I begin to wonder if you have any limits. But, geez, thanks for bringing crap like that to what should have been a fun thread of postings.
Britt,
“lies, libel, & slander?” They’ve been the trademarks of the VBTA, not to mention VNS and Reid personally.
BTW, check out the March 11 edition of The New Journal & Guide, the weekly African-American newspaper. It has a political cartoon on the TEA Party and race that you’ll love.
Gee – I have been a supporter of true HIGH SPEED rail for decades – but don’t let the facts get in the way of Henry’s lies. What is being pushed by business lobby mouth pieces such as Mike Barrett isn’t true HIGH SPEED rail – its a con job to have taxpayers pay to upgrade and maintain the wealthy Norfolk Southern and CSX corpration rail lines.
And folks, I only oppose bad transportation plans and projects. I support intelligent choices for improving our transportation systems.
But, unlike Henry-the-Freeloader, I concern myself with WHO PAYS for what – I am not a supporter of those that like to abuse the powers of government to redistribute the wealth and subsidize private development – or rail lines.
Henry, pointing out someone else’s guilt doesn’t make you innocent.
Reid and Henry should have common ground then. Reid wants “true” high speed rail. Henry, as a supporter and user of mass transit, should be working with Reid to get a the best possible system running. Let’s face it. A working and top tier high speed rail system would enhance arguements for local light rail exponentially.
…and Henry, I’m not worried about the Tea Party. I know the “Far Left” will, as you have, race bait, lie, libel, and slander for the sole purpose of undermining a movement created by the people, that some Democrats don’t like. The fact is there ARE minorities and even Democrats in the Tea Party. You can’t tell who is a Democrat, but you clearly see minorities in these pictures:
http://tidewaterliberty.wordpress.com/2009/07/19/rally-at-sen-webbs-office-asking-him-to-stop-both-cap-trade-and-socialized-medicine/#more-757
That’s just a few. I even have pictures of a minority speaker in another post, but I don’t want to add a lot of links here. The idea that the Tea Party is racists, is absurd and easily disproved.
So, instead of the drama, instead of the lies, and barb trading, why not form a coalition with guys like Reid to get something really top notch as far as High Speed goes? If the VBTA and Reid agreed on something with guys like you and Mike Barrett, sure Hell would freeze over, but wouldn’t that attract powerful attention for a shared cause?
Britt,
Reid only pretends to support such systems, as he’d obviously oppose the taxpayer funding of such.
Moreover, there’s a reason the kind of options Reid gives lip service to aren’t on the table: they’re incompatible with what Amtrak is using elsewhere on the East Coast. The idea is to provide a one-seat ride to New York, Boston, (yes, Brian) Philadelphia, et al.
As I’ve explained elsewhere before, train service is like airline service. With airlines, you have turboprop and/or regional jet service before moving up to Boeings based on market demand. It’s the same way with High Speed Rail: we start with 110-125 mph trains, then move up to 150 mph+ trains.
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