Quotes on Budget Impasse
“We’ve been here 40, 50 days, and all this [about Virginia’s troubled finances] has been all over the media, all over the state. To pass the buck to the people of Virginia at the 11th hour, without background . . . is not, in my view, what typically responsible Triple-A states do.”
–Senate Finance Committee Chairman John H. Chichester, R-Stafford in Richmond Times Dispatch
“The speaker and I don’t really like the concept of a referendum but find ourselves in circumstances that require thinking outside the box,”
— House GOP Leader H. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem in AP story
“I’ve never heard of a budget process where before the conferees are even meeting you’ve got one side saying, ‘We’re going to change the whole way government operates or we’re going to shut down government,’ That’s what they’re saying, impasse or referendum? I totally, categorically reject that.”
–Gov. Mark Warner in AP Story
“I’ve been here for 42 years and I’ve never seen anything like it.”
— Del. Lacey E. Putney, an independent from Bedford whose legislative tenure is a record in Virginia. in AP story
“I think the people sent us here to do a job and we should do it, but instead of walking out of here without a budget I’m willing to revisit that issue.”
— Delegate Johnny S. Joannou, Norfolk Democrat in Virginian Pilot
“[It’s] legislation by improvisation…[and]… disingenuous. We’re in a position where we’re about ready to shut the government down and we’re looking for someone to lay it off onto.”
— Del. Ward Armstrong, D-Henry County in Roanoke Times
Opinion
An editorial in the Hampton Roads Daily Press calls the referendum idea. “inane” and provides perspective with respect to the two who thought up this hair-brained idea – Sen. George Allen (R) and former Gov. Doug Wilder (D):
The pattern continues. While decrying “big government,” Allen spends with the best of them. He just signed onto a $318 billion highway package, exceeding President Bush’s proposal by $62 billion. (What, no referendum for that one, senator?) Explaining his vote, Allen said, “I care about spending restraints too, but I also want to get Virginia its fair share!”
Then we have Wilder, the de facto populist, who now says he would not have supported Gov. Mark Warner’s election had he known about the governor’s tax plans. For his part, Wilder fondly recalls his own administration as an exemplar of frugality, overlooking the fact that he effectively raised taxes by allowing state college and university tuitions to soar to the heavens. He also infamously raided the transportation fund to avoid being inconvenienced by tax proposals.
A Virginian Pilot editorial lists some of the cuts the House budget would require.
Callahan is Key
If a conference committee actually meets and works at a compromise, Fairfax Republican Vince Callahan, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, is the one who can break the stalemate. He can be reached at (804) 698-1034 or by email.
Another slight problem with the referendum idea: Virginia code defines a referendum as a special election, and special elections can’t be held on the same day as a primary election, according to the Danville Register & Bee. So we’re going to hold an election on some meaningless date when about 5% of voters will likely show up?
GA: Open or Closed for Business?
Sen. Edd Houck(D-Stafford) has amended the bill exempting the General Assembly from the Freedom of Information Act. (If I were a delegate, I wouldn’t want people to see how that body works.) Houck’s amendments would keep open committee and subcommittee meetings, and legislative work sessions, while allowing the Joint Rules Committee to decide which other meetings could close their doors. Houck’s bill also exempts party caucus meetings from FOIA.
Get this: New Va. law says Girls Scouts can’t sell cookies inside polling places.
College of William & Mary students lost their bid in federal court to register to run for city council in Williamsburg.