GOVERNOR'S BUDGET TAKES $180 MILLION FROM TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND

Bad idea!!!!!

Otherwise the budget looks good to me.

Comments

[GAida]

ya gotta do what ya gotta do

Kaine lies.

Ben, you've read the whole budget? And every bit of it looks good to you?

[Church Hill Dem]

Where's the TTF reduction item??

[Va Blogger]

Wait, I thought the Republicans were the reason that we don't have money for transportation.

Now that Kaine is yanking money out of transportation, when we inevitably face a short-fall, will he use this artificially created deficit as the reasoning behind an increase in the gas tax?

If so, doesn't that ultimately mean that Kaine is seeking to use the gas tax to pay for pet projects he's pushing through now, like his massive increase in education?

[Phil Chroniger]

Plus, didn't Kaine just announce that there would be no tax increases in the next budget?

Now, we're hearing about this gas tax and Kaine looks to definitely be attempting to set up a path for that tax to be deemed "reasonable and necessary".

[Church Hill Dem]

In his address he cautiously said this:

"I do not propose any tax increases to cover the cost of targeted service expansions. My proposed budget does include some minor fee increases, but where possible, I have tried to balance these with reductions elsewhere."

I luv the Guv and all, but I couldn't help but roll my eyes a drop.

[Not Harry F. Byrd, Sr.]

I think the bottom line on this is:

NOT IT, You're turn. I'm going to leave the tough choices to the legislature....

[George Templeton]

Thanks for helping the Republicans on the transportation issue.

[A Voter]

Why would we need money in the Transportation Trust Fund? It's not as if transportation is an important issue to voters...

OH WAIT!

[Robley Jones]

Is it good that such a wealthy state will give her teachers no salary increase in the coming year?

Teachers whose students consistently perform in the top ten should not be paid a salary that ranks 31st!

This budget is one more reason to leave Virginia's classrooms for better pay in MD and NC.

[Not Larry Sabato]

Robley, I agree- didn't know this budget failed to give teachers a pay raise.

[Georgetown Student]

This is ridiculous. I still support Kaine, but part of his platform in 2005 was the ratification of a constitutional amendment in order to prevent the legislators from raiding the transportation fund for almost any reason. Now he's proposing to raid it himself??

[Dem Legislator in Search of Clue]

Looks like NLS didn't in fact read the budget.

I wonder if Kaine did...

[Not John Marshall]

Tim Kaine is a social worker with a law degree. Doesn't much matter where the money comes from, he is going to feed the hungry, help the needy.....he is on a mission.

[Rtwng Extrmst]

So lets see, where is that TTF lock-box now???? What hypocrisy on Mr. Kaine's part...

[Church Hill Dem]

NLS:

I heard from a source in the Governor's office that technically the money was moved out of TTF to the General Fund, but only so the GF would collect the significant interest on the $180M. When VDOT needs money for roads, it will be transferred back.

There's nothing to flip out about.

[Va Blogger]

CHDem, no offense to you or Governor Kaine, but I don't buy that for a second.

[Church Hill Dem]

Va Blogger,

You couldn't possibly think Kaine would be stupid enough to move $180M from transportation to the general fund and expect no consequence.

If that were the case, our inboxes would be brewing with press releases from every republican in the state talking about how Kaine is raiding TTF.

I'm gonna stick to what I heard until I'm shown otherwise.

[Ghost of Alexander Hamilton]

The amazing thing about this budget is how deciptive it is. The governor is projecting a 3.2 percent rate of growth for the July 1 budget and a 6.7 percent rate of growth in 09.

The administration is smoking crack.

I'm confident that our new State Senator Chap will introduce and get enacted a state-wide increase in the gas tax to cover the raid on the Transportation Trust Fund! Just like he recommended during his campaign!

[Doug in Mount Vernon]

Anon 10:26

You mean like JMDD (eek! that name!) SAID Chap recommended? Yeah, I'm sure he'll be pushing for a--what was it?--38 cents on the gallon increase! LOL!!!!

[Phil Chroniger]

Wait a minute...

This budget DOES provide an increase in teachers salaries...3.5% in 2009. Kaine is loading stuff like this on the back end of the budget, "hoping" the economy will be better.

And if it isn't, he won't have to deal with it, anyway.

Teachers will just have to wait 1 year for the salary increase.

Thanks for waiting 18 months for a pay raise that will not keep up with inflation.

I guess it is another stab at a healthy workforce... less money for food.

[Lowell Fulk]

Ummm... Until last session's poorly done transportation plan, general fund money was not supposed to be used for transportation.