Senator Mark Obenshain has provided those of us trying to follow the machination behind Virginia’s budget with a handy cheat sheet that provides a look at how the House and Senate want to spend your money. The bottom line is that both chambers are eager to spend more…and that, Virginia, is a problem.
When all the wailing and gnashing of teeth ended after last year’s budget session, we learned that spending had been rolled back to levels last seen in 2006. There were more than a few slights-of-hand involved, like shorting the state’s retirement system $620 million, continuing to borrow from the federal government for unemployment insurance payments and raising fees by nearly $100 million. But the congratulations were somewhat well-deserved.
Over the summer, the state managed to run a bit of a surplus – every dollar of which was quickly spent. Now, during the mid-point of the 2011 session, it appears as though there will be even more money for the General Assembly to play with. But at least this time, the Governor and the House have proposed to roll back some of the fee increases they imposed last year, specifically the deeply dishonest accelerated sales tax payments due from merchants. But even the Governor couldn’t find ways to spend it all. The Washington Post wrote “McDonnell offered no suggestions for $19.2 million, indicating the General Assembly should use it as lawmakers see fit.”
That’s akin to giving a teenage boy the keys to a Red Corvette for the weekend.
And, according to Obenshain’s cheat sheet, they’ve taken the car for quite a spin. The House has proposed over $100 million in new spending while the Senate is asking for $175 million more. Obenshain is careful to mention that these aren’t final figures and could change as the budget amendments move through the process.
But those changes won’t result in less spending. They also won’t result in any substantive tax relief for businesses or individuals. And they most certainly won’t see the state tackling its mounting debt problems, including its growing unfunded pension liability.
That wouldn’t be any fun. And what’s the point of being in the General Assembly if you can’t have fun on (and with) someone else’s dime?
