Virginia Senate Democrats plan to take aim at millions of dollars in new health and human resources cuts proposed by Gov. Bob McDonnell, including a nearly $10 million reduction to services for troubled youths.
The cut is among several of the governor’s tweaks to the state’s $70 billion, two-year budget, which the legislature is set to finalize Wednesday. The 96 proposed amendments would bring deep cuts to public broadcasting, restrictions on state abortion funding and more expensive speeding tickets.
McDonnell, a Republican, wants lawmakers to agree to $42.1 million in new spending, most of which would be used to fund his economic development blueprint. The Senate’s 22-18 Democratic majority may balk, however, at further squeezing human services to pay for tax breaks and grants designed to attract new business to Virginia.
The division highlights a basic philosophical rift between the governor and the only wing of state government held by Democrats.
“To take money away from very, very needy people, and then use it to attract corporations and try to offer a better deal than the next state, seems to me the wrong priority at this point,” said Senate Democratic Caucus Chairwoman Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple, D-Arlington.
She took particular exception to a $9.9 million cut to Comprehensive Services Act funding, locally matched dollars that provide services for children and teens with severe behavioral or emotional problems. That change would pile on top of larger reductions already made to the program.
“Past changes have had positive effects in limiting uncontrolled growth in the program, and I am confident my proposed changes will continue that trend,” McDonnell wrote in a April 13 letter to state lawmakers.
The abortion provision also is expected to be hotly debated Wednesday. It would bar state funding for abortions except as required under the federal Hyde Amendment, which prevents taxpayer abortion funding except in cases of rape, incest or to preserve the life of the mother.
“I would say that would probably pass,” said Sen. Charles Colgan, D-Manassas, an anti-abortion Democrat and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
McDonnell discussed his amendments Monday with Democrats in the Senate and House of Delegates. His spokeswoman declined to comment on the amendments.
