Our Advisory Council is more than just perks; its instrumental partnership significantly funds the work of the organization during the General Assembly session and year round: The legislative call to action and subsequent victories, The Truth Project training, Pastors For Family Values, local grassroots networks, your voice in the mainstream media, and much more.
We have lots of material built up from the last two days, plus Governor Tim Kaine’s shocking income tax increase and budget proposals earlier today that, as one radio reporter said, caused an audible gasp from each member on the committee. Since the entire state is going to get blanketed by 24.36 feet of snow starting tonight, you might as well site back and read it all.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Bill Howell (R-28, Stafford) has cut some staff and perks from the House of Delegates — no more free coffee, boys and girls. He said he’s saved the Commonwealth $4.8 million since 2003 with a series of reductions, including new scheduling which allows members to travel to Richmond one day during for multiple out-of-session committee meetings rather than two or three separate occasions.
At the federal level, Senator Jim Webb (contact) penned a column in the Harrisonburg Daily News-Record saying that he hasn’t made up his mind on the health care bill. Perhaps Virginians can help him conclude in the negative? The Wall Street Journal examines the Democrats’ pending electoral implosion due to Americans’ desire for the government not to own every industry and create new ones out of whole cloth. (”Climate change” and “green jobs”?)
But getting back to Governor Kaine’s desire to eliminate the car tax cut and/or raise the state income tax by one percent: As mentioned here several times in recent weeks, he has a peculiar idea of a legacy, doesn’t he? I know he’s been out of state a lot in recent months, but didn’t he see the election results? The people are demanding reductions in government, not more taxes. There’s never been a governor more determined to inflict economic pain on Virginians than he — every year seeking a giant tax increase, despite a campaign pledge not to — and now, this monstrosity. The winner in all this is Governor-to-be Bob McDonnell. If he keeps his pledge not to raise taxes, and balances the budget, after Kaine has basically said that it can’t be done that way, the new guy will pretty much own the state.
We are back with the News Stand sooner than we thought, here at the close of business for April, where we learn, from the Wall Street Journal, that despite hundreds of billions of tax dollars spent since 1971, high school test scores have barely budged! How does that make you feel? Yet, the Commonwealth and the VEA seek more of your hard-earned money.
In other news, one has to wonder that if the gubernatorial campaign is like this now, what will it be like come September? October? We’ve seen the Dem candidates try to out-pander themselves to the teachers union and to homosexual activists. Now, according the Washington Post, it’s really getting nasty. On another burgeoning campaign issue, House Speaker Bill Howell and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell have whacked the ball back in Governor Kaine’s court, requesting the governor’s boss take the federal strings off before we accept it.
Meanwhile, the Democrat infighting is all to McDonnell’s early advantage, as a news SurveyUSA poll has him leading all three Dems. However, looking at the survey’s universe, it doesn’t look to be the best indicator. Contrary to some other polling, it has Terry McAuliffe way out in front in the Democrat primary. Still, it confirms what the more reputable Rasmussen poll a few weeks ago suggests: That McDonnell is making inroads among the general electorate.
Finally, in a commentary, Bobby Eberle documents a disturbing aspect of the Obama administration, something of which we’ve commented upon: Namely, his disdain for anyone — politicians, media or now, what with the Tea Parties, common folk — who disagree with him. More than disdain, it’s demonization . . . or worse. Now that the “hate crimes” bill has passed the House, we’re one step closer to being arrested for expressing our opinions.