Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 8 · column 4 of 6 · from the scan, no model involved
the present penitentiary in Richmond which is obsolete.
The Governor did not propose any tax increases and none are expected in this session. With a surplus in hand, there is certainly no need for increased state taxes at this time. I believe the needs of mental health, education and the penal institutions do justify the appropriations from the state surplus and revenue sharing grant.
I AM opposed to the suggestion by the Governor that approximately 5 million dollars be appropriated for additional welfare expenditures. The welfare program should certainly have sufficient funds to provide for those people who need and deserve public assistance and this will require substantial funds from year to year.
However, costs of the welfare program have been increasing at a very rapid rate in recent years and many questions have been raised at the local, state and national level about the regulations as to eligibility for welfare assistance and the proper expenditure of funds.
By a resolution introduced by several other members of the General Assembly and me in the 1972 session, a legislative committee of the Virginia Advisory Legislative Council is studying and reviewing the whole welfare program and I hope that this will be a beginning towards welfare reform.
Next week I will report on other legislation that will be before the 1973 General Assembly. n
94.3%