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in the budget-making process.
Steve Haner, executive director of the Joint Republican Caucus, said, “This is one of the most amazing power grabs in Virginia history,” and Del. Clinton Miller of Shenandoah noted that by the time the legislature convenes in January “all of the cuts will have occurred and it’ll be too late. Of course, the Democrats will just roll over and play dead for Wilder.”
Del. Miller had suggested a special legislative session to deal with the problems, but that call was spurned by Democrats on grounds a special session would be too costly.
“If we went back into session,” said Del. Miller, “and acted by the end of the year, we could rescind the salary increases we’re giving all the state judges and saving many millions of dollars over the years. We could find a way to take the monkey off the backs of state employees.”
Del. William J. Howell, a Stafford Republican and a member of the House Finance Committee, said he would await specifics of the cutbacks that will be due from the administration soon.
But, he said, “This situation sharply points up the need to revise the budget making process in Virginia. We need a more open process that involves more legislators. If we’d had that instead of the way things are done now I believe the current crisis might have been averted.”
John Goolrick, a former reporter, is now working as the press secretary to Seventh District Rep. D. French Slaughter Jr.'s re-election campaign. Opinions expressed are his own.
95.3%