Statement of Governor Warner as General Assembly Budget Committees Report Budget Amendments
Statement of Governor Warner as General Assembly Budget Committees Report Budget Amendments
RICHMOND Governor Mark R. Warner today issued the following statement on the release of the General Assembly budget committees' amendments to the 2002-2004 budget.
"We have all had to make difficult decisions to craft a responsible, balanced budget in our challenging fiscal situation. When we presented the budget in December that addressed an additional budget shortfall of $2.1 billion, we recognized that legislators would offer alternative proposals. Today, the members of the House and Senate budget committees put forward their own respective ideas. I commend them for their hard work.
"Over the next few days, we will be scrutinizing these proposals carefully to ensure they meet the basic tests of fiscal responsibility that I have insisted on since I took office. Without a full review, I have some concerns about the underlying revenue assumptions upon which some of these proposals rely.
"However, I am pleased to see that the amendments offered by both committees reflect our priorities of protecting public education, maintaining the safety net for our most vulnerable citizens, preserving public safety, and support for transportation. I am also pleased the Senate Finance Committee has made a commitment to addressing the fundamental challenge facing our budget next year by reforming the Commonwealth's outdated tax code.
"Both committees have made pay raises for public employees a priority, if economic conditions allow. I agree with this priority, if we can ensure that it is done responsibly within the larger context of the overall budget.
"There are clear differences between the House and Senate budget proposals, and much work remains to be done in the coming weeks. I look forward to working with the bipartisan leadership of the General Assembly as we work to reconcile the different approaches to addressing the largest budget crisis in Virginia history. We will agree upon a fiscally responsible and balanced budget without the rancor that marked the process before I took office."
Governor of Virginia - Mark R. Warner
Copyright 2003