Statement of Governor Warner on the Adjournment of 2005 General Assembly

Statement of Governor Warner on the Adjournment of 2005 General Assembly

"To the members of the General Assembly of Virginia:

"When I delivered the State of the Commonwealth Address on January 12, 2005, I set forth several goals for this session of the General Assembly. I urged you to enact innovative measures and significant new funding to strengthen the Commonwealth's system of transportation; to provide new resources for economic development in our rural and distressed communities; to grant our colleges and universities additional flexibility while requiring them to meet the state's long-term needs in student access, academic performance, assistance to our public schools, and economic development; and to continue the basic government reforms that have been a hallmark of this administration.

"In what may have been the most important challenge facing us at the beginning of the year, I also urged you to stand firm in our shared commitment to fiscal discipline - to reject the calls of some Virginians who would have squandered our restored prosperity for political promises that couldn't be kept over the long-term. As I said then and will repeat now: how we respond to these increasingly prosperous times will say as much about us as how we dealt with the tough times. I am glad that this goal was so widely shared by the General Assembly.

"As the 2005 session draws to a close, I am pleased to say that the General Assembly fulfilled the goals that I articulated in January. Your approval of my legislative program, and your continued adherence to fiscal discipline will help sustain the progress we have made and the rebounding economy Virginians now enjoy.

"On the critical issue of transportation, you have approved the largest infusion of cash into transportation in the Commonwealth's history -- $847 million. These additional resources will promote new public private partnerships for transportation, strengthen rail and public transit, fund innovative local partnerships, and eliminate all remaining debt on completed construction projects. While these measures won't fix all of the transportation problems facing Virginia, they represent a major step forward and a victory for citizens who struggle daily with traffic congestion.

"You also approved funding to protect and clean-up the Chesapeake Bay. In addition, you also approved legislation granting more operational authority to our institutions of higher education, which I identified as a priority in the State of the Commonwealth Address. The modified charter legislation approved this year will help sustain excellence in our system of higher education, which is the envy of the United States. I commend you for approving our legislation to accelerate the phase-out of the food tax.

"Finally, I am pleased that you approved measures to continue the progress we have made to reform and strengthen state government. At mid-session, we received the news that the Government Performance Project has rated Virginia as the best managed state in the nation. This exciting achievement is a credit to members of the General Assembly from both sides of the aisle, as well as our dedicated state workforce. During this session, you approved several measures I proposed to codify and continue the important reforms we have made.

"I regret that the conferees on the budget did not approve full funding for our Virginia Works initiative. Virginia Works represents an innovative and creative approach to economic development in our rural and economically-distressed areas. The modest funding proposed for the initiative would have restored only a portion of the economic development funding that was reduced during the Commonwealth's fiscal crisis of the past 2 ½ years. The failure to fund Virginia Works fully is shortsighted. It will frustrate our work to create good jobs in rural Virginia, and it runs contrary to the professed desire of some members to ensure that all Virginians share in the prosperity of a growing economy.

"Despite our difference on Virginia Works, this was on balance a productive session and I commend you.

"On a personal note, I want to thank members from both sides of the aisle for their hard work this session, and for their continued adherence to bipartisanship. As I said during the State of the Commonwealth Address, together we have demonstrated that here in Virginia, Democrats and Republicans can come together to balance our budget and strengthen our economic future. Thank you."

http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Press_Policy/Releases/2005/Feb05/0227.htm