A Note From Sue: There’s Still No Budget
Well, today (Tuesday) lots of us that watch the General Assembly thought we'd be writing you tonight about progress toward a compromise on the Biennial Budget.
But it did not happen today.
Richmond Times Dispatch: Budget gridlock to hit roads
Washington Post: Va. House Panel Stops Tax Deal Proposal: Speaker Had Promised An Up-or-Down Vote
Daily Press: Compromise Eludes Delegates: Some lawmakers expected a modest tax hike to win committee approval. It didn't, and the Virginia budget impasse drags on.
Don't be discouraged! Your calls to your Delegate and Senator did work! A number of Republican members of the House of Delegates tried on Tuesday — they introduced a bill that would have allowed the Budget Conferees to get back to the table and negotiate a Biennial Budget — called the Tax Reform Compromise Act of 2004 .
But the politics of "No Taxes, No Way, No How!!" folks led to confusion — and no steps forward.
While the new Tax Reform bill was being debated (HB 5018), I heard one "no tax" member of the House say to his colleagues, "… don't think about those who benefit … think about those who pay."
What? Whatever did he mean?
You know who benefits when we have a Budget that provides the services we need — we all do. And you also know that we all pay for those services — one way or the other.
Today, Wednesday, this morning, House members must hear from you — yet again …
For those who have listened to you, who are trying to reach a compromise — they need to hear your thanks and your support. (Delegates like: Harry Parrish (sponsor of HB 5018); Preston Bryant and Chris Jones (who presented the bill); Joe Johnson, Ken Melvin, Mitch Van Yahres, Bob Hull, Vivian Watts, Frank Hall, Stephen Shannon, and Lynwood Lewis (who voted to support the bill), Glenn Odor, Tom Rust, Phil Hamilton, Dave Nutter, Harvey Morgan, Riley Ingram, Danny Marshall, Joe May, and others have said (either publicly or privately) that they are ready to put this proposal forward for a compromise.
For those Delegate who have not yet heard the voters' message, they need to hear that those advising them are not listening to what the majority of voters are trying to say! We are ready to pay for the services we need to keep Virginia strong!
So today, please make your calls, write your emails, fax your faxes, to your Delegate, again, calling for a compromise — for a full Biennial Budget.
Again, see www.VORAonline.org for details on how to reach YOUR Delegate.
And thanks — AGAIN.