It’s About APPLES and ORANGES ….
Really ….. It is about APPLES and ORANGES …..
The Virginia General Assembly is in a stalemate — the House v. the Senate …
And one General Assembly staff member told me yesterday that the only people who can help are constituents calling their own Delegate and Senator.
This stalemate IS affecting one new service for PWAs. Please — read on ….
The way I see the stalemate and everything I've been reading in the paper is like this ……. I have to sort out the APPLES from the ORANGES …..
The HOUSE — The APPLES
They do not want to raise taxes for whatever reason. No way, no how ….
They want to use current "good year" revenues (surpluses) to pay for some new Transportation costs now and to use what's left for other state programs. OK, that will help with some Transportation projects now — in just the next two years. And the House wants you to compare their budget proposals to the CURRENT year's budget — what the budget wonks call the "base budget".
That's the budget that was passed in the 2005 General Assembly Session. The House's proposed budget for the next two years IS larger than that budget in many areas — and, it IS also the same in many other areas — and smaller in some others.
The SENATE — The ORANGES
They want to raise new taxes and fees and mark that money to cover Transportation Costs, now and into the future. To say that another way — Tax X will always go to Transportation costs, therefore there is always "new" money for transportation projects in future good and bad years.
They want to use current "good year" revenues (surpluses) to pay for other costs — some would be used for Transportation (for "now" projects), but because there are also new funds for Transportation, there is more surplus left — The rest would be used for education, health care, colleges, housing, environment, some one-time building projects, etc.
The Senate wants you to compare their budget proposals to GOVERNOR WARNER's Budget Proposals for the NEXT two years. Governor Warner's proposed budget is already LARGER than the 2005 "base budget".
So that's where this APPLES & ORANGES stalemate continues ….
It is NOT just about Transportation and how we'll pay for that — It IS about the other services, too!
WHAT DOES ALL THAT MEAN TO SERVICES FOR HIV/AIDS?
One new budget item that VORA proposed for the next two year budget was approved by the Senate, and not by the House.
That request was for $300,000 a year to help Persons Living with HIV/AIDS and who are part of the Medicare Part D program.
And this is the ONLY new state HIV/AIDS service in ANY of these budgets ….
As long as the House and Senate are talking APPLES and ORANGES — we're stuck….
YOU CAN HELP …..
In fact, you're probably one of the only people who can!
With One Phone call or email to YOUR Delegate …….
Ask YOUR delegate to ask the House Budget Leadership that the new funding to help PWAs on Medicare Part D approved by the Senate should also be supported by the House.
*** A reminder — to find out who your Delegate and Senator are, and their contact info, just visit …
www.voraonline.org/elected-officials/
So despite what the papers say — it really is up to you ….
Thanks for making YOUR call!