Virginia State Budget

[normie]

Originally Posted by car54

Dude, nobody is saying that Bobby Mac will raise taxes. He ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT!!!

He will force the localities to raise local taxes....or severely cut services. It is the local pols that will incur the wrath of the voters EITHER way. And Bobby will strut around bragging about it for the next four years...

Yup, that's politics for you. One way or the other, taxes go up. The game playing is all about who ends up stuck with the blame... but don't kid yourself that having a teflon governor means taxes won't go up.

[Guamanians]

Originally Posted by car54

Dude, nobody is saying that Bobby Mac will raise taxes. He ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT!!!

He will force the localities to raise local taxes....or severely cut services. It is the local pols that will incur the wrath of the voters EITHER way. And Bobby will strut around bragging about it for the next four years...

The political climate has changed my friend. Virginia is not going to be a tax and spend state anymore. You are correct that Gov. Bobby won't raise taxes, and that the local counties will have to make tough decisons. But, you make it sound like the Gov. will encourage them to raise taxes. I think he will strongly discourage any state or local agency from raising taxes. And, the voters will jump all over any agency who propses raising taxes. The only fess, taxes, etc. that citizens will even consider is for specific things only. And, even those will probably be shot down. The public doesn't trust the gov't to spend our money!
I just don't think that anyone with the autohority to raise taxes in VA will actually try and sell that to the people.

[Guamanians]

Originally Posted by normie

Yup, that's politics for you. One way or the other, taxes go up. The game playing is all about who ends up stuck with the blame... but don't kid yourself that having a teflon governor means taxes won't go up.

In todays world, the punishment for raising taxes is (political) death. I think it's the last resort, and even then it won't be a happy ending.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by Guamanians

I just don't think that anyone with the autohority to raise taxes in VA will actually try and sell that to the people.

LOL, well I hope you're right. Time will tell.

As for the political climate changing... so what else is new? It doesn't mean all that much in northern Virginia, where the political climate changes every year, sometimes every few months.

[Guamanians]

Originally Posted by Caladium

LOL, well I hope you're right. Time will tell.

As for the political climate changing... so what else is new? It doesn't mean all that much in northern Virginia, where the political climate changes every year, sometimes every few months.

I rwalize that taxes are part of life, and politics will always play a big part in decisons made (especially around here)
Whats different now is that we have an anti-tax governor, anti-tax state legisllature/assembly, and *most* cistizens are also anti-tax... or shall we say "fiscally conservative"
Kaine was fighting an uphill battle which he stopped fighting his last year. The average citizen is more aware, and more vocal about these issues. Politicians are not going to be able to hide anymore.