(Update: 2 p.m.) Democrats begin to parse McDonnell budget

Despite the largest single increase in contributions to VRS in its history, an infusion of $200 million for higher education, and a jolt of nearly $500 million for K-12 in Governor Bob McDonnell’s biennial budet, it’s not a surprise that Democrats remain wanting more.

“Governor McDonnell has proposed some worthwhile new spending in a number of areas, such as higher education and shoring up the state employee pension fund,” Del. David Englin, a Democrat from Alexandria, rightfully states.

Of course, that’s not where the statement ends, as it should.

“Unfortunately, he pays for it with cuts to preschool for four-year-olds and cuts to public education in Northern Virginia. Governor McDonnell says he is prioritizing spending that will drive economic growth, but he proposes cutting $81.6 billion from pre-kindergarden, despite all of the evidence that high-quality pre-k actually saves taxpayers money and is among the best long-term investments in economic growth. He says he is drawing a hard line against tax increases, but then he proposes cutting $65 million from money Northern Virginia needs to be competitive in hiring school staff, that is a $65 million real estate tax increase on our community.

“While there are still many details that require review, the budget proposal unveiled today appears to be a continuation of an unbalanced, cuts-only approach that favors powerful corporate interests over regular people.”

Englin is balking mainly because this goes straight to the core of Tim Kaine’s legacy – pre-K.

At least Englin acknowledges that there is goodness in the governor’s proposal on K-12 and higher ed, but that House Democrats need to come up with an alternative plan if they want to ensure 4-year-olds learn their ABC’s and 123’s.

I’m sure it will involve two words that even a 4-year-old can understand:

“M-O-R-E spells more” and “T-A-X spells tax”.

Republicans need to simply reply with another simple two words:

“N-O” and “W-A-Y”.

Isn’t learning fun!

Update: It is no surprise that former Gov. Kaine has something to say about this:

“The proposed removal of $81 million in funding from early childhood programs in the introduced biennial budget has the potential to hurt thousands of children and their families now and in the future. It signals a retreat from Virginia’s commitment to winning the battle for talent. And, it represents a short term approach to expense cutting that will actually prove fiscally unwise in the future.”

I guess he missed the combined nearly $700 million increase in education in K-12 and higher ed.

Kaine never was particularly good with math – or audits.

Update 2 p.m.: Upon further review, the governor’s budget does NOT cut pre-K. All that happens is that more efficient data is used to fund pre-K based on who actually participates in the program. In other words, why do you need to buy more of something when you already have enough to cover the need? Simply put, this is more fear mongering “for the children” by Democrats to justify raising taxes.

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