Kudos to Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell for appearing before a somewhat "slimmed down" House of Delegates Democratic Caucus at its annual retreat this past weekend in Glen Allen. The House Democratic Caucus leadership invited McDonnell to share his vision for moving Virginia forward and he graciously accepted. His sincere comments were nonpartisan and a healthy prelude to what will be a very, very difficult 2010 Virginia General Assembly session.
The former Virginia attorney general comes into office burdened by economic hardships that this commonwealth has not seen in more than eight decades. Indeed, the challenges facing the governor-elect make former Gov. Wilder's difficult legislative decisions 20 years ago seem like a cakewalk.
How bad is Virginia's economy? Consider the following. In the upcoming 2010-12 biennium, Virginia must deal with the worst economic downturn since the 1930s. Since August of 2008, Virginia has lost 114,800 jobs. Additionally, for the first time in approximately 80 years, Virginia has suffered a decline in general fund revenue two years in a row. The easy decisions/cuts have already been made. To quote one state senator, "All the fat has been cut . . . we're now deep into muscle."
The 2008-10 budget has already seen $5.5 billion in budget cuts. The new governor may have to do even more. McDonnell must deal with the following:
- Federal stimulus dollars under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which were used to balance the most recent budget, will not be available after 2011.
- Currently, there is a $3 billion shortfall in the upcoming 2010-12 biennium budget.
- Virginia's unemployment insurance fund went broke in October, thus requiring the commonwealth to borrow $250 million from the federal unemployment insurance fund in order to satisfy the needs of approximately 70,000 unemployed Virginians who are currently receiving unemployment insurance.
- The commonwealth's prized Triple-A credit rating is in jeopardy.
I do not raise these disturbing points just to be the bearer of bad news or to suggest that the aforementioned challenges cannot be met by the new administration. Rather, I bring up these matters in order to underscore how important it is for Republicans and Democrats to work together in bipartisan fashion during the upcoming session.
Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention one final point. Soon after President Obama was elected and took office in 2009, conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh was asked to describe, in one paragraph, what he wished for Obama's administration. Limbaugh responded, "I don't need a paragraph, I just need four words: I hope he fails."
With respect to Gov.-elect McDonnell, I do not have similar sentiments. Indeed, I want McDonnell to be wildly successful, because to be so would mean that the Commonwealth of Virginia prospers.
Once again, congratulations to Bob McDonnell for reaching out to the Democratic Caucus. He has a difficult job and I wish him the best. As we enter this Thanksgiving season, here's hoping that the olive branch extended by both sides in mid-November will bear fruit in 2010 and beyond.
Joe Morrissey represents the 74th District in Virginia's House of Delegates. Contact him at (804) 698-1074 or DelJMorrissey@house.va.gov.
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