October 16, 2009
Breakdown of the infrastructure spending in Va.
$35 million will go to seven design-build contracts to replace or repair 119 bridges and culverts, 112 of which are structurally deficient, across the state. Two central Virginia bridges are included:
$588,776 will go to replace the deck of the U.S. 60 westbound bridge over Toe Ink Swamp in New Kent County; and
$776,390 will go to replace the superstructure of the state Route 684 bridge over Muddy Creek in Powhatan County.
September 18, 2009
State gets grant to fight health care infections
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced today the state has received a $1 million-plus federal stimulus grant to fight health care-associated infections. The grant is from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the governor, the CDC estimates that annually more than 1.7 million infections and 99,000 deaths are attributed to health care-associated infections. In the first six months since Virginia began requiring acute care hospitals to report data on certain severe bloodstream infections, 159 such infections were reported.
July 20, 2009
Virginia’s collection of child support increases
Federal efforts to help the unemployed and stimulate the economy are boosting Virginia’s collection of overdue payments for child support. Virginia collected more than $639 million in child-support payments in the past 12 months. That’s a $10 million increase over the previous year, boosted by increased unemployment benefits, tax refunds and stimulus checks that the state has diverted from parents who owe money for the care of children who don’t live with them.
June 23, 2009
VDOT starts stimulus
Federal highway stimulus funds went to work in Virginia yesterday. A Virginia Department of Transportation contractor began installing guardrails along U.S. 460 in Dinwiddie County. It is the first highway project using some of the state’s $694.5 million in federal economic stimulus money. “We are very pleased to get these first projects started,“ said W. Byron Coburn Jr., VDOT’s state construction engineer.
April 19, 2009
Virginia Must Accept Federal Unemployment Money
During the General Assembly’s reconvened session held on April 8, the Virginia House of Delegates rejected Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s amendment to Senate Bill 1525. The amendment would have given the Commonwealth of Virginia $125.5 million in federal stimulus dollars to be used for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. This rejection, almost exclusively along party lines in a 53-46 vote, was a terrible mistake and grievous loss to 300,000 unemployed citizens across the commonwealth.
Virginia Can’t Afford Higher Taxes on Jobs
House Republicans, especially a 29-year businessman like myself, clearly understand—and are experiencing—how tough the economy is. If you are one of the thousands of Virginians who are unemployed, the pain caused by this recession is real and imme diate. We know “it’s the economy, stupid”! We are very focused on implementing good public policy that will stimulate Virginia’s economy and create good-paying jobs.
March 14, 2009
Public-housing upgrades
Creighton Court: $2.8 million for kitchen and bathroom renovations, new windows
Fulton apartments: $985,000 for termite damage repairs, foundations, kitchen and bathroom renovation
1202 Decatur St. apartments: $550,000 for new elevator, kitchen and bathroom renovation
Randolph apartments: $545,000 for new hot water tanks, comprehensive modernization
Richmond gets $10.8 million grant for public-housing projects
Richmond gets grant for public housing RRHA will use $10.8 million in stimulus funds to renovate, fix units over next three years More than $10 million of renovations and repairs to Richmond’s public-housing projects got on a fast track yesterday after the city’s housing authority won a grant from the federal economic-stimulus program.
March 12, 2009
Hanover schools to use stimulus money to spread job cuts
Hanover County school officials will use $6.3 million in federal stimulus money to spread job cuts over two years and stabilize health-care costs. The board had decided to cut 117 positions and delay purchases of buses and computer equipment to make up for a $15 million revenue shortfall for 2009-2010. It approved a $205.6 million budget in January.
March 04, 2009
Chesterfield school budget restores 427 jobs
The Chesterfield County School Board unanimously adopted an operating budget last night that restores 427 positions slated to be cut, eliminates employee furlough days and keeps current class sizes. Initially, the proposed budget had a $52 million shortfall and 525 jobs were to be cut. A reallocation of funds and an infusion of $20.1 million in federal stimulus money reduced the deficit to $32.5 million. With the federal money, the operating budget for the next fiscal year is $571.6 million.
February 17, 2009
Kaine: No more cuts
Virginia’s budget continues to bleed cash, giving up another $821 million, but the loss will be offset by more than $1 billion from President Barack Obama’s stimulus package.
February 13, 2009
Legislators eager to get details of federal bailout
As the House of Representatives prepares to vote on the federal stimulus package, state lawmakers will get a better idea of how much money is available to help Virginia with its budget shortfall.
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