FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nicholas Kessler, 804-381-6647
February 28, 2012 vaprogressivecaucus@gmail.com
VIRGINIA
PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS STATEMENT ON VIRGINIA'S BUDGET PRIORITIES
Richmond – Today, members of the Virginia
Progressive Caucus spoke at a press conference regarding the state budget.
Delegate Patrick Hope
(D-Arlington), Progressive Caucus Co-Chairman, said, "The
Republican-passed budget does not reflect the priorities of average Virginians.
Hundreds of millions in corporate giveaways and loopholes are coming at the
expense of hiring more teachers and increased class size. Their priorities put
our children's education and our economy at risk, leaving us less prepared to
compete in a 21st century global economy."
The House Republican budget diverts
general funds toward transportation, and also places its focus on corporate tax
loopholes, tax exemptions for items like yachts and gold, subsidies for a
handful of wealthy special interests such as Amazon, film studios and producers
of gas and coal. For the biennium, these represent approximately $479 million
in funds that could be used for Virginia's pressing needs.
$479 million is a figure that
reflects missed opportunities in funding. During the biennium, $479 million
could be used to fund any of these priorities:
* 3,818 police officers,
* 4,113 firefighters,
* 4,579 teachers,
* 10,272 home health workers,
* 51,099 students in pre-kindergarten, or
* 181,439 children in the FAMIS program.
* 3,818 police officers,
* 4,113 firefighters,
* 4,579 teachers,
* 10,272 home health workers,
* 51,099 students in pre-kindergarten, or
* 181,439 children in the FAMIS program.
Progressive Caucus members noted
specific areas where the budgeted funds fail to meet Virginia's needs:
* The budget funds yesterday's education system, not tomorrow's.
"Rather than spend millions
of dollars on private school tax credits, we should be repairing the damage
done to public schools since 2009. We are educating more students with fewer
teachers and less money. It's time to invest in education rather than shortchange
our children," said Senator Adam P. Ebbin (D-Alexandria), Progressive
Caucus Co-Chair.
* The budget eliminates long-term healthcare coverage for many seniors.
Delegate Hope said, "Seniors
are one of the hardest hit groups in this budget, eliminating long term care
funding for nearly 4,500 frail and elderly Virginians receiving nursing home
care. Kicking our parents and grandparents to the streets is another example of
the wrong priorities for Virginia."
* The budget fails to address our transportation crisis.
"Just like last year, the
Governor's latest transportation proposal is just another gimmick that
represents a drop in a bucket," said Delegate Scott A. Surovell (D-Fairfax
County). "Last year, we accelerated $3 billion of borrowing to cover a
$150 billion project shortage. This year the Governor is proposing $50 million
per year to cover a multi-billion dollar annual shortfall, and stealing it from
starved schools, substandard healthcare, hurting colleges, and a failing safety
net to boot."
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