Thursday, February 23, 2012

Virginia Budget Up for Vote Today

This press release from the office of State Senator Carrico came in the e-mail after I'd left the computer center for the night. People who start blogging after work may have posted it on time. Anyway,  "tomorrow" refers to February 23, 2012:

Carrico: Senate Budget is the Responsible Step Forward
Richmond – Sen. Bill Carrico (R-Fries) today urged the passage of the Senate Budget, which is scheduled for a vote during tomorrow’s session.

“The budget crafted in the Senate is the responsible step forward,” Carrico said. “It funds core functions of government, ‘right-sizes’ state spending, avoids forcing burdensome cuts down to localities, and makes progress on transportation funding. It is a successful budget created in tough economic times, and it deserves approval in the Senate.”

Carrico also pointed out that, beyond the larger issues, the Senate budget includes various provisions that will be critical to economic growth and healthcare needs in his district and Southwest Virginia as a whole. “This budget includes language to develop a plan for opening the correctional facility in Grayson County,” he said. “It also restores funding for the St. Mary’s Health Wagon, which provides a medical home for 2,500 Southwest Virginia citizens. It restores funding for companion care and the Pharmacy Connect program, both provided by Mountain Empire Older Citizens, Inc. It protects child advocacy centers and Project Discovery, a successful education program. Finally, it restores funding for the Coalfield Regional Tourism Authority and the Daniel Boone Visitors Center. My constituents need this budget to be passed.”

Recently, Senate Democrats have threatened to vote against the budget to block its passage, citing Republicans’ organization of the Senate as part of their reasoning. “Senate leadership has gone out of their way to accommodate Democrat concerns,” Carrico said. “There’s no reason to vote against this bill.”

Carrico said that he will be urging his constituents to contact other Southwest Virginia Senators to support the Senate budget. “I’m hopeful that someone on the other side of the aisle will understand that a vote against this budget will result in uncertainty for schools, towns and counties throughout the state,” he said. “In this economy, we can’t afford to use our citizens as pawns for cheap political points. Virginians deserve productive leadership, not empty rhetoric and sour grapes.”

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