Enter Governor McDonnell
Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
 
         For the first hundred years of its existence as part of the new nation, Virginia elected its governor by a vote of the General Assembly for a one-year term.  While now elected by the people for a single consecutive four-year term, the governor is inaugurated in a Joint Assembly of the House of Delegates and the State Senate.  A couple of Saturdays ago I along with other senior members of the legislature donned formal English morning suits with tails and escorted Robert Francis McDonnell to the portico of the Capitol for his swearing in as Virginia's 71st governor.  In his speech that followed, Governor McDonnell pledged that his administration was dedicated to building "A Commonwealth of Opportunity."  He expressed that "All Virginians must have the same fundamental opportunities to work hard, live free and succeed" with the caveat "that government cannot guarantee individual outcomes, but equality of opportunity must be guaranteed for all."
 
        The Governor returned on the following Monday evening to further address a Joint Assembly on the details of his plans for his administration.  His speech was at the same time filled with some small details but devoid of specifics of what he hopes the General Assembly will accomplish this session.  For example, on transportation he announced the reopening of the interstate highway rest stops that had been closed as a budget cutting action and he announced support for raising the speed limit on rural interstate highways.  There were no specifics on raising the billions needed for transportation improvements in the state.
 
        He was specific in announcing his opposition to Governor Tim Kaine's proposal to cut the car tax completely and replace it with an income tax.  "If you pass a bill in this recession that raises taxes on the hardworking families of Virginia - I will veto it," he said.  That means an additional two billion dollars in cuts must be made.  No mention was made as to where the reductions should be made.  Even Republican legislators were heard grumbling that the proposals in the remainder of his speech required additional spending.
 
        For public education, his goal is for "every child to graduate from high school either career-ready or college-ready."  To accomplish this goal he will be introducing legislation to establish charter schools, expand access to virtual schools, and pursue college laboratory schools.  There is a promise to "put Virginia on a track to become a leader in higher education and make a college education affordable and accessible to all motivated young people."  No mention was made of who will foot the bill.
 
        How to accomplish these goals when the state is cutting back so severely on its budget?  The new Governor concluded in part, "The opportunity to serve one another is a call we all must answer...I encourage all Virginians to continue to give back, help out, and work together."  Volunteers will not be able to keep the essential core services of government running.  Legislators are eagerly awaiting more specifics.  They need to be forthcoming in the days and weeks ahead.  The legislature is scheduled to adjourn March 13, and the budget is several billions of dollars from being balanced.
 
        Send your suggestions and views about proposed legislation to me at kenplum@aol.com.