Monday, January 10, 2010
Va. Gov. Bill McDonnell: A Conservative Big
Spender
by Jacob G. Hornberger
For those who still claim that conservatives are different from liberals,
they might want to take a close look at Virginia Governor Bill McDonnell,
a conservative darling who has just exposed himself as another big
spender and big borrower. According to
an article in Sunday’s Washington Post, McDonnell “plans a
massive spending campaign that he said would unclog state roads, award
thousands more college degrees and spur job creation, part of an
aggressive legislative agenda he is expected to roll out this week.”
According to the article, conservative McDonnell plans to borrow $3
billion for his transportation projects and spend an additional $500
million on roads, colleges and universities, and job-creating projects.
His big-spending spree also involves giving state employees a 3 percent
bonus.
How is McDonnell pulling this off in these times of austerity, when other
states are having to slash spending? It turns out that Virginia has a
“$403 million budget surplus, $337 million in higher than expected tax
revenue, and $192 million generated through cuts and savings.”
Why is Virginia doing so well compared to other states? That’s difficult
to say, but one cannot help but wonder whether it has something to do
with the massive amount of taxpayer welfare-warfare largess that is
flooding into the heart of the Empire in Washington, D.C. It was recently
reported that Virginia home values have recently gone up, while those in
the rest of the nation have gone down.
So, why not simply cut (or abolish) taxes for Virginians? Are you
kidding? We’re talking about a conservative here! What conservative is
going to pass up the opportunity to go on a big-spending spree when he
finds himself in control of a big pile of taxpayer money? Certainly not
McDonnell! And certainly not any other conservative or liberal.
McDonnell ran for governor employing such standard conservative mantras
as. “I will help our small business owners by keeping taxes low … and I
will champion policies that unleash the creative spirit and productive
power of the people of Virginia.”
What he didn’t say was that he intended to accomplish those things not by
lowering taxes on small businesses and others but instead by going on a
big-spending spree that would make any big-spending liberal proud.
http://www.fff.org/blog/jghblog2011-01-10.asp
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