Spank That Donkey

The esteemed duo of DJ McGuire and Shaun Kenney are allowing reality to escape the equation of Gov.  Jim Gilmore's 'spending' as Governor from 1998 to 2002.  Let's hear from DJ:

As much as it hurts me to say it, those angry voters have a point.  Under Gilmore’s tenure, state spending rose roughly 30%, a slightly higher increase than Warner’s 28% percent.  Had Gilmore merely held the spending increase down to Warner’s level, he would have had enough money to end the car tax in four years, rather than have his legacy (to say nothing of the tax bill of millions of Virginians) dependent on his successor.

DJ has estimated that Gov. Gilmore's Spending is now down to 30% from his previous high of 36%, but what does it matter, because neither he nor I, or Shaun Kenney for that matter are Budget analysts.  However, let's check in with a previous post just for fun, budget pronunciation from DJ:

Government spending: I just took a look at the past budget tables, and the data is shocking.  During Mark Warner’s four years as Governor, state spending grew by a whopping 32%.  However, that number was lower  that the 36% increase in state spending during Gilmore’s term.  In other words, Gilmore would actually losethe issue of government spending to his Democratic opponent.

This correction came about as a result of Senator Brandon Bell's contention that the line item of the Car Tax Relief, or the PPTRA of 1998 counts into the budget the dollars returned to localities to fund the program.  From FY 1999 to FY 2002, just the years Gov. Gilmore was in office $1,934,000,000 or almost $2 Billion dollars was returned to the localities.  Also, don't forget Gov. Gilmore left office with a Rainy Day Fund balance over $1 billion dollars,which also would have counted as 'spending'.

Now, I want Shaun to have his due too, what say you Shaun?:

D.J. McGuire takes umbrage that defending Gilmore's conservative credentials consists of defending Gilmore's massive spending increases and bureaucratic centralization in Richmond introduced during his stay in the Governor's Mansion.

Now, I want you guys to see some more spending that Gov. Jim Gilmore did along the lines of Transportation, as part of the Virginia Transportation Act of 2000, that provided $3.2 billion dollars in additional funding in the year 2000, and $3 billion more over the next 6 years.  $800 million of that was in GARVEE's or Federal Highway Reimbursement Anticipation Notes to accelerate the process of transportation improvements, without of course raising taxes....  This concept seems lost on this dynamic duo.

You know this is the point I'd like to make about spending to my 'friends' DJ and Shaun.  Gov. Jim Gilmore got a lot done in the way of tax relief and tuition relief for our citizens.  At the same time he increased funding for K-12 education, (OH MY GOD!),  and poured money into transportation.  All of this without raising taxes, and with what was turning into a hostile GOP Senate Leadership, in his own General Assembly.  I guess once these Senators found the majority, they couldn't figure out exactly how they got there.

Then again too, with the attitudes of Misters McGuire and Kenney it looks like there is plenty of 'what have you done for me lately' to go around.  Let me make something really clear to both of you.  The only way Gov. Jim Gilmore could have possibly, imaginably spent less money would have been to go down to the Senate Finance Committee, grab Senators Chichester and Potts by the scruffs of their necks, haul them out onto the Capitol Steps and put a gun to their heads..... Now is that going to happen?

This is the bottom line, Bloggers 4 Gilmore have yet to air one attack on a fellow Conservative Delegate Bob Marshall, but it has been non stop from the Bloggers 4 Marshall.  The exception is of course is  BVBL, who specializes in skewering only those that deserve it.   That why Greg is such a great Conservative.  He's so 'fair and balanced', right up until you get the "Bite Me"....

I smell & See desperation.... in the Marshall Camp