SENATE REPUBLICANS EXPRESS DISAPPOINTMENT AT McAULIFFE POLICY INITIATIVES FOR 2015 SESSION Richmond, Va, 17 December 2014: Senate Republicans today commented on Governor Terence R. McAuliffe’s address to the Senate Finance, House Appropriations, and House Finance Committees. “Having served in the General Assembly during the terms of seven governors, I am disappointed Governor McAuliffe still does not understand that collaboration between the legislature and executive is essential to moving Virginia forward,” declared Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment, Jr. (R-James City). “Instead of advancing policies and proposals that could earn widespread, bipartisan support, he has opted to exacerbate and emphasize partisan divisions. “Bringing Richmond the same divisive tactics that have resulted in paralysis in Washington, Governor McAuliffe is clearly more focused on raw politics than responsible policy. It appears to me that the intended audience for his recent pronouncements is not the people of Virginia, but Michael Bloomberg, Tom Steyer, and Cecile Richards. “Governor McAuliffe knows Medicaid expansion will not pass. He knows refighting the one-gun-a-month battle will not be productive. He knows that the General Assembly is not going to doom Southwest Virginians by embracing the coal-killing policies of the Obama Administration. And, he knows that the Republican majorities in the Senate and the House are not going to support measures that raise the tax burden on Virginia’s working families. “Governor McAuliffe might benefit from the advice of some of his Democrat predecessors. I would strongly advise he seek the counsel of Senators Warner and Kaine, so that he might avoid the pitfalls of promoting agendas based on gaining political advantage instead of advancing sound policy.” “Because Republicans were restored to the majority in the Senate last June, Virginia has a budget that is in effect through July 1, 2016,” noted Senate Republican Caucus Chairman Ryan T. McDougle (R-Hanover). “This year, we are only considering amendments to our existing two-year budget. Even if Governor McAuliffe intends to reuse the same obstructionist tactics that caused last year’s 106-day-long budget impasse, the Commonwealth will not face a shutdown. The Senate Republican Caucus will be working toward approving - and enacting – fiscally responsible amendments to Virginia’s biennial budget.”
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 18:11:55 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015