THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 8, 1995 TAG: 9502080021
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
Just three months ago, Governor Allen told us it was essential to ``buy'' 25,000 new prison beds to make Virginia safe for its citizens. We were told that the price tag would be high - $2 billion if the beds were financed. But, after all, what is more essential than personal safety?
We agreed. We abolished parole. Now, just three months later, Governor Allen says the highest priority is to give $2 billion back to taxpayers as a tax cut over the next five years. Isn't that like spending the money twice? No, we are told, not if you can go out and borrow the money for prisons.
What we are hearing from this governor sounds like a pyramid scheme. The people of this state are smarter than that. They deserve better. There is much talk about coincidence with regard to the numbers. But just look at them:
The governor tells us that the first year of his tax cut would take $148 million out of the state treasury. At the same time, he tells us that he wants to borrow $148 million for prisons through the Public Building Authority where the voters don't have a say.
As part of this scheme, the governor says he wants to replace with debt the $32 million in cash we gave him last September for work camps, and then give out $30 million in business-tax cuts.
The governor says the second year of his tax-cut plan would return $244 million to taxpayers. But he wants to issue $227 million in general-obligation debt for prisons.
It doesn't really matter what time period you look at. The bottom line is the same. This governor thinks it makes sense to give me $1 back today and ask me to pay $2 for debt services tomorrow. For the life of me, I can't see the sense of it.
It sounds as if the governor was in Washington long enough to take a cram course in ``Potomac economics.'' Those who defend his scheme say we have used debt before for prisons. Of course we have. That is not the issue. The issue is whether it makes sense to arrive with a debt bill in one hand and a tax-cut bill in the other.
THOMAS W. MOSS JR.
Norfolk, Jan. 27, 1995
Editor's note: Mr. Moss is speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates. by CNB