THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 3, 1995 TAG: 9512020009
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 37 lines
Every person lives in two different worlds, separated only by an election.
First comes the pre-election world, a world of campaign promises, a world in which anything is possible and everything is painless.
Prior to last month's General Assembly election, for example, Gov. George F. Allen and virtually all Republican candidates called for an income-tax reduction, the return of lottery-money profits to localities and an end to the Business, Professional and Occupational License Tax.
The state could afford the three voter-pleasing steps, Governor Allen and candidates assured voters, because revenue would increase.
Now welcome to the post-election world, a much less pleasing place.
It turns out the state faces a budget shortfall next year possibly as large as $553 million. Revenues are increasing, but not as fast as costs, including $371 million to fulfill commitments to public schools and colleges, $128 million to fund a cost-of-living increase for state pensioners, $59 million to give state employees a 2.25 percent pay raise, $55 million to operate new prisons and $51 million to fund Medicaid requirements.
Staff writer Warren Fiske reported Thursday that administration officials declined to say whether Allen will abandon his campaign pledges when he submits his two-year budget to the money committees of the General Assembly on Dec. 18. He may have to.
It's a shame we live most of our lives in the post-election world. The pre-election world is much more promising. by CNB