LEGISLATORS SAY CUT BUDGET - NO TAX INCREASE

VHCA

Virginians in two areas of the Commonwealth, Northern Virginia and Tidewater, told state policymakers they were not in the mood to increase taxes.  On November 5th, voters defeated referenda to increase the sales tax for transportation in these two areas. The Republican-dominated General Assembly sees this as a signal that Virginians will not tolerate any tax increases to deal with the states severe budget shortfall, especially in an election year.

Five Republican lawmakers held a news conference shortly after Election Day to warn Governor Warner not to expect to raise taxes or to roll back the car tax cut as he attempts to balance the state budget.  Four of the five serve on health committees in the General Assembly. 

People do not believe that they are under taxed.  People want the budget balanced through substantive cuts in spending, said Senator Bill Bolling, former Chairman of the Joint Commission on Health Care and a high-ranking member of the Senate Committee on Education & Health.  Others at the news conference were Delegate Kirk Cox who serves on the Appropriation Subcommittee on Health and Human Resources and Delegates John OBannon and Brad Marrs, both of whom serve on the House Committee on Health, Welfare & Institutions.

Having state legislators who make health care policy and funding decisions announce that substantial spending cuts must be made to balance the budget does not bode well for health care funding in the 2003 General Assembly.  All Virginia state legislators are up for election in November 2003.  VHCA and the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) will be releasing a statewide poll which shows Virginia voters do not want expenditures for healthcare cuts and are willing to pay more taxes to maintain healthcare services.  Both organizations plan aggressive letter writing campaigns to build support for no more cuts to Medicaid.