House Democrats rolled out their budget amendments on Feb. 22, laying out billions in new spending on their usual priorities. What is most notable about this budget proposal, however, is what it is missing – genuine attempts to make life more affordable for everyday Virginians.
They campaigned on affordability, but now that it is time to spend $160 billion over two years, House Democrats have forgotten all about what they promised voters. Of all the budget amendments approved during Sunday’s House Appropriations Committee Meeting, none were tax relief. Disappointingly, Democrats expressly removed provisions that would have ended taxes on tips. A token amount of money was set aside to “study” how to end the Car Tax instead of actually ending it, even when Republicans had legislation filed to end it. The budget contains nothing to make groceries more affordable, and it has nothing to decrease power bills or make other energy more affordable. If nothing else, this budget demonstrates that Democrats consistently come to the table with the same big-government ideas and careless spending regardless of the problems our Commonwealth faces.
In other news, a recent Roanoke College poll proves that a majority of Virginians do not support General Assembly Democrats’ attempts to gerrymander our congressional districts to favor their own party. Only 44 percent of respondents said that they would vote to adopt the proposed constitutional amendment that will be put before voters beginning on Mar. 6 and ending on April 21, and once people learn what the amendment really does – force a 10-1 Democratic congressional majority – they dislike it. The original constitutional amendment to conduct redistricting in a non-partisan fashion passed its referendum by a nearly 2-to-1 margin, so perhaps this news should be unsurprising. What the poll really does is demonstrate precisely why Democrats worked so hard to camouflage what their proposed amendment accomplishes by cloaking it with misleading language like “restoring fairness.” I believe that this backhanded attempt at a power grab is being seen by the voters for what it really is, and it will be extremely important for Virginians – especially in our region – to make a concerted effort to oppose it at the polls and vote “no” on the amendment!
As the Delegate representing the 42nd House District in the Virginia General Assembly, your concerns are my greatest priority. If ever I may be of assistance to you and your family, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at DelJBallard@House.Virginia.Gov. You can also follow me on Twitter @JasonBallardVA or like my Facebook page, Jason Ballard for Delegate, to keep up to date with what I am doing in Richmond and in our community on your behalf.
