No New Tax Hike South of the Border

Virginia’s voters showed pretty good timing in last fall’s elections.

Outgoing Democrat Governor Tim Kaine submitted a budget proposal to the General Assembly that was balanced by a minimum 17% increase on state tax rates for personal income.

After his swearing-in ceremony on January 16, 2010, Governor Robert F. McDonnell established a truly bipartisan process to identify an additional $2.3 billion in spending reductions in order to reject the Democrat tax hike proposal.

McDonnell has balanced the state budget without raising taxes in Virginia. His message about making difficult choices but still being responsible to taxpayers of the state offers another stark contrast to Governor Martin O'Malley.

Moreover, McDonnell has expressed a pro-business agenda this session: “a top priority of government must be strengthening the free enterprise system and helping the private sector create jobs to get our economy back on track.”

To read McDonnell's commentary on the budget process published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, click here.