Virginia’s $72 billion budget was finally passed Wednesday by the General Assembly.
The budget now goes back to Gov. Tim Kaine for his approval. He is likely to approve it though fewer than half of his amendments were approved.
“We passed all the governor’s amendments that didn’t spend money. We killed every single one that spent money except for [three],” said Del. David Albo, R-Springfield.
The governor had proposed 36 amendments worth over $29 million. Sixteen of those amendments, worth $7.6 million, were approved.
Of that $6.3 million went toward education, $190,000 for a vehicle inspection program and $1.2 million was added to the Office of Commonwealth Preparedness. The remainder of the money remains unallocated.
The governor’s language allowing George Mason University to come up with a financing plan to build affordable housing for its staff passed. A measure to approve $600,000 toward the construction of the Harry J. Parrish building, which would contain labs and classrooms, at the Manassas campus of Northern Virginia Community College did not pass.
Sen. Charles Colgan, D-Manassas, who sponsored the Manassas building throughout the session, said, “Some of the programs that went were very worthwhile,” but added later, “At least we have a budget.”
The budget does provide “historic investments” in natural resources and higher education, said Kevin Hall, a Kaine spokesman.
“What is disappointing and a bit bewildering is that the fairly modest amendments — many were requested by House Republicans — were dismissed as the Republicans marched in lock step to make some kind of point,” Hall said. “But the result is you have [Northern Virginia Republican] lawmakers like David Albo, Tim Hugo and Scott Lingamfelter voting against $5 million in day care assistance for working mothers in Fairfax County.”
Albo said cutting the amendments freed up $22 million for the transportation special session. There was no way to earmark that money for transportation, so the “governor can spend it as he sees fit,” Hall said.
Both houses agreed to meet in Richmond on July 24, but the session will most likely not begin the transportation discussion. That will start closer to September, Colgan said.
