Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine does not have the authority to keep the commonwealth’s government services running if state legislators do not approve a budget the end of the fiscal year on June 30, Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell said Thursday.
Instead, the General Assembly should approve a 30-day budget extension to “bridge the gap” between the end of this year’s budget and the approval of the next biennial budget, said McDonnell, a Republican.
“It is my duty to interpret the laws as they are, not as I, or others, may want them to be. Thus it is the official opinion of this office, pursuant to Article 10 of the Constitution of Virginia, that only the General Assembly of Virginia possesses the legal authority and obligation for appropriating funds,” McDonnell said at a news conference.
The governor disagreed with McDonnell over the need for short-term legislationand said in a statement that “there should instead be a focused and concerted effort to pass a budget bill in the next few days.”
Kaine added that he will continue to find ways to keep Virginia running during the budget uncertainty.
“Article 5 of Virginia’s constitution states that the governor shall faithfully execute the laws. I intend to carry out my oath of office to uphold this constitutional obligation,” Kaine said.
Sen. Charles Colgan, D-Manassas, said he agreed with McDonnell and that this news “puts our feet to the fire.”
“I think it is amazing that Republicans are potentially putting Kaine in a position that is very, very powerful after July 1,” said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. “[He] is going to undertake governing Virginia almost alone, and he is probably going to be quite popular for it. Those are the political realities, as opposed to the legal niceties.”
