State Senator Louise Lucas said, “Year after year of massive budget cuts may play well with national Tea Party leaders, but the middle class pays the price. Bob McDonnell must do his part to make Virginia’s economy work for everyone again by restoring his massive cuts to education, health care and other public goods that level the playing field and keep struggling families on their feet. There is no more time for excuses while working families struggle to make ends meet.”

Delegate Jennifer McLellan added, “This budget is Bob McDonnell’s chance to show Virginians what kind of Commonwealth he thinks they deserve. Democrats are ready to work with the Governor to make our schools, our communities and our economy the best in the world, but it’s up to him to put politics aside and deliver for the middle class families who elected him to lead.”

Mayor of Petersburg Brian Moore remarked, “In this tough economy local governments are struggling to provide services their residents need, and unfunded mandates from the state put a strain on local dollars. At the recent Virginia First Cities and Virginia Municipal League meeting there was bi-partisan support amongst community leaders to provide relief to localities. I encourage Governor Bob McDonnell to support a budget that restores critical investments in schools, public safety, mental health, other core services, and provides localities the opportunity to advance sustainable economic development and services.”

“If Virginia is going to remain economically competitive we need to be investing more in schools, public safety and job creation, not less.” said Democratic Party of Virginia Chairman Brian Moran. “Virginians can’t afford for this Governor’s legacy to be Tea Party budget cuts to services they need.”

Background: 

• According to the nonpartisan Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis income inequality is at a 30-year high and Virginia has the second largest income gap in the country. 
•  In the 2005-2006 school year Virginia had smaller class sizes than every state in the country but two. In 2009-2010 41 states had smaller class sizes.
•  In 2008-2009 Virginia ranked 35th in state per-pupil education funding
•  The state has required more and more of cash-strapped localities in order to balance it’s budge, most recently offering localities a choice between choosing which services will be cut or sending the state check.
•  Virginia is just five years away from running out of money for new transportation construction.
•  As Virginia’s 57,867-mile state-maintained highway system ages, state officials said, it requires more effort — and, usually, money — to keep it in repair. According to VDOT:
•  1,116 lane-miles of Virginia Interstate highways are in poor condition.
•  5,032 lane-miles of the state’s primary highways are in poor condition.
•  27,166 lane-miles, or 34 percent, of the state’s secondary roads are in poor condition.
•  1,730 bridges are structurally deficient.