Letter writer objects to comments
by former Gov. Warner's spokesman
In a recent article in your publication, former Gov. Mark Warner’s spokesman Kevin Hall was cited as saying “that taxes had to be increased because Gilmore’s fiscal policies had left the state in a fiscal ditch.” This is a myth that Mark Warner continues to promulgate and it is time to set the record straight! When Mark Warner took office as governor he not only inherited a balanced budget (the Virginia Constitution by definition prohibits budget deficits) but he inherited a fully funded $1 billion rainy day fund, the largest cash reserve in Virginia’s history, which under former Gov. Jim Gilmore was the key component in preserving the state’s pristine credit rating (AAA) during tough post-9/11 economic times.
Even with no growth in revenues because of a slowing national economy, in fiscal year 2001, guided by his fiscally conservative principles, Gov. Gilmore not only cut spending and balanced the budget, he left office with a record $1 billion in Virginia’s state savings account, the rainy day fund. Gov. Gilmore deposited more into that account than any other governor in Virginia history. Gov. Gilmore’s final budget was not only balanced but it still gave hard working Virginians substantial tax relief. In 2002, the entire country experienced a national recession and practically every state had to reassign its spending priorities to balance its budget. This revenue decline should have been a signal to Gov. Mark Warner to reduce spending; however, he instead chose to raise taxes on Virginians and raid the rainy day fund rather than adopt a fiscally conservative policy of cutting wasteful government spending. There was no deficit and no shortfall, unless one defines it as the difference between state revenues and what Mark Warner wanted to spend.
Ana Gamonal
Communications Director
Jim Gilmore for Senate Campaign
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