Growls

On Monday, USA Today reported that spending by  state and local government was cushioning the national economy. Well, it seems members of the Virginia General Assembly have been doing their share for the past 10 years by plundering Virginia’s taxpayers, according to yesterday’s Richmond Times-Dispatch, which reported, “A legislative study says Virginia’s budget has ballooned by about 80 percent in the past decade.” And that’s not adjusted for either inflation or population growth.

But let’s go directly to the source, and not depend on the media for the news. The “key findings” in the report of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) draft report (requires .pdf), “Review of State Spending: 2008 Update,” are:

• “Over the past decade, Virginia’s operating budget has increased 80 percent."

• “Adjusting for the effects of inflation (which increased 29 percent between 1999 and 2008) and population growth (Virginia’s population grew 12 percent over the period), the budget increased by 23 percent, an average annual increase of 2.4 percent."

• “Budget growth remains concentrated in a few State agencies and programs. Eight of the 153 agencies accounted for nearly 70 percent of all budget growth over the past ten years. Eleven of the 204 budget programs also accounted for about 70 percent of all budget growth during the period."

• “General fund budget growth was also dominated by a few large agencies, reflectng policy decisions and initiatives of the Governor and General Assembly during the period."

Never fear how to read that news, though. The liberal editorialists at the Roanoke Times warn us to be prepared to hear that “80 percent” figure a lot, beginning the editorial:

“Eighty percent. Virginians should brace themselves to hear that figure a lot, especially once the General Assembly convenes next year. Lawmakers, bloggers and activists who wage a crusade against government will be sure everyone knows state spending grew 80 percent over the last decade. They just won't explain that the number is recklessly simplistic.” (emphasis added)

Actually, the Roanoke Times abuses the issuance of JLARC’s draft report in an attempt to bludgeon "lawmakers, bloggers, and activists" opposed to higher taxes and bigger government. After all, the more important JLARC finding is that the budget grew 2.4%% over and above inflation and population growth each and every one of the past 10 years. Since “sustainability” is a liberal mantra, the Roanoke Times editorialists should know that such budget growth is not sustainable.