Bob McDonnell's Budget Amendments Seek to Defund Public Broadcasting and Slash Mental Health Care

Apparently since PBS television specials, educational programs and public broadcast radio are not popular with the Bible thumping, gun carrying, rednecks that increasingly comprise the GOP base in Virginia, Gov. Bob McDonnell has asked the Virginia General Assembly to amend the state's budget to cut funding for public broadcasting and set spending on a trajectory to cease all state funding within four (4) years. Also included in McDonnell's budget cut targets are some medicaid mental health prescription coverage, services to emotionally disturbed children, and health care to low income Virginians - apparently examples of McDonnell's version of "compassionate conservatism. Like so many self-anointed and self-congratulatory "Godly Christians," McDonnell wears his religion on his sleeve, but when it comes time to act he kicks those who are down and out in a most decidedly un-Christian manner. As for PBS fans, They had best get on the telephone and call, write and e-mail their members of the House of Delegates and state Senators. Here are some highlights from the Richmond Times Dispatch:
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Gov. Bob McDonnell is gunning for Big Bird. The Republican's proposed revisions to Virginia's pending two-year, $83 million budget would put the state on a four-year trajectory to end aid to public radio and television stations -- long an objective of the GOP-dominated House of Delegates. McDonnell wants the General Assembly, which returns to Richmond on Wednesday to put the finishing touches on legislation passed this winter, to eliminate $592,835 for public broadcasting in the second half of the 2010-12 spending cycle.
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McDonnell, who is approaching the 100-day mark of his fledgling administration, is recommending overall spending increases of $42 million. They would be financed with reductions totaling $51 million, including nearly $10 million in cuts in services for emotionally disturbed children.

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The Senate could prove the last line of defense against McDonnell amendments. For his revisions to be included in the budget, they require majority votes in both chambers. In the smaller body -- the Senate -- that means McDonnell may have to persuade members of the Democratic majority to break ranks on issues important to the party, such as health care and education.
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McDo*nnell, however, may get the last word. Under Virginia's constitution, the govenor has an item veto that allows him to strike features he deems offensive from the budget. Overriding a veto is difficult, requiring a two-thirds vote in each body.
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Sen. R. Edward Houck, D-Spotsylvania, who is Colgan's second-in-command on the budget-writing panel, and Del. Riley E. Ingram, R-Hopewell, a member of the Appropriations Committee, are joining mental-health groups in pressing lawmakers to reject the McDonnell proposal.

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Previously, the Times Dispatch had reported that McDonnell's budget raises taxes on low income families while give the wealthy a free pass (Taliban Bob apparently sees himself as a sort of reverse Robin Hood). Here are highlights:

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The state's new budget includes a little-noticed provision that raises taxes on low-income Virginians, according to a report by a think tank chiding political leaders for favoring business over the poor.

The Commonwealth Institute said the two-year, $83 billion budget, which takes effect July 1, trims a tax break that benefits families with incomes below $49,000 and three or more children. The organization's executive director, Michael Cassidy, said yesterday that the provision represents a violation of Gov. Bob McDonnell's no-new-taxes pledge.