Despite Gov. Mark R. Warner's challenging first year in office, he still has plans for his next three.
Warner laid out his plans for the coming year in the State of the Commonwealth Address on Jan. 8, proposing what he describes as a reform agenda for the state's government.
The speech marked the beginning of the General Assembly's 46 day legislative session, which likely will center around discussion of budget issues, tax policy, consolidation of state agencies and restrictions on abortions.
In the speech, Warner, who cut funding for higher education in recent months as a result of state budget deficits, vowed to support both K-12 and higher education in the upcoming year.
"I consider no priority to be higher than our support for public schools," he said. "If you send me a budget that cuts funding for education, I will not sign."
Republicans responding to Warner's speech also said they plan to support education.
"We are committed to maintaining K-12," said Republican Whip Jeannemarie Devolites.
Warner's spokeswoman Ellen Qualls said the promise not to sign a budget with cuts for education relates specifically to K-12 education, but that he does not intend to propose substantial new cuts to higher education.
"We must renew our commitment to our colleges and universities," Warner said.
Brooke Bazlin, a legislative assistant to Senate Majority Leader Walter Stosch, said General Assembly Republicans also would try to avoid cuts to higher education.
Warner called for the General Assembly to take up a variety of reforms to the way state government is run.
Many of the reform measures Warner suggested in the address included proposals designed to help solve the state's budget problems and prevent future budget crises.
Warner called for quicker restatements of budget shortfalls, consolidation of several state agencies, limits on the duration that boards and commissions stay in existence and more reporting on the expense of transportation projects.
Qualls said Warner's reform agenda was designed to build trust in the state government, but also was necessitated by the state's budget problems.
Warner has "had to reshape his expectations on what he'll achieve in office," Qualls said. "The 'reform governor' concept is really what you do when you don't have any money."
Bazlin said Republicans are willing to work with Warner to solve the state's budget problems.
After Warner's speech, Devolites and Sen. Stephen Newman, R-Lynchburg, offered the Republican response.
Newman called for the General Assembly to exercise fiscal restraint in the upcoming session.
Bazlin said Republicans would try to repeal the state's estate tax as part of their fiscal plan.
"2003 will be a year for our legislature to prove that old tax-and-spend adage is wrong," Newman said, "In the end we'll not have bigger government, but we'll have better government."
Republicans also plan to work for laws banning "partial-birth" abortion procedures and requiring parents to consent for minors to have abortions, Newman said.
Last year, Warner vetoed a bill banning partial birth abortion.
Warner vetoed the bill because he thought it "didn't do enough to protect the health of the mother" and that it would likely be ruled unconstitutional, Qualls said.
She added Warner was withholding judgement on both the abortion bills, but that they are not among his priorities.
"We're not looking to change abortion laws in this administration," she said.
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