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Spokesman: West Virginia Governor Will Veto Entire Budget
< < Back to ?p=160194CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – A spokesman says Democratic Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin will veto the Republican-led Legislature’s entire budget.
Spokesman Chris Stadelman said Friday that Tomblin will work with lawmakers on a plan that doesn’t mortgage West Virginia’s future.
Without a budget, the government shuts down July 1.
Tomblin has said he wouldn’t approve a plan dependent on one-time patches not addressing long-term problems. He offered several tax increase ideas.
GOP lawmakers passed a plan Thursday to cover a $270 million gap without raising taxes. It sweeps $245 million in one-time cash, including $183 million from reserves.
Both political parties traded expected election-year blame.
Tomblin called lawmakers into session May 16. It lasted 13 days and cost taxpayers $455,000. Lawmakers didn’t pass a budget in the allotted 60-plus-days starting in January.
Lawmakers return June 12.