Governor looks to shape legacy in 2008
By Warren Fiske and Julian Walker
The Virginian-Pilot
RICHMOND
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine will begin etching his legacy tonight when he lays out an ambitious agenda to expand mental health services, early childhood education and gun control during his State of the Commonwealth speech to state legislators.
The speech will cap the opening day of this year's two-month General Assembly session.
It also will mark the midpoint in Kaine's four-year term as governor. The first half often was dominated by conditions Kaine inherited when he took office: a bruising legislative fight over transportation funding and a two-year state budget largely written by his predecessor, fellow Democrat Mark Warner.
This winter, lawmakers have shown little interest in reopening a transportation funding war, and Kaine finally had the chance to write his own state budget. The two-year, $78 billion spending proposal focuses on issues closest to his heart: education and health.
The governor's leadership skills will be sharply tested. Many Republican lawmakers say Kaine should not be expanding programs at a time when the economy is threatening to go into recession.
Kaine, 49, says his agenda is prudent and aggressive by reordering some spending priorities. During a recent interview, he said Virginia cannot "stand still," even during times of economic uncertainty.
Virginia is the only state that bars a governor from succeeding himself in office. Kaine was philosophical about the opportunities to leave an imprint during a single, four-year term.
"Sometimes governors choose issues, sometimes issues choose governors," he said.
Kaine's top priority, revamping the mental health system, was largely chosen for him in the aftermath of the April 16 shootings at Virginia Tech, when gunman Seung -Hui Cho killed 32 students and faculty members before committing suicide. Cho had a history of psychological problems and fell through the cracks in the state's underfunded mental health system.
Kaine has proposed a $42 million increase in mental health spending to expand emergency and outpatient care. He also wants to broaden the legal test under which a judge can order a Virginian to be committed involuntarily to an institution.
There appears to be broad legislative consensus behind Kaine's recommendations, although mental health advocates say the plan falls $25 million shy of needs.
Kaine said further improvements, perhaps, can be made in future budgets.
"I believe the cataclysm at Tech raised the profile of mental health in a way it wouldn't have been raised before," he said. "In that sense, we hope some good things can come out of the tragedy."
The governor's second priority is expanding pre-kindergarten classes for disadvantaged 4-year-olds. Currently, 12,000 children are enrolled. Kaine's $56 million proposal would allow the state to enroll 20,000.
The issue has a special meaning to Kaine, who says early intervention will reduce dropout rates and the number of children needing to repeat grades.
"I got into public life because of education issues," he said, recalling his 1994 election to Richmond's c ity c ouncil. "I continue to be very motivated on issues of education because it is truly the great lifter and leveler and it is also now the great economic development strategy."
Kaine also wants to expand medical and dental coverage to thousands of uninsured Virginians. And h e will ask legislators to put a $1.5 billion bond package before voters this fall for construction on college campuses.
Many Republicans object to steps Kaine is proposing to balance budgets. He wants to close almost half of a $640 million shortfall in the budget that ends June 30 by drawing money from an emergency reserve known as the state's rainy day fund.
Kaine also wants to defer $181 million in road projects from 2009 to 2010. He says the delay will free up money next year and that the road projects weren't ready to proceed until 2010.
Del. Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights, recently depicted Kaine as "desperate to leave a legacy" of improving pre-kindergarten education and health services, even to the point of expanding them with risky financial proposals.
"You can't want a legacy too badly and just reach for money any way you can," Cox said.
Sen. Frederick Quayle, R-Suffolk, is a bit more charitable.
"I think Gov. Kaine has been a reasonable, relatively effective governor," he said. "Maybe some of these charges of attempting to create a legacy are true, although I think Gov. Kaine is promoting things that he feels very strongly about and has even before he became governor."
Del. Kenny Alexander, D-Norfolk, described Kaine as a sincere politician taking advantage of perhaps his best opportunity to leave a lasting impact .
"He's full of energy, he's full of optimism, and he's aggressive," Alexander said. "He's doing the right things."
Warren Fiske, (804) 697-1565, warren.fiske@pilotonline.com
Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
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Page 6 to watch
The governor is scheduled to deliver his message to the l egislature at 7 tonight . It will air on WHRO.