April 6, 2004

Warner talks dollars, sense and strategy with VCU students

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By Joe Kuttenkuler

April 5 - About 40 VCU students attending an evening government and politics class got a personal briefing from Gov. Mark Warner on everything from tuition for higher education, to ongoing state strategies to save money, to the sense of urgency he feels to bring a resolution to the General Assembly's current budget impasse.

Gov. Mark R. Warner told VCU government and politics students he is confident a state budget will be drafted soon that meets his administrations long-term commitments and allows Virginia to keep its Triple-A bond rating. On ways institutions of higher learning can help ease the state's money troubles, Warner emphasized the need for greater focus on graduation rates, not just enrollment. "Our state schools do a good job offering incentives to get young people to college. Making sure they graduate can have a remarkable effect on the economy through added earning power," said Warner.
Gov. Mark R. Warner told VCU government and politics students he is confident a state budget will be drafted soon that meets his administrations long-term commitments and allows Virginia to keep its Triple-A bond rating. On ways institutions of higher learning can help ease the state's money troubles, Warner emphasized the need for greater focus on graduation rates, not just enrollment. "Our state schools do a good job offering incentives to get young people to college. Making sure they graduate can have a remarkable effect on the economy through added earning power," said Warner.

"Everyone recognizes that we need revenue. We need to develop a plan and approve a budget that meets our needs, makes the tax code fair and allows us to keep our Triple-A bond rating," said Warner who is hopeful a House-Senate compromise will be forged in the next few days. "I know you and your families are feeling the tuition pinch."

As the leader of an administration that has had to deal with the largest budget shortfall in the state's history and has administered more cuts than any before, Warner told students he hopes his 20-years of business experience can help set Virginia on the road to recovery by bringing business principles to government.

Warner cited examples of that recipe that are already being put into practice. Consolidating technology services, changing the way goods and services are procured by combining the state's purchasing power, and changing how government deals with its real estate portfolio by combining offices, are ways he hopes to turn the negative economic tide.

Warner also told students he hopes to make significant strides in education using the same principals. He already has received a grant and interest from corporate giant Microsoft to fund his proposal to educate "turn around specialists" that would go into ailing school systems and assist them with reform...a concept common in business, but foreign in education.

Many of the students smiled and nodded as Warner spoke of making more out of a student's final year of high school. "I'm familiar with senioritis," he agreed. He said one solution is to offer a full semester of college credit during the final year of high school and industry certification for those not planning to attend a four-year college.

Warner told students that bringing business principles to government is the key to improving Virginia's budget woes and charting a successful financial coarse. He spoke for about 30 minutes before answering questions. Photos by Allen Jones, VCU Creative Services
Warner told students that bringing business principles to government is the key to improving Virginia's budget woes and charting a successful financial coarse. He spoke for about 30 minutes before answering questions. Photos by Allen Jones, VCU Creative Services

Following Warner's 30-minute informal lecture, he took questions from students. Here are a few:

A compromise is needed to settle the budget yet you put forth the same budget even after the Senate made changes to their package. Why?
I had just called them back into session and felt my budget was still a good mid-point from which to start. They put forth a very aggressive budget to begin with.

Is there any future to having a re-elected governor any time soon?
I think it's crazy that we are the last state with a one-term governor. I actually proposed changing it [the law] last year and it got voted down. Where it would really make a difference is in government operations - some changes take time and it just makes sense for an administration to see them through completely. You can promise a lot over two years when you're in government - sometimes that's not a good thing.

What amount of collusion went on between you and the Senate with regard to the budget?
I shared with the Senate what I was hoping to do. As I said, they proposed a very aggressive budget. The bottom line is that it makes no sense to create a plan that still has us in a financial ditch even three years down the road.

What do you hope your legacy will be?
If a kid from Martinsville or Grundy or Norton, Va. could live, work and be successful in the same community they grew up in, that would mean the education system and the economy in those towns was successful. I'd like to be the governor that makes that happen. I'm proud to be a democrat, but now that I have the job - I want to be a good governor for everyone.

Dr. Robert Holsworth, director of VCU's School of Government and Public Affairs, and director of the VCU Center for Public Policy, invited Warner to speak to his class.