Virginia Senate Republican Caucus

As the 2009 session began the news media reported that Chesterfield County Schools would have to layoff about 500 employees if the state didn’t give them more money.  Similar news stories were reported from school districts throughout Virginia.  Then the Federal Stimulus package was reported and school systems across the state dropped their plans to cut their budgets.

Regrettably, employees in the private sector were not so lucky. Factories cut shifts, stores cut employees, businesses closed; thousands of private and small business employees were left jobless.

Now roll forward to 2010. According to Chesterfield County Schools, this year they may have to layoff 500 employees. There are also reports that state wide school systems might have to lay off up to 10,000 employees. And still there are thousands upon thousands left jobless in the private sector. In 2007 Virginia’s unemployment rate was 3 percent, or roughly 123,000 people.  As of December 2009, the latest data we have, the unemployment rate across the state is 6.7 percent. Over 150,000 have lost their jobs or businesses.

I write this after a senator spoke on the floor last week implying that if we do not raise taxes then we have no compassion.  He is wrong. I believe all legislators have compassion for our citizens and sympathy for those that face losing their jobs, whether they work in the schools or in the private sector.

Likewise we also have sympathy for the thousands of employees of private businesses who have lost their jobs in the last year and a half.  We have sympathy for businesses that operated on little or no income for the last year. We also have sympathy for those businesses that have had to close their doors after years of operation.

The question is not how much or little compassion and sympathy we as legislators have, nor is the question how much compassion we have for teachers.

In my opinion government decisions should be made based on what is best, not for the individual but rather what is best for society.

Currently we are in a recession.  We must respect those that create jobs and pay the taxes necessary to provide the services that are needed to care for those who cannot care for themselves; the same taxes that protect our loved ones and teach our young people. To show less compassion for those who pay the bills is simply wrong. I believe that to raise taxes during a recession does not show compassion, but rather shows favoritism of some at the expense of others.

As always I want to hear from you.  You can call me at 804-698-7515.  You can go to my website www.frankmruff.com. You can email me at district15@sov.state.va.us.  You can mail letters or notes to P.O. Box 396, Richmond, VA  23218.  You can also fax me at 804-698-7651.