Va. education, health care not safe from cuts

Key legislators say funding for public education and health care will not be immune from budget cuts when lawmakers return to Richmond in January to work on a state spending plan in the face of a worsening economy.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Colgan and Del. Phil Hamilton told reporters and editors attending the annual AP Day at the Capital Tuesday that lawmakers would not support tax increases. Instead, they said lawmakers must find areas to cut in order to balance the state’s budget.

Gov. Timothy Kaine will present his budget recommendations for the General Assembly’s money committees later this month.

Kaine already has ordered layoffs, cut college funding, closed some older prisons and postponed state employee raises to deal with a $2.5 billion government shortfall.