Letter to the editor | No shortfall on Gilmore's watch

IN THE ONLINE ARTICLE "Warner: Nation at
'critical tipping point' " [Jan. 9], your publication
took former Virginia
Gov. Mark Warner at his
word and printed that
"when he took office in
2001, he inherited a
$6 billion budget shortfall."

Let's set the facts
straight. When Warner
took office as governor, he not only inherited
a balanced budget ? the Virginia
Constitution by definition prohibits budget
deficits ? but he inherited a fully funded
$1 billion Rainy Day Fund, the largest cash
reserve in Virginia's history. Under former
Gov. Jim Gilmore, the state preserved its
pristine credit rating (AAA) during tough
economic times after the
2001 terrorist attacks.

Gilmore not only cut
spending and balanced
the budget, he deposited
more money into the
Rainy Day Fund than any
other governor in Virginia
history. Gilmore's final budget was balanced,
and he gave Virginians substantial tax relief.

Ana Gamonal

Communications Director
Jim Gilmore for Senate Campaign