Gov. Kaine says Southside VEC offices to stay open

By REBECCA BLANTON
Register & Bee
Published: March 27, 2008

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine had good news for Martinsville and Danville residents during a town hall meeting Wednesday night at Martinsville High School.

Kaine said that both the Martinsville and Danville offices of the Virginia Employment Commission will remain open.

The governor had said in the past that both offices might be closed due to budget cuts.

Kaine acknowledged that there will be two VEC closings announced soon, but that Danville and Martinsville are safe for now. He said he couldn’t guarantee that there wouldn’t be any future cuts.

Other VEC offices may not be closed entirely, but will be moved into other facilities in an attempt to centralize services and save money, Kaine said Wednesday.

While the governor stopped shy of comparing his vision for the state to looking into a crystal ball, he did tell more than 100 attendees that based on initiatives and plans he has, that he was looking positively at the state’s future.

Kaine was participating in one of a series of town hall meetings he has scheduled across the state. The purpose of the meetings is to discuss his budget, legislation passed during the 2008 General Assembly session and to answer questions from the public.

There was no shortage of questions. Kaine was asked about everything from his recent budget cuts to the future of aging residents and his reasons for vetoing recent concealed weapons bills.

He defended his decision on recent gun legislation that will allow commonwealth’s attorneys with concealed weapons permits to carry their guns into restaurants and establishments that serve alcohol, but to not allow residents with concealed weapons permits to do the same.

Kaine said his decision was based on extensive conversations and feedback from law enforcement officials, who contend the proposal posed an increased risk to police and law enforcement officers across the state.

Concerns were raised about everything from cuts that will affect programs serving the aging to Henry County Sheriff Lane Perry’s worries that state cuts will impact law enforcement numbers as well.

“I’m in my second round of state cuts,” Kaine told the audience. “Forty-nine percent of the budget is discretionary funding for local governments. I can’t cut the state budget without touching local budgets as well.”

Contact Rebecca Blanton at (434) 791-7984 or .