Gilmore hits Warner, senators on tax proposals

Former Virginia Gov. James S. Gilmore III yesterday denounced proposed tax increases, saying Gov. Mark Warner and some Republican senators tricked voters in pursuit of their tax-raising plans.

In an exclusive interview with The Washington Times, Mr. Gilmore, a Republican, blamed the state’s budget problems on the Democratic governor and state senators, including Sen. John H. Chichester, who is chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

“The public … thought they had an opportunity to send people to the legislature and to the governor’s mansion based on certain principles and positions and then they didn’t get what they voted for,” Mr. Gilmore said at his law office in the District.

Mr. Gilmore, 54, said the governor, Mr. Chichester and other pro-tax senators “hid their plans” and “deliberately misrepresented” themselves when they promised in their election campaigns to cut taxes.

All 40 Senate seats are up for election in November.

“The Senate and the governor are trying to play chicken with the House. This is very risky to the state,” Mr. Gilmore said. If there is no budget, he said, “it will absolutely be the Senate and the governor’s responsibility.”

Mr. Gilmore also said he wouldn’t rule out another run for governor.

“I might consider running again at some point,” said Mr. Gilmore, whose four-year term ended when Mr. Warner took office in 2002. Under Virginia law, governors cannot serve consecutive terms.

“I haven’t made any plan to do so,” he said, noting his focus now is on his corporate and technology law practice, and on his role as chairman of the Federal Homeland Security team.

In Richmond, House Republican leaders on Tuesday issued an ultimatum to Mr. Warner and the Senate to hold a voter referendum on tax increases, in hopes that the governor and the Senate would back off their tax increase plans.

Senate and House budget negotiators likely will meet today to start working on a compromise between their budgets, which are about $3.5 billion apart.

They have until midnight Tuesday to complete the process. The General Assembly adjourns March 13.

Mr. Gilmore said yesterday a referendum on taxes would allow the voters to decide whether they want to pay the government more.

The former governor said Virginians “have spoken loud and clear, over and over and over again” that they don’t want to pay higher taxes.

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