Kaine to announce $1.3 billion in budget cuts tomorrow

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Legislative leaders say Gov. Tim Kaine plans to cut Virginia’s cash-strapped budget by about $1.3 billion.

Kaine is scheduled to announce the reduction to state spending in an address Wednesday morning to the General Assembly’s combined money committees.

It’s the fourth time in less than a year that the worst economy since the 1930s has forced Kaine to scale back appropriations for a two-year budget that runs through next June.

Lawmakers in both parties from the House and the Senate said Kaine’s decision reflects caution that the economy still has a long way to go to right itself.

The legislators spoke on the condition they not be identified because they did not wish to pre-empt Kaine’s announcement.