Fact Checker

For some time now, state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D) has been bashing Robert F. McDonnell, his Republican opponent in the governor's race, for wanting to raid K-12 education funds to fix the transportation mess in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.

Deeds's campaign says McDonnell will take $5.4 billion from schools to pay for roads.

In effect, Deeds is arguing that every extra dollar from the general fund spent on transportation will be one dollar less spent on schools.

Tucker Martin, a spokesman for McDonnell's campaign, says that by Deeds's logic, Deeds's own initiatives would tap the general fund and therefore cut money from schools, unless he raises taxes or cut programs or both. Martin also says the Deeds camp is ignoring the new sources of funding McDonnell would use.

It seems fair to question whether McDonnell's plan, including privatizing liquor stores, would raise sufficient money for roads. Deeds also makes a reasonable argument that steering money to roads would require shifting money from schools.

But to argue that using more money from the general fund on roads automatically means shortchanging education seems like a bit of a stretch. This is especially true if, as McDonnell hopes, the budget pie could grow enough to fatten all the slices.

Melissa Nehrbass, president of the nonpartisan Virginia Congress of Parents and Teachers, agrees.

"I don't think I could say I would guarantee [school funding] would be cut. But something is going to get cut unless there is a way to increase the size of the general fund," she said.