What this means to Virginia...
Virginians need only look to their state and local budgets, their politics, their schools and highways and their military bases to measure the impact of President Barack Obama's first 100 days.Budgets
Recession-wracked Virginia is closing a hole in its two-year, $77billion budget with more than $1.5 billion in cash from Obama's plan to kick-start the economy with a gush of federal spending.
More than $4.4 billion in stimulus funds is being steered to a range of programs, most notably transportation, education and health care.
Public schools are receiving $365 million, most of which will offset deep cuts. More than $1.2 billion is available for Medicaid, which provides health care for the aged and poor. More than $700 million will be funneled to transportation projects, principally highway repaving and mass transit.
The city of Richmond is in line for $11 million, most of which will finance improvements to Main Street Station in Shockoe Bottom.
But some stimulus money has been left in Washington. The Republican-controlled House of Delegates earlier this month rejected $125 million to expand eligibility for unemployment benefits.
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