Opportunity Virginia
Standing on the steps of the State Capitol in Richmond just over two months ago, I pledged as Virginia’s 71st Governor to build “A Commonwealth of Opportunity” for all Virginians.
As I said then, and stands true today, opportunity starts with economic growth and job creation. The responsibility of government is to strengthen the free enterprise system and help the private sector to create jobs. Only then will we get our economy back on track.
This means making sure we are a business-friendly state so we attract job creators and entrepreneurs.
I’m pleased to report that we accomplished all three of our top priorities during my first legislative session. Working across party lines, a budget was passed that closes our historic revenue shortfall through fiscally responsible spending reductions, not through tax increases on hard working Virginians.
I’m also grateful to our state legislature for passing my job creation and education reform agendas with broad bipartisan support.
And I’m grateful to you. Without your support, hard work, and prayers over these last months and years, I would not have the great privilege of serving the Commonwealth of Virginia.
To be sure, the work does not end. That’s why today, I’m welcoming you to “Opportunity Virginia,” the political action committee devoted to advancing the goals we all share: creating new jobs and opportunities for every region of our Commonwealth, improving education and transportation, making Virginia the energy capitol of the East Coast, reining in government spending, and making government work better for you.
With your support, we have passed a responsible, balanced budget without raising taxes. We now have more tools at our disposal to attract more jobs and opportunities to our Commonwealth. We have passed meaningful education reform that provides opportunities for every Virginia student. We are on our way to exploring for and producing oil and natural gas off of Virginia’s coast. We have kept our commitment to the highest level of public safety.
We focused on Results-Oriented-Conservatism – bringing people together to get results, while standing firm on our conservative principles.
When Democrats in Congress passed a bill to force every American to buy health insurance, I said “not so fast.”
Expanding access to reasonably priced quality health care is a bipartisan goal and one we can all agree upon. However, this massive and complex piece of legislation that places new mandates on states is shocking to the American system of federalism. Most disconcerting is the provision mandating that every American must purchase health insurance or pay a fine.
To protect the citizens of our Commonwealth from this infringement on our constitutional rights, I signed a bipartisan bill, which prohibits the mandatory requirement that Virginians buy health insurance.
This law stands in stark contrast to what the U.S. Congress just passed, and I will continue to protect our freedom in Virginia and respect the rights our forefathers fought for in our Constitution.
With your continued support, we will never rest until the Commonwealth of Virginia is a Commonwealth of tremendous opportunity.
Bob McDonnell
Governor of Virginia
P.S. We have accomplished a lot, but there is much more work to do to create a Commonwealth of Opportunity for you, your family and for all Virginians. I appreciate your support for the Opportunity Virginia PAC, so that I may continue making good on the promises made in our campaign and when I took the oath on the Capitol steps. Thank you.
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