McDonnell Airs New Ad: “Jobs Governor”
Ad contrasts Creigh Deeds’ job-killing policies with Bob McDonnell’s positive vision to create new jobs and more opportunities across the Commonwealth
RICHMOND - Bob McDonnell, Republican gubernatorial nominee and former Attorney General of Virginia, is up with a new television ad today. “Jobs Governor,” highlights Bob McDonnell’s innovative ideas to create new jobs and more opportunities across Virginia, without raising taxes. McDonnell’s positive focus on creating new jobs and turning Virginia’s economy around has earned him endorsements from Virginia’s most prominent business organizations. The Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, National Federation of Independent Businesses, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, Virginia Realtors, Virginia Credit Unions, the Virginia Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors and The Northern Virginia Technology Council have all endorsed McDonnell in the 2009 campaign.
“Jobs Governor” will begin airing today in the Tri-Cities/Roanoke markets.
“Jobs Governor” Script:
Narrator:
“In a recession Creigh Deeds pushes new spending, supports a $1 billion tax increase and energy tax policy costing families $7800. Creigh Deeds job-killing policies.”
Bob McDonnell says:
“The most important thing we can do right now is to promote the economy and grow jobs. I want to see Virginia be the most business friendly state in America for small business. We need to make sure we are looking for new innovative ways to reduce the operating costs of government. Make it more user-friendly. That’ll be my priority every day, to be a jobs governor.”
$7,800: The Break Down
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1) Creigh Deeds has repeatedly voted for gas tax increases as a legislator. He has said he will sign a tax increase for transportation, but it cannot be a general fund tax. He has specifically noted the gas tax is NOT a general fund tax. And he talks often of the need for a “nexus” between transportation and the funding mechanism.
Creigh Deeds August 4, 2009: Hillsville
“There has to be nexus between…the sources of funding and transportation itself, and Suzie I can talk about them all day long but you know as well as I do what they are.”
2) The gas tax in Virginia produces roughly $50 million for every penny. It would take a 20 cent increase to produce $1 billion a year in new, annual revenue as Creigh has called for.
3) Based on numbers from the Virginia Department of Taxation, a .20 cent increase in the gas tax would cost the average Virginia household, with 2 cars, an average of $300 a year. The $1000 cost to Virginia families of this gas tax increase is a LOW estimate of what Virginians would pay with such a gas tax increase over the next four years.
4) While the Deeds campaign regularly uses a ten-year window for their fiscal projections when talking about McDonnell policies (Example: The Washington Post September 24, 2009) this ad merely projects out four years, the length of the next Governor’s term. If we had used the same window as the Deeds’ campaign this number would be, minimum, $3000.
5) The Cap and Trade number comes from the Obama Administration’s own projections on the cost of a Cap and Trade scheme once implemented. The number was contained in a United States Department of the Treasury report. The report found a yearly impact of $1,761 per household.
6) Governor Tim Kaine’s Climate Change Commission called on Congress to pass a Cap and Trade SCHEME. While the House Cap and Trade bill had an emissions cap of 17% by 2020, and the Senate bill introduced last week has a cap of 20% by 2020, the Governor’s Climate Change Commission actually called for a cap of 25% by 2020. A much more significant cap.
7) As a candidate for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination Creigh Deeds told the Sierra Club that he served on the Governor’s Climate Change Commission, and he “endorsed the many measures undertaken through our work.” As shown below one of the most prominent measures, repeated throughout the final report, is calling for a Cap and Trade scheme.
8) Creigh Deeds has, as a candidate for governor, supported calling on Congress to pass a Cap and Trade scheme, and one with a greater, and therefore more expensive, cap than the bills currently in the House and Senate.
Facts about: The Gas Tax
I. Deeds promotes raising $1 billion of “new revenue” (taxes) for transportation:
- “It’s going to create a fund of new money in excess of $1 billion a year Bruce to fund transportation. That money will be dedicated. It will behopefully a growing fund of money that will be dedicated to transportation and allow us to move forward.” - Creigh Deeds Fairfax Chamber of Commerce Debate(9/17/09) http://www.news8.net/news/stories/0909/659953.html
“Deeds said that the state must find $1 billion in new, annual revenues to pay for transportation.”
The Roanoke Times September 19th
http://www.roanoke.com/politics/wb/219539
II. Deeds supports tax increases to fund transportation:
“R.CREIGH DEEDS, the Democrat running for governor in Virginia, has now unequivocally committed himself to support higher taxes”
The Washington Post September 24th:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/23/AR2009092304136.html
“The biggest difference came on the question of funding transportation infrastructure. McDonnell touted his plan, which includes a $4 billion bond package, the privatization of liquor sales, the dedication of offshore drilling revenues and the use of general fund revenues.
Deeds said that the state must find $1 billion in new, annual revenues to pay for transportation.Deeds, who in recent days has repeatedly been questioned as to whether he would raise taxes as governor, was less specific about where that money would come from. He told the economic developers that he would ‘need to look at the right combination of sources that can get enough votes to pass’ and said he would consider anything outside of a transfer or tax increase linked to the general fund.
In a conversation with reporters after his speech, Deeds said he would consider tolls or a gasoline tax increase.”
The Roanoke Times September 19th
http://www.roanoke.com/politics/wb/219539“Deeds was asked: ‘If you’re governor and you get a bill that funds transportation in some form of either general or non-general fund tax increase, will you sign it?’
Deeds responded by saying he is committed to working with the next General Assembly to ‘get past the obstructionist viewpoints that have blocked progress on the issue’ and build consensus ‘around a series of ideas that allow us to fund transportation. And [sic] yes, I will sign that bill.’
‘What I will do and what I’ll commit to do right now is work with whomever is in the General Assembly after January. Because we’ve got to get past the obstructionist viewpoints that have blocked progress on the issue of transportation. What I will do is work with Democrats and Republicans to build consensus around a series of ideas that allow us to fund transportation, and yes, I will sign that bill.’”
Richmond Times August 12th
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/DEEDGATER12_20090812-141201/285537/“And I’ll sign a bipartisan bill with a dedicated funding mechanism for transportation—even if it includes new taxes.” - Creigh Deeds Washington Post Op-Ed: My Transportation Plan September 23 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/22/AR2009092202643.html
III. Deeds dismisses transportation revenue options other than gas tax increase:
1. ABC
“Deeds said McDonnell’s plan to privatize state-run ABC stores to generate revenue for transportation is not a viable option because proceeds from ABC sales are used to fund other programs. ‘How would those funds be replaced?’ he asked.’” Martinsville Bulletin August 9th http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/article.cfm?ID=20025
“Now I can lay out a bunch of proposals like Bob has that have already been disavowed by Democrats and Republicans by papers all over the state…ideas like selling off the ABC stores that have been disavowed by the General Assembly time and time again.”
- Creigh Deeds
Fairfax Chamber of Commerce Debate (9/17/09)
http://www.news8.net/news/stories/0909/659953.html
2. General Fund
- “All funding options are on the table except taking money from education and other obligations met by Virginia’s general fund.” - Creigh Deeds Washington Post Op-Ed: My Transportation Plan September 23th http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2009/09/22/AR2009092202643.html
I think I have laid out specifics. I’ve said that every funding mechanism possible is on the table for me except one, and that’s taking money out of the General Fund and taking money out of education. . . .”
Fairfax Chamber of Commerce Debate(9/17/09)
http://www.news8.net/news/stories/0909/659953.html
See also, “Post Fairfax Chamber of Commerce Debate Press Gaggle”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE6d36a2gso
3. Bonds
- “‘It was disappointing when we met with Creigh Deeds that not only didn’t he have a plan, he also said he was not in favor of using any general fund money for transportation,’‘’ said lawyer Stuart Mendelsohn, chamber chairman. ‘He objected to even using bonds for transportation and I don’t know how you are going to do any of this without bonds.’” Washington Post Blog September 23th http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2009/09/more_on_mcdonnells_fairfax_cha.html
4. Offshore Drilling
- “Deeds and Kaine question some of McDonnell’s assumptions, such as whether proceeds from offshore drilling will materialize.” Richmond Times Dispatch September29th http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/HOLTGATER29_20090929-111602/296242/
Facts About: Cap and Trade
I. As a Candidate for Governor Deeds Voiced his Support for the Idea of Cap and Trade
Survey Question: “What Measures Would You Promote to Address Climate Change in Virginia?”
Survey Answer: “As a member of Gov. Kaine’s Climate Change commission, I have endorsed the many measures undertaken through our work.” - Creigh Deeds
Sierra Club - Virginia’s 2009 Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates Survey
http://hrsierraclub.org/VirginiaGovernor.htm
WHAT WERE THOSE MEASURES?
- “IV. Recommendations
- A. Recommendations that affect GHG emissions . . .
- 2. Virginia will advocate for federal actions that will reduce net GHG emissions.
- 2A.The Governor should ask Congress to act as soon as possible to pass comprehensive climate change legislation that includes the following key provisions:
Establishes a mandatory economy-wide cap and trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;”
Governor’s Commission on Climate Change - Final Report (Dec. 2008)
Video: Creigh Deeds on Energy and the Governor’s Climate Change Commission
Democratic Primary Debate Danville April 28, 2009