Virginia Small Business Owners Respond to National Union Attack on Bob McDonnell
Virginia Small Business Owners Respond to National Union Attack on Bob McDonnell
Richmond- Small business owners from across the Commonwealth responded today to the negative ad against Bob McDonnell launched by a national partisan group funded by big national unions.
“I wish to commend Bob McDonnell for standing firm with Virginia’s business community. He fully understands that the perceived short-term benefits associated with this proposal are not worth the long-term consequences. Sadly, the Democrats are using this issue for political gain by making it sound like everyday workers are being ignored, but that’s just not true. Bob McDonnell wants to ensure that Virginia’s unemployed have jobs! In order for me and other businesses to create and maintain jobs, we can’t afford to cover new rate increases when the Federal give-away dollars run out.”
Wayne Sale, President & CEO of Health First, Richmond
“Virginia voters have a simple choice. Bob McDonnell stands with every business group in the state in wanting to keep Virginia competitive and prosperous. The national Democrats who have received union money for years, now feel indebted to them, so they stand with big unions who want to trample on Virginia’s pro-jobs environment. Simple choice; this small business owner stands proudly with Bob McDonnell.”
Debbie Donehey, Co-Owner of the Griffin Tavern, Flint Hill
“My family came to America because we wanted to live the American Dream. We decided to live in Virginia because of its strong pro-business policies which have enabled us to succeed and start our own small business. Today’s attack on Bob McDonnell by an outside national group who is funded by big unions will not deter small business owners. We know what it will take to grow small businesses and create jobs. And we also know that Bob McDonnell will stand with us and keep Virginia a great place to live the American Dream.”
James Cheng, former owner of CMH, recognized as fastest growing business in Virginia in 1999. Member of Governor Warner’s Economic Strategic Planning Council in 2002. Currently mentors small business owners. McLean
“Bob McDonnell has served Virginia as a prosecutor, delegate and Attorney General. He is a friend to Virginia’s workers and small business owners, and he understands that our future prosperity depends on our ability to think long term, and to keep our pro-jobs environment intact. That is why he has proposed a common sense solution to the unemployment stimulus issue: Have Congress remove the requirement that changes be permanent, and let the states take the money now, and return to their old system when the federal funding runs out. In short, no unfunded federal mandates that hurt job creation. That makes sense. Bob McDonnell is right.”
Rhoda Elliott, Owner of Bill’s Barbeque, Richmond
“National Democrats have taken over $1 million from national unions and turned it into a big negative TV campaign against Bob McDonnell. Why? Because he is the only candidate in this race who opposes Card Check. And he is the only candidate in this race who listened to Virginia’s job creating small business owners who said that an unfunded federal mandate would crush our ability to create new jobs. Bob stood with Virginia’s small business owners and Virginia’s workers. That is why he is leading in the polls, it is why this national big union funded group is attacking him, and it is why he is the man we need as our next Governor.”
Jenifer Jackson, Comfort Inn, Harrisonburg
“The last thing I need, as a small business owner who lives in Virginia, is a national group funded by big unions telling me who we should vote for. I love Virginia because we have a pro-business and pro-jobs environment. This attack today by a bunch of groups that want to turn Virginia into the next Michigan should offend every citizen of the Commonwealth. Bob McDonnell has devoted his adult life to public service, and he will be the next great job-creating Governor of Virginia.”
Michael Coakley, CJ Coakley Company, Arlington
“I’m a small business owner and I know first-hand how tough this economy is. I’m doing my best to hang on, and to keep my employees on payroll. What I don’t need is a short term handout from the federal government that later becomes a significant burden on employers like me when that funding runs out. I’ll be the one paying for it, and it will mean I can’t bring on new workers in the years ahead. Bob McDonnell is right, the federal government should remove the requirement that expansion of these unemployment benefits be permanent, and let us help our workers now, while not hurting our ability to create new jobs in the years ahead. “
Robin Tuite, Bella Monte of Virginia Inc., Virginia Beach
“Unlike the big unions that funded today’s attack, I live in Virginia. And I have created jobs here. Bob McDonnell is the only candidate in this race opposed to Card Check, which would be a job killer. And the big unions hate that. He is the only candidate in this race who doesn’t want to see small business owners like me get stuck with dramatically higher payroll taxes, which will hurt my business down the line. Apparently the big unions don’t like that either. Bob McDonnell is standing up for Virginia’s workers and Virginia’s small business owners, and we are standing with Bob McDonnell.”
Suzy Kelly, Chief Executive Officer, JoKell, Chesapeake
“I’m a small business owner and this is the toughest economic climate I seen in my 30 years in the lumber and building materials industry. We are doing everything we can to hold on and most importantly provide a paycheck every week for our employees. Should these changes to unemployment benefits remain permanent, the increase in my tax burden will prevent me from hiring new workers in the future. This type of tax hurts us whether we are profitable or not. In tough times we simply cannot afford another tax that impacts businesses when we are already losing money by trying to keep our employees on the job. Is that what we really want? I don’t want that and neither does Bob McDonnell. He understands that for the economy to turn around - small business owners like me - need to be able to grow and expand our businesses.”
George E. Haw III, President of Ruffin & Payne Inc., Richmond
“Quite frankly, the last thing my employees and I need is more government hand outs and entitlements. Each time the government comes to help, the American worker loses. This money means less jobs and a prolonging of this depression. Bob McDonnell is right, the federal government should remove the requirement that the expansion of unemployment benefits be permanent, and let us help our workers now, while not hurting our ability to create new jobs. “
David W. Lee, President, Lee & Associates, Rockingham County
“Bob has taken strong stands against Card Check, and for Virginia’s small business owners. He understands our economy, and he cares about the working people of Virginia. He will be a great Governor.”
Thomas Inman, President and CEO, Virginia Home Medical, Newport News
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Add AUTHORIZED BY BOB MCDONNELL. PAID FOR BY MCDONNELL FOR GOVERNOR.