Moran to McDonnell: Invest in transportation without raiding schools or core services 12/13/2011 As Governor Bob McDonnell prepares to unveil his first and only budget the focus turns to how McDonnell will balance the budget in a tough economy while keeping the faith on education, public safety, social services, transportation and other core services. This is McDonnell's best opportunity to leave Virginia better than he found it for the families he serves and to walk away from his own precedent of gimmicks, half-measures and mounting debt. Unfortunately, as the Lynchburg News & Advance pointed out today, if McDonnell's latest transportation proposal is any preview of his budget approach we may not have seen the last of Governor McGimmick. Last week McDonnell proposed taking an additional .25 of a percent of Virginia's sales tax receipts to pay for transportation projects. Currently that money goes into the state's general fund, which pays for schools, public safety and other services that Virginia families need. The News & Advance chided the Governor for offering "a half-hearted solution," to an unprecedented transportation crisis: "McDonnell's proposals sound great, until you realize that he's not talking about increasing the size of the revenue pie, only dividing it differently. "Who would get less money under the governor's so-called solution to Virginia's transportation woes? Public schools? Police and law enforcement? Social services? And would localities be forced to make up the difference to the programs that are short-shrifted, in addition to sending millions of dollars annually to Richmond to balance the state's books?" DPVA Chairman Brian Moran released the following statement today urging McDonnell to fund key priorities like transportation without further damaging Virginia's ability to provide high quality services to families across the Commonwealth: "Virginia will not remain competitive in a global economy if we continue to slash funding for public education, public safety and other core services. It is critical for the Governor to restore funding to these key priorities, but instead he is searching for new ways to raid them in order to pay for roads. The general fund is not a piggy bank for politicians who want to avoid making tough decisions. "Virginia is facing an unprecedented transportation crisis and we need immediate and bold action in the form of a comprehensive plan funded by a dedicated and sustainable stream of revenue. "It's time for the Governor to stand and deliver on transportation and stop moving money from one pile to another when there simply isn't enough to pay for all of the things Virginians need." |
Allen/Romney Fight for the Rich at the Expense of the Middle Class Two Republican candidates would increase deficit with tax cuts for wealthy, but leave the middle class behind 10/12/2011 Despite their defense of tax cuts that benefit the wealthiest Americans and corporations, both Allen and Romney oppose a payroll tax cut that would help middle class families make ends meet. At last night’s Presidential debate, Republican front-runner Mitt Romney came out against President Obama’s proposed payroll tax cut, a middle class tax cut that would add $1,500 to an average worker’s pay. Instead, Romney argued for a permanent extension of the Bush-era tax cuts. In his first term in the Senate, George Allen voted for these tax cuts which mostly benefited the wealthy and have added trillions to the county’s debt. Many economists and small businesses owners agree that the biggest challenge they face right now is low consumer demand, but Allen and Romney oppose putting $1,500 in the pockets of working families. “George Allen and Mitt Romney are willing to fight for tax cuts for millionaires and big corporations, but they oppose a tax cut that would make things easier on working families and generate the demand that businesses need. Fifteen-hundred dollars may not mean much to Allen or Romney, but it would make a huge difference for thousands of Virginia families,” said DPVA Communications Director Brian Coy. Background: Allen Ridiculed Obama’s Jobs Act, Which Includes Payroll Tax Relief. An Allen campaign press release stated, “As Chairman Kaine and President Obama double down on the same failed stimulus policies that left Americans with 9% unemployment and massive debt, a new Bloomberg poll shows that an overwhelming 72% of Americans think the economy is headed in the wrong direction.” [Allen Campaign Press Release, 9/15/11] |
