FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 30, 2011

Local Leaders Announce Support for George Allen 

Henrico, VA –Today, local leaders from around the Commonwealth announced their endorsement of George Allen for U.S. Senate, citing his strong record of success in cutting taxes, reducing the size of government, fighting unfunded mandates and working alongside local officials to implement pro-growth policies that promote the entrepreneurial spirit.

“The years of out of control spending in Washington have to stop. We need smaller government, not more regulations. We need to grow jobs, not deficits. We need stronger national and regional competitiveness to create jobs, not suppression of the free market. George Allen gets this and this is why Virginia needs George Allen in the U.S. Senate.” – Alicia Hughes, Alexandria Councilwoman

“Senator George Allen has been a staunch supporter of the literal meaning of our Constitution and Bill of Rights.  He has been a fiscal conservative and strong supporter of Virginia’s federal facilities and military bases.  Washington needs this kind of leadership to help us to continue to climb out of the recession.”   – Stan Clark, Board of Supervisors, Isle of Wight County

“Governor Allen led Virginia with distinction as Governor and will bring common sense problem-solving skills to the U.S. Senate. Governor Allen understands the Jeffersonian principles upon which this country was founded, and upon which it can grow and prosper in the 21st Century.  I look forward to helping him return to the U.S. Senate.” - John C. Cook, Braddock District Supervisor, Fairfax County

“In the proud history of the great Commonwealth of Virginia, George Allen stands out as one of our greatest and most accomplished leaders. We need him back in the United States Senate to fight for Virginia families and jobs, to vote against runaway government spending, and to keep America safe. Loudoun County will be a key battleground in next year’s Senate race, and George Allen has my full support.”  - Scott York, Chairman, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors

“The most dynamic and effective leader with whom I have ever worked and I am excited to elect George Allen to the U.S. Senate.”  - Woody Harris, Emporia City Council

“It is with great pleasure that I enthusiastically endorse Governor George Allen in his bid to represent Virginia in the United States Senate. As a county Supervisor, I know firsthand how we have to watch every dollar that we spend while balancing the needs of public safety and our schools. With our eye to the federal government, our Board is very aware that reckless spending at the federal level will have negative impacts on our local government. Governor Allen has a record both as Governor and as Senator of sound management and leadership. More importantly, he is the voice we need today as we face very challenging economic times.” - Susan Stimpson, Stafford County Supervisor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 29, 2011

Let’s Review – Chairman Kaine’s Support for Tax Hikes

Henrico, VA – Chairman Kaine is scrambling to defend his support for job-crushing tax hikes to pay for another nearly $450 billion stimulus and the continuation of the same failed policies that he championed as President Obama’s hand-picked Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. 

After telling Americans for nearly three years that the first $800 billion failed stimulus was working and the economy was on the right track, despite more than 30 consecutive months of unemployment over 8 percent – Chairman Kaine’s rhetoric is changing, but his support for job-crushing tax hikes is the same.    

Let’s review Chairman Kaine’s recent political posturing on tax hikes:

First, Chairman Kaine tried to use his Washington political spin to convince Virginians that his support for eliminating the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts shouldn’t count as a tax increase.

• Tim Kaine: “Letting the Bush tax cuts expire … that’s not a tax increase.” (NBC News 12, 9/26/11)

But when he was serving as President Obama’s hand-picked Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, he said an extension of the tax cuts would save millions of hard working Americans from a tax increase.

• Tim Kaine on President Obama’s Extension of the 2001 and 2003 Tax Cuts: “Millions of hard-working Americans can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing that their taxes will not increase next year.” (Chairman Tim Kaine, “House Passes Middle-Class Tax Cut Bill And Sends It To President Obama,” Press Release, 12/17/10)

Then on Monday, Chairman Kaine tried to say he opposed President Obama’s capital gains tax hikes:

• Washington Post: “In an interview with NBC12 Monday in Richmond, Kaine said he has ‘not supported’ increasing capital gains taxes, a relatively rare instance where he has disagreed with Obama on a policy proposal.” (Washington Post, 9/28/11)

But as Chairman of the DNC, Kaine strongly supported President Obama’s FY 2012 budget, which called for higher taxes on capital gains.

• Tim Kaine praised President Obama’s FY 2012 budget, which increased capital gains taxes from 15% to 20%. “President Obama’s 2012 budget proposal is a blueprint for success …” (Democratic National Committee, “Chairman Tim Kaine’s Statement On President Obama’s 2012 Budget,” Press Release, 2/14/11)
  • “The president’s plan would raise the tax rate on capital gains and dividends to 20 percent from the 15 percent levels imposed by the Bush administration.”  (Sam Stein, “Obama Wants Higher Capital Gains Tax Rate: Too Far Or Not Enough?” Huffington Post, 2/26/09)

Chairman Kaine has a long history of trying to push job-crushing tax hikes to fund his and President Obama’s big-spending agenda – even in a weak economy.  As Governor, Tim Kaine proposed $4 billion in tax hikes while Virginia lost 100,000 jobs.  Virginians can’t afford more of the same failed policies that left Americans with 9% unemployment, massive debt and zero jobs created in August. 

“Chairman Kaine has said ‘we need a job creation strategy,’ but so far all he has proposed have been job-crushing tax hikes to pay for the same failed policies that he’s been defending for the last two and a half years at the Democratic National Committee,” said Bill Riggs, Allen campaign spokesman.  “We’ve already seen the results of Tim Kaine’s first $800 billion failed stimulus, and now he’s asking Virginians to pay for another one?  Chairman Kaine has a long record of pushing for higher taxes in a down economy and these are just the same Washington policies we already know don’t work.  It’s clear that Chairman Kaine wants to be Senator for President Obama and his liberal allies in Washington, George Allen will be Senator for Virginia.”

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