FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 26, 2011

 

Chairman Kaine: Sound Economic Management?!?!

Henrico, VA – Just days after he announced his support for President Obama’s $1.5 trillion tax hike – which includes another nearly $450 billion stimulus package, the Kaine campaign attempted to tout Chairman Kaine’s record as an example of “fiscal responsibility” and “sound economic management” – a record that includes unemployment above 9%, massive new debt and what could be the largest proposed tax hike ever in American history.

Chairman Kaine may think $1.5 trillion in higher taxes and a new $450 billion stimulus package is “fiscally responsible,” but the Virginia families and businesses that will be forced to foot the bill see it for what it is: another job-crushing Washington spending spree that will grow government, not the private sector. 

The truth is Chairman Kaine’s policies are the same policies we’ve seen in Washington since President Obama was elected.  And they’re the same failed policies that Virginia families and businesses can’t afford more of.  The fact that Chairman Kaine thinks Washington has demonstrated sound economic management, shows just how out-of-touch he’s become.  This isn’t surprising coming from the same person who spent nearly three years trying to convince Americans that the first $800 billion failed stimulus was working and our economy was on the right track. 
As Chairman of the Democratic National Committee Tim Kaine Supported …

• The First $800 Billion Failed Stimulus. 
• $1.5 Trillion Government Takeover of Healthcare
• Record-Setting Annual Trillion Dollar Deficits
• Big Labor Union Protests in Wisconsin that Shut Down Schools

During his time at the DNC, Americans lost over 2.8 million jobs, unemployment stayed above 8% and record-setting, annual trillion dollar deficits became the norm.  And when Kaine was Governor, he pushed for $4 billion in tax hikes, even as Virginia lost over 100,000 jobs.  He cut higher education, shut-down 19 rest stops while sitting on hundreds of millions of unspent funds, and repeatedly dipped into the State’s Rainy Day Fund to meet budget shortfalls, withdrawing over $1 billion.

“It’s ironic that Chairman Kaine would want to tout ‘fiscal responsibility’ just days after standing shoulder to shoulder with President Obama to support a new $450 billion stimulus package as well as the $1.5 trillion tax hike that will destroy jobs and hurt Virginia families and businesses,” said Bill Riggs, Allen campaign spokesman.  “There’s nothing fiscally responsible about standing with your liberal Washington allies to support their latest stimulus package and the same job-crushing tax hikes that this Administration has been pushing from day one. It’s clear that Mr. Kaine wants to be Senator to continue the same failed policies he championed at the Democratic National Committee, George Allen will be Senator for the voices and values of Virginia.”

Chairman Kaine – The REAL Record

 

As Chairman of the Democratic National Committee…

He was a vocal advocate of the failed $800 billion jobless stimulus

• Tim Kaine Said the $800 Billion Failed Stimulus Would “Jumpstart The Economy”: “The President and Members of Congress have passed a stimulus plan that will help jumpstart the economy and accomplish critical objectives to get our economy growing again.” (DNC Chairman Tim Kaine, BarackObamaDotCom YouTube Channel, 2/6/2009)

Championed President Obama’s $1.5 trillion government takeover of healthcare

• Chairman Kaine “Echoed” Obama’s “Call For Congress To Take Swift Action” And Pass ObamaCare. “Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tim Kaine today echoed the President’s call for Congress to take swift action to finish the job and deliver hard-working Americans the health insurance reforms they so desperately need.”  (Democrat National Committee, 3/3/10)

Advocated for a big-government agenda that has made trillion dollar deficits the norm – including a record-setting projected $1.65 trillion this year alone

Chairman Kaine Called Obama’s Budget A “Blueprint For Success.” “In his State of the Union address, President Obama called on Congress to join him in two major efforts designed to help America win the future: making the tough choices and budget cuts required to reduce America’s deficit and restore fiscal stability while also making bold investments in education, innovation, infrastructure and other areas critical to economic growth. President Obama’s 2012 budget proposal is a blueprint for success in both those efforts.”  (Democrat National Committee, 2/14/11)

• Current Fiscal Year Deficit Was Projected To Reach $1.65 Trillion, Would Have Been The Largest Amount “Ever.” “The White House projected Monday that the federal deficit would spike to $1.65 trillion in the current fiscal year, the largest dollar amount ever, adding pressure on Democrats and Republicans to tackle growing levels of debt.”  (The Wall Street Journal, 2/14/11)

As Governor of Virginia …

• Proposed over $4 billion in tax increases during his tenure (The Washington Post, 1/22/06)
  • In his first budget in 2006, Kaine proposed $3.5 Billion in taxes and increased fees and finances (Daily Press, 12/15/2006

 

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  • In June 2008, Tim Kaine called the legislature into special session to consider a $1.1 Billion tax increase package (Washington Examiner¸ 05/13/08)

 

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  • Kaine’s outgoing budget included a $2 Billion tax increase (Richmond Times Dispatch, 1/22/2010)

 

• Shut down over 19 rest stops to push for higher taxes despite hundreds of millions of dollars in surplus funds (Richmond Times Dispatch, 8/21/2009)

 

• Repeatedly dipped into the State’s Rainy Day Fund to meet budget shortfalls, withdrawing over $1 billion.  (Auditor of Public Accounts, Revenue Stabilization Report, 2008, 2009, 2010) 

 

• Virginia actually lost 100,000 jobs during his four years (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Data) 

 

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