FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 9, 2011

Statement from George Allen on the Virginia State and Local Elections

Henrico, VA – George Allen released the following statement on Virginia’s State and local election results:

“Congratulations to all the State and local candidates who were victorious in their elections and thank you to all who ran to help shape a better future for the people of your communities and districts!  Virginians everywhere can be proud of the strong and winning team of Republican leaders who were elected last night.  By making significant gains in the House of Delegates and ending the Democrats’ majority in the State Senate, Governor Bob McDonnell will have an even stronger foundation of support to streamline State government, reduce regulatory burdens on families and businesses, protect the rights of working men and women to not be forced to pay union dues as a condition of keeping a job and advance his already-successful job creating efforts.

“This is an energizing and exciting time for everyone who worked so hard to ensure that Virginia continues to move in a positive, pro-growth direction for jobs and the economy for years to come.  It was such a pleasure to work side-by-side with so many of our hard-working candidates on the campaign trail, and today I am even more optimistic and hopeful for the future of the families and businesses of Virginia. Their positive ideas and pro-growth solutions will help Virginia show the rest of the nation how we can restart our economic engines and make America the land of freedom and opportunity again.  With the advances by strong, common sense conservatives and Republicans in the Virginia General Assembly, Election Day 2011 was a promising day for taxpayers, families and small businesses.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 8, 2011

Statement from George Allen on Virginia’s Exclusion from the Five-Year Federal Oil and Gas Leasing Plan

Henrico, VA – Today, the Obama Administration continued to stand in the way of thousands of new, good-paying jobs with the release of the five-year federal plan for oil and gas leases that excludes Virginia from consideration for and even the possibility of a lease sale for exploration off Virginia’s coast.   In response to this Administration’s obstruction of Virginia’s energy resources, George Allen issued the following statement:

“The people of Virginia are ready and willing to provide the affordable and reliable energy we need to power America, and the federal government should get out of the way.  This Administration’s counterproductive, punishing energy policies are destroying jobs and increasing costs for Virginia families and small businesses.  States ought to have the right to decide for themselves whether they want to explore and develop our plentiful energy resources, not the unelected, unaccountable federal bureaucrats in Washington.

“Unleashing America’s energy resources would create hundreds of thousands of new jobs, increase our supply of affordable energy, keep our money here in the U.S.A. and generate revenues to the government, without raising taxes.  It is time for America and Virginia to take control of our own destiny by embracing a policy of energy freedom.

“President Obama’s insistence on keeping Virginia’s energy resources off-limits undermines our economic recovery and makes America less competitive.  My opponent, Tim Kaine, claims to support Virginia energy, but as Governor, he worked with the Obama Administration to delay the Virginia lease sale, even justifying the federal government’s authority to dictate Virginia’s energy policy.”

Background:

2006: “Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (D) Today Rejected Legislation That Could Have Opened The State’s Coast To Offshore Drilling But Indicated That He Would Support A Federal Survey Of Some Areas. The General Assembly last month approved a provision in a broader energy bill that allows the state to opt out of a federal moratorium on offshore drilling. Kaine returned the bill to the Legislature but stripped the opt-out provision. Instead, he inserted language saying the state would support a survey of offshore areas located more than 50 miles from the coast, as long as it was paid for with federal dollars.” (Alex Kaplun, “Offshore Drilling: Va. Governor Rejects Plan To Opt Out Of Moratorium,” E&E News PM, 4/7/06)

2009: “He [Cantor] Recently Asked The U.S. Department Of The Interior To Include Virginia In Its Five-Year Plan For Offshore Oil-And-Gas Drilling. Even Though Governor Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Is Against It.” (Asha Beh, “Cantor Fights Kaine Over Ruining Virginia’s Shores,” NBC Washington, www.nbcwashington.com, 9/30/09)

“In February, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine Asked The Department Of The Interior To Postpone The Proposed Lease Sale For Oil And Gas Exploration, Which Could Occur As Early As 2011.” (Allison Brophy Champion, “Cantor: Drilling For Oil Off Va.’s Coast Would ‘Power Our Economy,’” [Culpeper, VA] Star Exponent, 9/30/09)

“Kaine Argued That The State’s Offshore Energy Policies Do Not Support Exploration For Oil Or Production Of Gas Or Oil. Instead, he believes the state policies support federal efforts “to determine the extent of natural gas resources 50 miles or more off the Atlantic shoreline, including appropriate federal funding for such an investigation.” (Allison Brophy Champion, “Cantor: Drilling for oil off Va.’s coast would ‘power our economy,’” [Culpeper, VA] Star Exponent, 9/30/09)

“Kaine, Chairman Of The Democratic National Committee, Said He Supports Considering ‘The Atlantic Coast As A Whole, Rather Than Singling Out A Particular State For A Lease Sale.’” (Allison Brophy Champion, “Cantor: Drilling for oil off Va.’s coast would ‘power our economy,’” [Culpeper, VA] Star Exponent, 9/30/09)