Cities

Martinsville Bulletin: Allen: Tax cut to be offset by gas hikes

Feb 19, 2012 By Press Office Leave a Comment

Allen: Tax cut to be offset by gas hikes

Senate hopeful in Martinsville on Saturday

Sunday, February 19, 2012

By DEBBIE HALL – Bulletin Staff Writer

Savings from a payroll tax cut approved by Congress on Friday will be wiped out by soaring fuel prices, according to former Gov. George Allen.

The $143 billion payroll tax cut, in effect, “shows how out of touch” its supporters are “with struggling families paying high gasoline prices,” said Allen, who is seeking to regain his former seat in the U.S. Senate in November.

Allen, who made a private campaign stop in Martinsville on Saturday, is among several contenders in the Republican Party’s June primary, including Del. Bob Marshall, tea party activist Jamie Radtke and Bishop E.W. Jackson, and Virginia Beach attorney David McCormick. The winner will run in the Senate election on Nov. 6.

Under the tax cut measure, workers would continue to receive a 2 percentage point increase in their paychecks, and people out of work for more than six months would keep jobless benefits averaging about $300 a week, The Associated Press reported. It would also head off a steep cut in reimbursements for physicians who treat Medicare patients, the AP added.

The tax cuts, jobless coverage and higher doctors’ payments would all continue through 2012, according to the AP.

“I’m one who is always looking at ways to reduce the tax burden on working families, but this is a typical patchwork approach,” Allen said of the measure.

Allen said he supports the production of oil and natural gas off the coast and earmarking royalties for road and transportation projects.

He also supports the Keystone XL pipeline project. President Barack Obama refused to approve the project recently after he said Republicans tied it to a provision for a short-term extension to the payroll tax cut that required him to either issue a permit to allow the 1,700-mile pipeline to be built or explain why it was not in the national interest by Feb. 21, according to USA Today.

The $7 billion project proposed by TransCanada would create a pipeline “linking a secure and growing supply of Canadian and American crude oil with the largest refining markets in the United States, significantly improving North American security supply,” according to www.transcanada.com.

Allen said he would rather America buy oil from “a good neighbor and ally” such as Canada than countries that conduct terrorism or have ties to terrorists.

The pipeline project also would help put people back to work, he said.

Filed Under: Blog, Cities, Martinsville

Roanoke Area Veterans Forum

Feb 18, 2012 By George Allen Leave a Comment

It was a privilege and an honor for me to speak to the veterans in the Roanoke area – not as a member of their ranks – but as a Virginian and an American who feels tremendous respect for the sacrifices that our veterans and their families have endured to protect our country and our freedoms.

We must have the will, the skill, & the firepower to keep America strong for Freedom – and America should always keep our promises to our veterans for the benefits and health care they have earned. It’s not an entitlement, it’s a promise. I have pledged to always fight on behalf of veterans and their families to honor their enduring, consistent service to America, commitment to their community and to the defense of our Country. Click here to read my Compact with Veterans: Honoring the Men and Women Who Stand Strong for Freedom.

Click here to see more pictures from the event: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150580303811705.379819.299306621704&type=3#!/media/set/?set=a.10150580303811705.379819.299306621704&type=3

Filed Under: Blog, Cities, Counties, George Allen, Roanoke

Susan Allen Campaigns in Charlottesville

Feb 17, 2012 By Susan_Allen Leave a Comment

Check out the coverage of our visit to downtown Charlottesville today. I was also able to to drive by George’s old law office building and see Historic Charlottesville where I used to give tours when George was in the General Assembly. Twenty-five years later, he is the same man with a genuine desire to help all Virginians and the Country.

Click here to watch the interview: http://youtu.be/jI-2dafbKCg

Filed Under: Blog, Charlottesville, Cities, Mrs. Allen

Roanoke Times: George Allen visits Coca-Cola bottling plant, City Market building on pass through Roanoke

Feb 16, 2012 By Press Office Leave a Comment

George Allen visits Coca-Cola bottling plant, City Market building on pass through Roanoke

by Mason Adams

U.S. Senate candidate George Allen is pushing ahead with a campaign that seems to be aimed solely at Democrat Tim Kaine. During a stop at the City Market Building in Roanoke today, Allen took a couple of shots at Kaine but didn’t mention any of his fellow Republicans running for the GOP nomination.

The Allen campaign also released a web video trying to tie Kaine to President Barack Obama — a tactic it’s used for months and will likely continue up through election day. (For his part, Kaine is hitting Allen on his term in the Senate and also trying to tie him to the social legislation currently in the General Assembly.)

Allen’s spending more time in western Virginia this week, speaking to veterans at a breakfast tomorrow morning in Vinton before swinging down through Pulaski, Wytheville, Bristol, Abingdon, Hillsville, Patrick County, Martinsville and Danville.

Allen continued to call for “unleashing America’s energy resources” by cutting back on regulations. He called for extension of the Keystone XL pipleline from Canada to the midwest.

Filed Under: Blog, Cities, City of Roanoke, George Allen

Fraternal Order of Police – Thompson Hall Lodge

Feb 14, 2012 By George Allen Leave a Comment

It was invigorating to be back at the Thompson Hall Lodge with so many good friends and outstanding law-enforcement officers. Charlottesville and the Commonwealth of Virginia are fortunate to have so many hard-working, dedicated and tireless law-enforcement officers.

We’ve been working together for a long time — since my days in the House of Delegates – to keep our community and our families safe. Safe neighborhoods and safe communities matter a great deal in attracting jobs and investment.

Click here to see more photos from the event: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150579815221705.379725.299306621704&type=3

Filed Under: Albemarle, Blog, Charlottesville, Cities, Counties

Great Day in Augusta, Greene and Albermarle Counties

Feb 3, 2012 By George Allen Leave a Comment

Tomorrow I look forward to joining with active, freedom-loving leaders and small business owners in Henrico and Hanover Counties to complete a full, great week conversing with small business owners and families from Fredericksburg, Harrisonburg, Waynesboro and Staunton, as well as Augusta, Rockingham, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Prince William, Shenandoah, Greene and Albemarle Counties. They all share similar concerns about the taxes, overreaching regulations and mandates that are coming out of Washington.

The day started with breakfast at the Shoney’s near Staunton where a concerned woman expressed serious objections about the impact of Obamacare on the health care profession from her perspective as the wife of a doctor of internal medicine. She maintained that Obamacare is creating a “tidal wave of patients” and a “deficit of doctors.” These are precisely the kind of negative consequences that arise through over-reach of the federal government and it’s another example of why we need to repeal and replace Obamacare.

Later in the afternoon I joined Greene County Sheriff Steve Smith to tour the “heart of Greene County” – the small businesses of Stanardsville. During my visit I spoke with the owner of Stanardsville Auto Repair, who told us how high energy costs were adversely impacting every sector of the economy, including his business. Fewer people were coming in for their regular maintenance and repairs because the high prices of gasoline were forcing them to cut back.

Later that day I was honored to have Sheriff Smith’s endorsement at the Blue Ridge Café with folks from Greene, Albemarle and Spotsylvania Counties. When I was Governor we accomplished significant reforms in public safety that are still paying dividends today and I am proud to stand with all the members of Virginia’s law enforcement.

Click below to watch a news clip of my day meeting with local businesses, law enforcement officers and strong supporters in Greene County!

Filed Under: Albemarle, Augusta, Blog, Charlottesville, Cities, Counties, Greene, Staunton

George Allen Discusses Empowering America’s Job-Creators with Virginia Business Leaders

Jan 31, 2012 By Press Office Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 31, 2011

George Allen Discusses Empowering America’s Job-Creators with Virginia Business Leaders

Henrico, VA – Today, George Allen addressed the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) “Business Day at the Capital” breakfast to talk about empowering America’s job-creators with the right pro-growth policies that encourage investment, expansion and job creation.

As Governor, he combined personal recruitment, lower taxes on job-creating businesses, and prompt permitting to usher in a period of unparalleled job growth and investment, and which helped to create over 300,000 net new private sector jobs.

In the U.S. Senate, George Allen’s consistent efforts to free America’s job-creating businesses from crushing taxes and regulatory burdens earned a perfect 100-percent rating from the National Federation of Independent Business and the Spirit of Enterprise Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Below are key excerpts from George Allen’s speech as prepared for delivery:

“It is truly an invigorating pleasure to be here in a room filled with entrepreneurs and innovators – members of NFIB, Virginia Retail Merchants Association, and the Virginia Hospitality & Travel Association. You and businesses like yours are Virginia’s and America’s true job creators – 65 percent of all new businesses are started by small businesses. I admire your courage and your optimistic spirit. It takes a sense of optimism to take the risk to start or expand a business … to open a store, a restaurant or any business.

“The America many of us grew up in was full of that kind of optimism. We looked to the future with a sense of confidence, believing that our ability to achieve the American Dream was limited only by our imagination, ingenuity and hard work. Unfortunately, many people in today’s America have already seen their dreams lowered or diminished, with more than 13 million Americans unable to find work in an economy that has stagnated. …

“My friends, it’s time for America’s comeback! – a comeback that starts with a positive, pro-job-growth agenda. We must reinvigorate the entrepreneurial spirit of America by putting a priority on positive tax, reasonable regulatory, productive energy and empowering education policies that will give Americans a competitive advantage for jobs, investment and prosperity. …

“When I was elected Governor of Virginia on an audacious agenda, the Democrats controlled the State legislature. Working together, we cut taxes by more than $600 million; made neighborhoods safer by abolishing the dishonest, lenient parole system; enacted historic welfare reforms; reduced the size of government and grew the economy — creating more than 300,000 net new private sector jobs in those four years alone.

“Sure, we had disagreements along the way. But ultimately we resolved the differences to produce tangible results for the people of Virginia instead of scoring political points.

“That’s what Virginians and Americans are looking for in Washington today. I truly believe we can work together in Washington to get America creating jobs again. As Governor, we sent the world a message that Virginia is Open for Business! We need to be sending a message to the world that ‘America is Open for Business Again!’ and give our job creators a competitive advantage. …

“We would send that message with a single policy change. As part of my Blueprint for America’s Comeback, I call for reducing the tax on job-creating businesses, including small businesses, from 35 percent – second worst in the world – to a better-than-average, competitive 20 percent.

“That change alone is projected to create more than 500,000 jobs a year – more than 5 million new jobs for Americans in the next 10 years. …

“Many State leaders from both sides of the aisle understand the benefits of allowing Virginia to produce natural gas and oil off our coast and using the royalties that come with it for roads and transportation. Unfortunately, the White House remains the biggest impediment to making this a reality — recently again saying “no” to Virginia’s request to explore for these valuable resources.

“And just this month, President Obama said NO to the Keystone Pipeline and the tens of thousands of good-paying jobs that would have come with it. ….

“In the past three years, the price of gasoline has jumped from $1.85 to $3.44 today. That’s an extra $30 to fill a 20-gallon tank. Think of what a family could do with an extra 25-to-30 dollars. What it means for businesses in the tourism and hospitality industry – and for all businesses. …

“By removing the self-imposed barriers to producing energy, we have the potential to provide more affordable fuel and electricity, create hundreds of thousands of good-paying American jobs, improve competitiveness and national security and generate over a trillion in new revenue without raising taxes. And, rather than being vulnerable to hostile outside interests, we would keep our money in the U.S.A.! …

“Washington’s most egregious over-reach is the new government-controlled health care law. Obamacare comes up everywhere I go. Families are concerned they won’t be able to afford their insurance as rates continue to rise. Seniors are worried that they won’t have access to doctors. And small business leaders all say that the uncertainties and costs associated with Obamacare’s regulations and mandates are hampering or will impede their ability to hire and expand their businesses. …

“Folks, this is just one of many examples of the two very different visions my opponent and I have for America going forward.

“See, he has said that Obamacare is quote, a ‘great achievement’ and that he would vote against repealing it.

“If I have the honor of representing Virginia in the United States Senate, I hope to cast the deciding vote to repeal Obamacare. Then we can replace it with quality affordable, portable health care options like Health Savings Accounts. …

“Ultimately, 2012 will be our generation’s Rendezvous with Destiny – where, together, we can positively change the course of our country. We can spark a genuine comeback for America with empowering tax, regulatory and energy policies that help us recapture the promise of the American Dream for future generations and ourselves. And working together, we will!”

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Filed Under: Blog, Cities, City of Richmond

In defense of the aircraft carrier fleet

Jan 21, 2012 By George Allen Leave a Comment

I will fight the wasteful, costly political move of a Norfolk-based aircraft carrier to Mayport, Florida. My supporter, Admiral Groothousen provides an outstanding analysis of the vital importance of our aircraft carriers to move to theaters when needed to project our power. With fewer military bases and air strips, America will have an increased need for aircraft carriers.

In defense of the aircraft carrier fleet

By Michael R Groothousen, a retired rear admiral, lives in Virginia Beach.

A recent column ["Challenging the Navy's numbers," Walter Pincus, Jan. 4] advocated a course of action that, if followed, would have harmful consequences for American national security and damage our country’s standing in the world. The author advocates reducing the size of the bulwark of America’s global defense capability – our aircraft carrier fleet – without addressing the dire results of such an action.

Ninety percent of international trade moves safely and freely over the world’s oceans and seas, much to America’s – and the free world’s – benefit. A significant part of the reason is because American aircraft carriers provide us with the capability to defend our interests, neutralize our foes and deter would-be enemies in any corner of the globe more rapidly than other forces, without the permission of foreign powers.

But our ability to do all of this is entirely predicated on the current carrier force structure, which is barely sufficient to meet our combatant commanders’ needs, even though the Navy has already significantly increased the frequency and duration of deployment for our carrier sailors.

America is the strongest, most prosperous and most free country in the world. With our strength comes responsibilities that we can shirk only at our peril. The larger, wealthier and stronger we grow, the more we become a target for current and would-be rivals and opponents worldwide who seek to challenge us, if not to usurp our dominance for economic, strategic and/or ideological reasons.

For at least five centuries the global maritime commons has been guarded by a maritime “superpower.” As that mantle has passed among nations such as Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom and the U.S., so has each country’s era of greatness. Our decision now is whether, in the future, this will be our role or someone else’s.

To cite but one example, let’s consider the Asia-Pacific region. The Navy’s Pacific fleet protects America’s key allies, deters rivals and keeps open vital shipping lanes over more than 100 million square miles – more than half the surface of the planet. This region is also home to one of the greatest economic and military challengers to American supremacy, the People’s Republic of China. It is home to that country’s client state, North Korea. China already has nuclear missiles capable of targeting our country, and soon North Korea may, as well.

Our capacity to mount sufficient combat capability to deter these rivals – much less engage them successfully in the case of hostilities – while at the same time ensuring the security of Middle Eastern oil and worldwide seaborne commerce, in spite of an increasingly belligerent Iran, is clearly and unquestionably tethered to maintaining our carrier fleet.

Filed Under: Blog, Cities, George Allen, Issues, Virginia Beach Tagged With: Veterans

George Allen Tours Ennis Electric Company in Manassas

Jan 21, 2012 By George Allen Leave a Comment

Finished off an energizing week with a tour of Ennis Electric Company, an admirably managed family business in Manassas/Prince William County which is competing and succeeding with a talented workforce. In addition to positive Health Savings Accounts, we talked about the importance of fair competitive bidding without prejudicial Project Labor Agreements(PLAs). Besides unnecessarily costing taxpayers more money, PLAs denied the 150 employees of this outstanding non-unionized company $40 million in contracts. As taxpayers we should demand the best bang for our buck and we ought to have open competition so that Virginia contractors can succeed and grow based on the quality of their best value bid.

George Allen Tours Ennis Electric Company in Manassas with Ennis Electric Executive Vice President Kevin Cole

Filed Under: Blog, Cities, Manassas

Meeting with Richmond City GOP, Richmond Young Republicans, and Univeristy of Richmond College Republicans

Jan 17, 2012 By Press Office Leave a Comment

The Collegian:
George Allen Speaks in Queally Hall Tuesday
By Markie Martin, January 19, 2012
http://thecollegianur.com/2012/01/19/george-allen-speaks-in-queally-hall-tuesday/24828/

George Allen, the former governor of Virginia who is running for U.S. Senate, visited the University of Richmond and told students he would be “like a dog on a bone” to make his campaign plans a reality for building a brighter American future.

Allen addressed approximately 100 people in his black leather cowboy boots for a joint meeting of the Richmond City GOP, the University of Richmond College Republicans and the Greater Richmond Young Republicans.

Allen said he was inspired by the cohesiveness of the three hosting organizations, and that it was “great to see young people interested in government who are involved and care about the future of the country.”

Economic issues, energy resourcing and Medicaid were three of the most important topics of Allen’s discussion. He said there were proven solutions for all of the country’s biggest problems based on “our own common sense.”

“The credit card up in Washington is overdrawn,” Allen said. He emphasized a balanced budget requirement to help knock out wasteful spending.

Allen also said he was frustrated with the fact that Congress had not passed a budget in 1,000 days, and that he had a solution to finalize the maximum spending.

“If members of Congress do not pass appropriation bills on time,” Allen said, “we should withhold their pay. We need to get back to basics.”

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Filed Under: Blog, Cities, City of Richmond, Counties, Henrico