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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