“Proud”

Oct 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 7, 2011

     

“Proud”

Henrico, VA – At a Democrat meeting in Lynchburg, the News & Advance reported that Chairman Kaine said that he is “proud” of Virginia’s business success during his time as governor and “plans to put his record against his competition.”

  • News & Advance: “[Chairman Kaine] said he is proud of Virginia’s business success during the national economic downturn in his term in the governor’s mansion and plans to put his record against his competition.” (News & Advance, 10/2/11)

Americans have suffered through nearly three years of the policies that Tim Kaine championed as President Obama’s hand-picked Democratic National Committee Chairman, and today the September jobs report fell “below the level economists say is needed to dent unemployment.” (National Journal, 10/7/11)

That may be a record to be “proud” of in Washington, but not Virginia.

 

The Kaine Record as Governor…

  • Virginia actually lost 100,000 jobs during his four years (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Data) 
  • Proposed over $4 billion in tax increases during his tenure (The Washington Post, 1/22/06)
  • Shut down 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)

 

The Kaine Record as President Obama’s hand-picked Chairman of DNC…

 

  • Chairman Kaine supported President Obama’s first $800 billion failed stimulus saying it would “jumpstart the economy” (DNC Chairman Tim Kaine, www.youtube.com, Accessed 2/15/11)
    • Since then, Americans have lost over 1.5 million jobs and seen 32 consecutive months of unemployment above 8%. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 10/3/11)
  • Lauded President Obama’s $1.5 trillion government takeover of healthcare saying said that it would “go down in history as one of the great achievements of this President.” (CNN’s “State Of The Union,” 1/2/11)
    • But a recent survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation found that ObamaCare was actually contributing to increased costs, and that “health care costs for employers were spiraling upward.” (Fox News, 9/28/11)

“‘Proud’ is one of the last words Virginia families would use to describe Chairman Kaine’s record, which includes saying the President’s $800 billion failed stimulus would ‘jumpstart the economy,’ and pushing for $4 billion in higher taxes as Governor while the State lost over 100,000 jobs,” said Bill Riggs, Allen campaign spokesman.  “His allies in Washington might be proud of that record, but Virginians have had enough of these policies that aren’t working to turn our economy around and help businesses create jobs.” 

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Statement from George Allen on the September Jobs Report

Oct 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 7, 2011

  

Statement from George Allen on the September Jobs Report

Henrico, VA – George Allen issued the following statement today on the September jobs report.    

“Virginia families are hurting, businesses are struggling and today’s jobs report fell well short of what was needed to bring down an unemployment rate stuck at 9.1 percent. Taxes and burdensome regulations on small businesses pose a problem to our economic growth.  It’s been nearly three years and the Obama-Kaine economy has resulted in 32 consecutive months of unemployment above 8 percent, and it’s clear that their policies aren’t making our lives any better. 

“My Blueprint for America’s Comeback is a comprehensive pro-growth plan that will help create millions of new, private sector jobs by reforming and reducing the tax burden, reining in punishing regulations from unaccountable, unelected bureaucracies, unleashing America’s plentiful energy resources and putting a stop to the reckless tax and spend pattern in Washington that is stifling our economic recovery.  We need to send a message to the rest of the world that America is ‘Open for Business Again!’”

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ICYMI: Advancing a new freedom-to-work agenda for America (From The Washington Examiner)

Oct 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 6, 2011

   
  

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
Advancing a new freedom-to-work agenda for America
From The Washington Examiner 

By George Allen

Thursday, October 6, 2011
Our Right-to-Work law is one of Virginia’s foundational strengths and competitive advantages.  The laws that protect workplace Freedom have made Virginia one of the best places to start or grow a business, but not everyone sees things as we do.

This is especially true in Washington.  Rather than recognizing the fact that Right-to-Work laws are good for everyone, President Obama’s administration and his allies seem bent on destroying them. 

As I travel around Virginia, I am constantly reminded of the importance of our freedom to work.  Virginians remind me about the companies that have relocated to or expanded in Virginia since we declared that “Virginia is Open for Business!” in 1994.

Others recall those 50,000 Virginians who have left the welfare rolls to find gainful employment.  I often wonder how successful our economic development and ground-breaking welfare reform efforts would have been in a less job-friendly state.

These are not abstract concepts.  These are real jobs created because Virginia respects and protects our Right to Work.

Through executive fiat and the intrusive action of the National Labor Relation Board (NLRB), the Obama administration and their congressional and big labor allies are waging war on private employers under the guise of protecting workers.

They believe that more regulation and government control will protect jobs, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.  Businesses create jobs when entrepreneurs believe that their anticipated return on investment outweighs the risks.

Over-regulation creates uncertainty and additional risk, which in turn stifles investment and diminishes job opportunities.

The threat to Virginia’s jobs from Washington is real, and it must be checked.  From the President’s job-killing monstrous health-care dictates to his gigantic $1.5 trillion tax increase proposal and Executive Orders, bureaucracy and lawsuits trying to tell Boeing where it can build a business, the opponents of our freedom to work are seriously threatening.

That is why I have created a three-part Freedom to Work agenda that will 1) help America’s businesses create jobs; 2) save taxpayers money; and 3) protect the liberty of working men and women.

Read More: http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/op-eds/2011/10/advancing-new-freedom-work-agenda-america#ixzz1a0W7FT00

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A-Team: Chairman Kaine Do You Think “The Economy Is Improving?”

Oct 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

A-Team: Does Tim Kaine agree – like many Americans do – with President Obama when he says we aren’t better off than we were four years ago, or does he side with his successor at the DNC and believe the “economy is improving”?

Click here to read: Chairman Kaine Do You Think “The Economy Is Improving?”

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Chairman Kaine Do You Think “The Economy Is Improving?”

Oct 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 6, 2011

 

Chairman Kaine Do You Think “The Economy Is Improving?”

Henrico, VA – Just days after President Obama admitted that Americans weren’t “better off” than they were on the day he took office, his current Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, contradicted him, saying, “anyone can see the economy is improving.” (CNS News, 10/5/11)

This poses a dilemma for former Chairman Tim Kaine?  Does he agree – like many Americans do – with President Obama when he says we aren’t better off than we were four years ago, or does he side with his successor at the DNC and believe the “economy is improving”?  Let’s lay out some facts and help him decide.

Reasons to side with President Obama and admit that Americans aren’t “better off” …

  • Since the $800 billion stimulus passed, Americans have lost 1.7 million jobs and have seen unemployment stay above 8% for 31 consecutive months.  (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 10/3/11)
  • President Obama’s $1.5 trillion government takeover of health care was supposed to reduce costs, but according to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey, ObamaCare is actually contributing to higher health care costs for families and businesses. (Fox News, 9/28/11)
  • America’s credit rating was downgraded for the first time in our nation’s history. (Washington Post, 8/6/11) 
  • Zero jobs were created in August and according to a new Gallup survey, the U.S. economy continues to shrink.  (Gallup, 10/5/11)

Reasons to side with current DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz and continue telling Americans we’re on the right track …

  • Chairman Kaine said that the first $800 billion failed stimulus would “jumpstart the economy” and spent the next two and a half years trying to convince Americans it was working. (DNC Chairman Tim Kaine, BarackObamaDotCom YouTube Channel, 2/6/2009)
  • Chairman Kaine said that the $1.5 trillion government takeover of healthcare would be one of the “great achievements” of this President and a “monumental accomplishment.”
  • “[I] think health reform is going to go down in history as one of the great achievements of this President.” (CNN’s “State Of The Union,” 1/2/11)
  • “The passage of reform today is a monumental accomplishment. This historic legislation is further evidence of the change President Obama has been able to bring about.” (Andrew Malcolm, “What Each Said About The Healthcare Vote: Obama, John Boehner, Tim Kaine, Michael Steele,” Los Angeles Times’ Top Of The Ticket Blog, www.latimes.com, Posted 3/22/10)
    • And now Chairman Kaine is supporting the same failed policies that didn’t work the first time – massive job-crushing tax hikes to pay for another nearly $450 billion stimulus package.
  • NBC 12:  “Kaine supports Obama’s jobs plan – including tax reform.” (NBC 12, 9/9/11)
    • AP: “Obama has also recommended a series of tax hikes to pay for his $447 billion job-creation proposal He wants Congress to limit itemized deductions for charitable contributions and other deductions taken by families making over $250,000 a year …” (AP, 9/13/11)

“It’s clear to anyone outside of Washington that the Obama-Kaine agenda has failed and our economy is not improving, but Chairman Kaine and his Washington allies will say whatever it takes to escape responsibility and continue pushing the same failed policies,” said Bill Riggs, Allen campaign spokesman.  “The fact is, Americans have seen 31 consecutive months of unemployment above 8%, 1.7 million jobs lost since the first failed stimulus, and Chairman Kaine is pushing for the same failed policies that we already know don’t work.  Does Chairman Kaine really believe the economy is improving?”

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Unveiled “Freedom To Work Agenda” at Dynax America Tour

Oct 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

It was wonderful to be back at Dynax America Corporation this afternoon to unveil my Freedom to Work Agenda.  This is a company that I spent much time recruiting to Virginia. The decision by Dynax to locate in Virginia highlighted the criteria that made Virginia “Open for Business” including our Right-to-Work laws, educated workforce, locational advantages, and strong, pro-growth climate.   It is so heartening to see that Dynax is thriving and growing in the Roanoke Valley of Virginia.

Allen to unveil “Freedom to Work Act”

Richmond Times Dispatch

By Wesley Hester

October 5, 2011

Republican U.S. Senate candidate George Allen will today roll out his “Freedom to Work Act,” a three-pronged blueprint to free U.S. businesses of what he sees as onerous burdens imposed by the federal government.

Allen will unveil his plan at Botetourt County-based Dynax America Corp., a Japanese subsidiary that manufactures parts for automotive transmissions. Allen recruited the business to the state as governor in 1996.

The goals of the plan, Allen said Tuesday in an interview with The Times-Dispatch, are to “help businesses create jobs, save the taxpayers money and protect the liberty of working men and working women.”

The first tenet of the plan, “Freedom of Movement,” would strip the National Labor Relations Board of the power to order any employer to move, shut down, or transfer employment.

The proposal is aimed at the NLRB’s lawsuit against Boeing alleging that the aircraft company illegally shifted work from union plants in Washington state to a new non-union factory in South Carolina.

Allen called it “just a terrible lawsuit,” adding, “And that’s a threat to Virginia as well, being the furthest state north on the Eastern seaboard with a right-to-work law,” which he said is an enormous asset in attracting companies such as Dynax.

Allen’s plan would also seek to prohibit project labor agreement requirements on federal and federally assisted construction contracts, and repeal Davis-Bacon wage laws, which require that federal government construction contract workers be paid no less than the locally prevailing wages and benefits on similar projects.

Click here to read more

In Botetourt, Allen outlines plan targeting labor union rules

Roanoke Times

By Katelyn Polantz

October 5, 2011

Gov. George Allen, who is seeking the Republican nomination to run for the U.S. Senate in 2012, announced a plan today to amend federal labor laws to prohibit compulsory union membership.

Allen, as part of a campaign stop at a Botetourt County auto parts plant, described his “Freedom to Work Act” agenda as one that will create jobs, save taxpayers money and “protect the liberty of working men and women.”

The former governor and one-term U.S. senator pushed three key ideas today:

Freedom of movement. Allen called for amending federal law to prohibit the National Labor Relations Board from ordering any employer to move, close or shut down equipment. It’s in response to the NLRB’s complaint filed against Boeing Co. that the airline manufacturer was transferring an assembly line from Washington state to South Carolina to punish union workers. A similar bill has been proposed by House Republicans.

Freedom to contract. Allen wants to reverse an executive order that requires Project Labor Agreement rules on federal and federally assisted construction contracts. Such agreements generally require unionized workers and union work rules.

Freedom of association. Aside from bringing Virginia’s right to work law to the federal level, Allen wants to mandate secret ballots for union organizing votes.

Click here to read more

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George Allen Unveils “Freedom To Work” Agenda

Oct 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 5, 2011

  

George Allen Unveils “Freedom To Work” Agenda

Henrico, VA –George Allen unveiled today, at Dynax America Corporation in Botetourt County, his new three-part “Freedom to Work” agenda to help businesses create jobs, save taxpayers money, and protect the liberty of every working man and woman in the Commonwealth. 

Dynax Corporation was recruited and brought to Virginia in 1996 by then-Governor George Allen.  The decision by Dynax to locate in Virginia highlighted the criteria that made Virginia “Open for Business” including our Right-to-Work laws, educated workforce, locational advantages, and strong, pro-growth climate.

“As Governor, I saw first-hand how our Right-to-Work law gives Virginia a crucial competitive economic advantage in encouraging investment and attracting new jobs to our Commonwealth.  But today, through executive fiat and government intrusion, this Administration is waging war on private employers under the guise of protecting workers,” said George Allen.  “With almost 14 million Americans out of work and many more who are underemployed, Washington is making it harder for job creators to expand and hire new workers while displaying open hostility to the Right-to-Work tradition and the laws in effect in 22 States, including Virginia.”

George Allen’s “Freedom to Work” agenda is made up of three major components: The Freedom of Movement, the Freedom to Contract, and the Freedom of Association.

  • Freedom of Movement:  Expressly protects the right of an employer to decide where to conduct business in the United States by amending the National Labor Relations Act to provide in law that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has no power to order any employer to move, shut down, or transfer employment.  This will apply to any open complaint and ensures that no company or workers will be intimidated or threatened as was Boeing and its employees.

 

  • Freedom to Contract: Promotes and ensures full, open competition on government-funded and assisted construction projects by restricting Project Labor Agreement (PLA) requirements on federal and federally-assisted construction contracts, reversing Executive Order 13502: Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects.  It also prohibits federal agencies from discriminating against bidders for declining to adhere to anti-competitive and costly PLA agreements, and repeals the Depression-era Davis-Bacon wage laws that diminish competition and inflate costs taxpayers pay for construction when the federal government is involved.

 

  • Freedom of Association:  Protects the right of America’s working men and women to freely choose to join a union, or to choose not to join or pay union dues of fees by amending the National Labor Relations Act.  It also ensures that union elections are open and fair by guaranteeing workers the opportunity to cast a secret ballot before a union can be organized.

“The threat to Virginia’s jobs from Washington is real and we must do everything we can to protect our competitive advantage for the creation of jobs and our economy,” continued Allen.  “My three part ‘Freedom to Work’ agenda will work to unite Virginians and all Americans to help create more job opportunities, save the taxpayers money and advance liberty for all working men and women.”

The Freedom to Work Act complements George Allen’s Blueprint for America’s Comeback to further make sure America’s businesses have available every possible tool to create jobs.

For more details on the Freedom to Work Agenda click here: http://www.georgeallen.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Freedom-to-Work-10-5-11.pdf

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A-Team: Today George Allen will be announcing a major “Freedom to Work” agenda

Oct 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

A-Team: Today George Allen will be announcing a major “Freedom to Work” agenda that will help create jobs, save taxpayers money and protect the rights of hard working men and women all across the Commonwealth.

Allen to unveil “Freedom to Work Act”

Richmond Times Dispatch

By Wesley Hester                                                         

October 5, 2011

Republican U.S. Senate candidate George Allen will today roll out his “Freedom to Work Act,” a three-pronged blueprint to free U.S. businesses of what he sees as onerous burdens imposed by the federal government.

Allen will unveil his plan at Botetourt County-based Dynax America Corp., a Japanese subsidiary that manufactures parts for automotive transmissions. Allen recruited the business to the state as governor in 1996. 

The goals of the plan, Allen said Tuesday in an interview with The Times-Dispatch, are to “help businesses create jobs, save the taxpayers money and protect the liberty of working men and working women.”

The first tenet of the plan, “Freedom of Movement,” would strip the National Labor Relations Board of the power to order any employer to move, shut down, or transfer employment.

The proposal is aimed at the NLRB’s lawsuit against Boeing alleging that the aircraft company illegally shifted work from union plants in Washington state to a new non-union factory in South Carolina.

Allen called it “just a terrible lawsuit,” adding, “And that’s a threat to Virginia as well, being the furthest state north on the Eastern seaboard with a right-to-work law,” which he said is an enormous asset in attracting companies such as Dynax.

Allen’s plan would also seek to prohibit project labor agreement requirements on federal and federally assisted construction contracts, and repeal Davis-Bacon wage laws, which require that federal government construction contract workers be paid no less than the locally prevailing wages and benefits on similar projects.

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A-Team: Are You Better Off?

Oct 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

A-Team: Just recently, President Obama admitted that Americans were “not better off” than they were four years ago. But how about Tim Kaine, his hand-picked Democratic National Committee Chairman? Kaine spent the last two and half years trying to convince Americans that President’s failed policies were working and the economy was on the right track.

Click here to read: Are You Better Off?

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Are You Better Off?

Oct 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 4, 2011

       

Are You Better Off?

Henrico, VA –In an interview with ABC News, President Obama admitted that Americans were “not better off” than they were four years ago.  (ABC News/Yahoo News’ Live Interview, 10/3/11)

But how about Tim Kaine his hand-picked Democratic National Committee Chairman? Kaine spent the last two and half years trying to convince Americans that President’s failed policies were working and the economy was on the right track.

Chairman Kaine on the $800 Billion Failed Stimulus

Chairman Kaine said the first $800 billion failed stimulus would “jumpstart the economy.”  (DNC Chairman Tim Kaine, BarackObamaDotCom YouTube Channel, 2/6/2009)

But since the stimulus passed, Americans have lost 1.7 million jobs and have seen 31 consecutive months of unemployment above 8%. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 10/3/11)

Chairman Kaine on ObamaCare

Chairman Kaine said that the $1.5 trillion government takeover of healthcare would be one of the “great achievements” of this President and a “monumental accomplishment.”

  • “[I] think health reform is going to go down in history as one of the great achievements of this President.” (CNN’s “State Of The Union,” 1/2/11)
  • “The passage of reform today is a monumental accomplishment. This historic legislation is further evidence of the change President Obama has been able to bring about.” (Andrew Malcolm, “What Each Said About The Healthcare Vote: Obama, John Boehner, Tim Kaine, Michael Steele,” Los Angeles Times’ Top Of The Ticket Blog, www.latimes.com, Posted 3/22/10)

 

But a Kaiser Family Foundation survey recently found that ObamaCare was actually contributing to higher costs, and health care costs for employers were increasing. (Fox News, 9/28/11)

Now What?

President Obama and his hand-picked Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Tim Kaine, are continuing to push for more of the same – job crushing tax hikes to pay for their next stimulus.

  • NBC 12:  “Kaine supports Obama’s jobs plan – including tax reform.” (NBC 12, 9/9/11)
    • AP: “Obama has also recommended a series of tax hikes to pay for his $447 billion job-creation proposal He wants Congress to limit itemized deductions for charitable contributions and other deductions taken by families making over $250,000 a year …” (AP, 9/13/11)

But Curtis Dubay, Senior Analyst in Tax Policy at the Heritage Foundation, says the President’s tax hikes would hurt the job creators the economy needs to start hiring.

  • Heritage Foundation: “The President’s tax hikes on the rich would result in fewer jobs for all Americans, including middle- and low-income workers. The families, individuals, and businesses that would pay an even higher share of the tax burden under the President’s plan are the job creators the economy needs to start hiring to lower the unemployment rate to acceptable levels.” (Heritage Foundation, 10/3/11)

“It’s disappointing but not surprising that President Obama and his hand-picked Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Tim Kaine, haven’t learned anything from the results of their failed policies.  Americans need new jobs, not higher taxes.  Chairman Kaine’s latest push to increase taxes would put a strangle-hold on an already struggling economy.  Does Tim Kaine agree with the President that his policies haven’t made things better?  Or will he continue to champion the same failed policies he’s been defending for the last two and a half years?” asked Bill Riggs, Allen campaign spokesman. 

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