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

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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A-Team: Are You Better Off?

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?

Are You Better Off?

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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A-Team: Chairman Kaine’s Economy

A-Team: Yesterday, Vice President Joe Biden said that it is “totally legitimate” for the 2012 election to be a referendum on this Administration’s policies, saying “I don’t blame them for being mad. We’re in charge. So they’re angry.” But why would they be angry? Chairman Kaine may have a few ideas… $800 billion failed stimulus, $1.5 trillion government takeover of health care and now he wants tax hikes to fund more of the same failed policies.

Click here to read: Chairman Kaine’s Economy

Chairman Kaine’s Economy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 30, 2011

   

   

Chairman Kaine’s Economy

Henrico, VA – Yesterday, Vice President Joe Biden said that it is “totally legitimate” for the 2012 election to be a referendum on this Administration’s policies, saying “I don’t blame them for being mad.  We’re in charge.  So they’re angry.” 

But why would they be angry?Chairman Kaine may have a few ideas

Chairman Kaine Said The $800 Billion Failed Stimulus Would “Jumpstart The Economy”

Chairman Kaine said that the $800 billion failed stimulus would “jumpstart the economy,” but instead Americans got 31 consecutive months of unemployment over 8 percent and lost more than 1.4 million jobs since the stimulus was passed.

  • Kaine: “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, www.youtube.com, Accessed 2/15/11)

 

  • Americans have seen 30 consecutive months of unemployment above 8 percent (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 9/28/11)

 

  • 1.4 million jobs have been lost since the stimulus was passed (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 9/28/11)

Chairman Kaine Said Americans Would See “Immediate Benefits” From The $1.5 Trillion Government Takeover Of Healthcare

Chairman Kaine said that the $1.5 trillion government takeover of healthcare would go down in history as one of the “greatest achievements of this President,” saying Americans would “immediately see benefits.”  But health insurance premiums continue to rise, costs are up and there are more and more uninsured as employers drop their coverage.

  • Kaine: “[I] Think Health Care 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)

 

  •  
    • More And More Americans Are Uninsured. “The Percentage Of Uninsured 26- To 64-Year-Olds, However, Continues To Increase, Rising To A High Of 19.9% In The Second Quarter Of This Year. Among All Americans, 17.4% Reported Being Uninsured In The Second Quarter Of The Year.” (Elizabeth Mendes, “Fewer 18-To-25-Year-Olds Uninsured,” Gallup, 9/21/11)

 

  •  
    • Employees Across America Are Paying More For Their Health Care. “As a result of all of these cost-cutting measures, employees are picking up more of the tab. Over the past five years, employers have increasingly shifted costs to employees through higher deductible plans and Mercer expects they will continue to do so.” (Deborah Brunswick, “Health Insurance Costs To Rise Again Next Year,” CNN Money, 9/22/11)

 

  •  
    • Health Benefits Costs Increased the Most in Six Years. “The cost for businesses to buy health coverage for workers rose the most this year since 2005 and may reach $32,175 for a family in 2021, according to a survey of private and public employers.” (Jeffrey Young, “Health-Benefit Costs Increase The Most in Six Years, Surpassing $15,000,” Bloomberg, 9/27/11)

 

Now Chairman Kaine Is Supporting The Same Failed Policies That Left Us With More Than 9% Unemployment And Massive Debt

And instead of recognizing that the policies he championed at the Democratic National Committee have failed, Chairman Kaine is standing with President Obama again to double down on another nearly $450 billion stimulus – paid for with more job-crushing tax hikes on Virginia families and businesses.  

In fact the Virginian-Pilot wrote:

  • “Instead of employing the so-called ‘balanced approach’ to deficit reduction that he has touted throughout the past year, the president’s proposal relied on tax increases alone. Worse, Obama proposed a series of well-worn measures that Congress has rejected over and over again.” (Virginian-Pilot, 9/18/11)

 

“People aren’t just mad, they are concerned about the future and frustrated with Washington’s continued failures.  As The White House’s hand-picked Democratic National Committee Chairman, Tim Kaine told us the $800 billion failed stimulus would ‘jump start’ the economy.  It didn’t,” said Bill Riggs, Allen campaign spokesman.  “Then he hailed the partisan passage of Obamacare, telling us we’d ‘immediately see benefits’, yet employees are paying more for health.  Another failure.  Now Chairman Kaine is once again standing shoulder to shoulder with the President as he pushes for tax increases that will hurt job creators to fund more of the same failed policies.  Some people in Washington never learn – and that’s what makes Americans mad.”

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A Pro-Growth Plan for America’s Comeback (From The Loudoun Times-Mirror)

A Pro-Growth Plan for America’s Comeback

The Loudoun Times-Mirror

By George Allen

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

    
When the $800 billion stimulus plan passed Gov. Tim Kaine said it “would jump start the economy” and it was “what’s needed to put Americans back to work.”

That was when unemployment was at 7.8 percent. Now two and half years later, unemployment is stuck above 9 percent, 1.7 million jobs have been lost, and the national debt has soared to well over $14 trillion. It’s painfully clear to families that the first stimulus was a failure.

Yet it took my opponent over two years as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, five months as a U.S. Senate candidate and zero jobs created in August to finally realize we need a job creation strategy.”

That’s been apparent to many Virginia families for far too long.

In spring we released my comprehensive pro-growth plan – The Blueprint for America’s Comeback that will restart America’s economic engines, help us achieve energy freedom, and rein in Washington’s out of control spending and reach.

First, take the shackles off job creators. In 2008, we were number 1 in the World Economic Forum’s list of most competitive nations. Today we’ve dropped to fifth. Some of the world’s highest taxes are found right here in America, and they’re killing jobs. Reducing the tax on job creators from 35-percent ranking among the highest in the world down to a competitive 20-percent would cause the beneficial creation of 500,000 jobs per year.

Our nation can again be the most competitive in the world, but only if we allow American businesses and entrepreneurs to compete in the world market, rein in stifling, excessive regulations, make the tax code more fair and simple, and strengthen education and training.

Second, unleash America’s energy and creativity. The world’s most plentiful energy resources are right here in America, but they’re kept out of reach by counterproductive policies that raise costs, punish families and small businesses, slow our economy, and make our nation vulnerable to outside forces. Unleashing American energy will fuel a job-creating boom with over a million new good paying jobs and an addition of over a trillion dollars to government revenue without raising taxes, reduce costs for American families. It can improve our quality of life, strengthen our nation’s security, and keep money in the U.S.A.

Third, ensure that government serves the people and not the other way around. Most of the challenges we face today are directly linked to the excesses of our government. Simply put, it borrows taxes, regulates and spends too much. The time has come to finally pass a Balanced Budget Amendment that includes Line-Item Veto and enforceable spending caps.
As Chairman of the Democratic National Committee in Washington, Tim Kaine strongly advocated for much of the failed policies that have driven up our national debt making annual trillion dollar deficits the norm even as unemployment remained at unacceptably high levels.

He has supported repeated calls for tax increases to cover the surge in Washington spending. And he is now applauding the call for a second stimulus which includes higher taxes and more spending that will impose additional burdens on struggling lower and middle income working families and job creating small business owners. 

During his tenure as Virginia Governor we saw the same approach and got the same results. He repeatedly called for tax increases – $4 billion in total, while Virginians lost over 100,000 private sector jobs.

That philosophy didn’t work then in Richmond, hasn’t worked in Washington during the last three years, and won’t help put people to work going forward.

Click here to continue reading

Candidate Kaine vs Chairman Kaine and the President on Tax Hikes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 27, 2011

   

Candidate Kaine vs Chairman Kaine and the President on Tax Hikes

Henrico, VA – In an interview  yesterday with NBC News 12, Chairman Kaine defended his support for job-crushing tax hikes on Virginia families and businesses while unemployment remains stuck above 9 percent and the economy is at a stand-still, even though President Obama said in 2009 that “the last thing you want to do is raise taxes in the middle of a recession.”

Obama:The last thing you want to do is raise taxes in the middle of a recession … because that would just … take more demand out of the economy and put businesses in a further hole.”  (NBC, 8/5/09)

But despite high unemployment and zero jobs created in August, President Obama and Chairman Kaine are now supporting massive tax hikes to fund another government spending binge – a second nearly $450 billion stimulus.

But other Democrats aren’t going along with President Obama and Chairman Kaine’s job-crushing tax hikes …

  • Sen. Ben Nelson: “Nebraska Dem Ben Nelson tonight said talk of raising revenues, raising taxes ‘not helpful at the moment’, ‘we’ve got to cut the spending’” (NBC’s Libby Leist Tweet, 9/19/2011)

 

  • Sen. Jim Webb: “‘Terrible,’ Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) told POLITICO when asked about the president’s ideas for how to pay for the $450 billion price tag. ‘We shouldn’t increase taxes on ordinary income. … There are other ways to get there.’” (“Hill Dems Pick Apart Obama Jobs Plan,” Politico, 9/14/11)

 

  • Sen. Joe Manchin: “Manchin said he is ‘greatly concerned’ about the recommendations for raising tax rates on small businesses in a recession.” (Register-Herald, 9/24/11)

And now Chairman Kaine is using Washington rhetoric to try to hide his support for massive tax hikes in a weak economy, telling Virginians that allowing the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts to expire shouldn’t count as a tax increase.

Chairman Kaine: “Letting the Bush tax cuts expire … that’s not a tax increase.” (NBC News 12, 9/26/11)

But that isn’t what Chairman Kaine said last year as head of the Democratic National Committee when he praised President Obama for extending the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, saying “millions of hard working Americans can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing that their taxes will not increase next year.” (Chairman Tim Kaine, “House Passes Middle-Class Tax Cut Bill And Sends It To President Obama,” Press Release, 12/17/10)

So during his time at the Democratic National Committee, Chairman Kaine stood with President Obama and called the failure to extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts a tax increase on millions of hard working families, but now he’s denying that they should be considered tax hikes at all? 

Chairman Kaine isn’t being up front with Virginia voters because he can’t defend his support for massive, job-crushing tax increases at a time when Americans are facing more than 9 percent unemployment and a stagnant economy that created zero jobs in August.

“As the President’s hand-picked Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Mr. Kaine is clearly feeling the weight of advocating for the President’s failed agenda over the last three years,” said Bill Riggs, Allen campaign spokesman. “It was Tim Kaine who championed President Obama’s first $800 billion failed stimulus, saying it would ‘jump start the economy.’  Since then we’ve lost 1.7 million jobs and seen 30 months of unemployment over 8 percent. If more Washington spending and massive tax hikes improved the economy, Americans wouldn’t be facing unemployment stuck above 9 percent.  New tax increases will not help to create jobs, they will only hurt job creating businesses.  Chairman Kaine should know this all too well, as Governor he tried to raise taxes $4 billion even while Virginia lost over 100,000 jobs – sadly, some people never learn.”

Chairman Kaine Praised President Obama For Bipartisan Compromise To Extend Bush Tax Cuts, Saying Millions Of “Americans Can Breathe A Sigh Of Relief Knowing Their Taxes Will Not Increase”

“After The House Vote, Chairman Tim Kaine Released The Following Statement Praising Congress Prompt Action To Help Protect American Families.”  (Chairman Tim Kaine, “House Passes Middle-Class Tax Cut Bill And Sends It To President Obama,” Press Release, 12/17/10)Kaine: “I applaud the House for sending this critical legislation to the President for his signature.”  (Chairman Tim Kaine, “House Passes Middle-Class Tax Cut Bill And Sends It To President Obama,” Press Release, 12/17/10)

Kaine Said “Millions Of Hard-Working Americans Can Now Breathe A Sigh Of Relief Knowing That Their Taxes Will Not Increase Next Year.” “Across America, millions of hard-working Americans can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing that their taxes will not increase next year, that vital unemployment benefits will be renewed, and that their families can continue to count on tax provisions that make raising their children and sending them to college more affordable.”  (Chairman Tim Kaine, “House Passes Middle-Class Tax Cut Bill And Sends It To President Obama,” Press Release, 12/17/10)

 

 

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ICYMI: A Pro-Growth Plan for America’s Comeback (From The Loudoun Times-Mirror)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 27, 2011

 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
A Pro-Growth Plan for America’s Comeback
From The Loudoun Times-Mirror 

By George Allen

Tuesday, September 27, 2011
When the $800 billion stimulus plan passed Gov. Tim Kaine said it “would jump start the economy” and it was “what’s needed to put Americans back to work.”

That was when unemployment was at 7.8 percent. Now two and half years later, unemployment is stuck above 9 percent, 1.7 million jobs have been lost, and the national debt has soared to well over $14 trillion. It’s painfully clear to families that the first stimulus was a failure.

Yet it took my opponent over two years as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, five months as a U.S. Senate candidate and zero jobs created in August to finally realize we need a job creation strategy.”

That’s been apparent to many Virginia families for far too long.

In spring we released my comprehensive pro-growth plan – The Blueprint for America’s Comeback that will restart America’s economic engines, help us achieve energy freedom, and rein in Washington’s out of control spending and reach.

First, take the shackles off job creators. In 2008, we were number 1 in the World Economic Forum’s list of most competitive nations. Today we’ve dropped to fifth. Some of the world’s highest taxes are found right here in America, and they’re killing jobs. Reducing the tax on job creators from 35-percent ranking among the highest in the world down to a competitive 20-percent would cause the beneficial creation of 500,000 jobs per year.

Our nation can again be the most competitive in the world, but only if we allow American businesses and entrepreneurs to compete in the world market, rein in stifling, excessive regulations, make the tax code more fair and simple, and strengthen education and training.

Second, unleash America’s energy and creativity. The world’s most plentiful energy resources are right here in America, but they’re kept out of reach by counterproductive policies that raise costs, punish families and small businesses, slow our economy, and make our nation vulnerable to outside forces. Unleashing American energy will fuel a job-creating boom with over a million new good paying jobs and an addition of over a trillion dollars to government revenue without raising taxes, reduce costs for American families. It can improve our quality of life, strengthen our nation’s security, and keep money in the U.S.A.

Third, ensure that government serves the people and not the other way around. Most of the challenges we face today are directly linked to the excesses of our government. Simply put, it borrows taxes, regulates and spends too much. The time has come to finally pass a Balanced Budget Amendment that includes Line-Item Veto and enforceable spending caps.
As Chairman of the Democratic National Committee in Washington, Tim Kaine strongly advocated for much of the failed policies that have driven up our national debt making annual trillion dollar deficits the norm even as unemployment remained at unacceptably high levels.

He has supported repeated calls for tax increases to cover the surge in Washington spending. And he is now applauding the call for a second stimulus which includes higher taxes and more spending that will impose additional burdens on struggling lower and middle income working families and job creating small business owners. 

During his tenure as Virginia Governor we saw the same approach and got the same results. He repeatedly called for tax increases – $4 billion in total, while Virginians lost over 100,000 private sector jobs.

That philosophy didn’t work then in Richmond, hasn’t worked in Washington during the last three years, and won’t help put people to work going forward.

Read More: http://www.loudountimes.com/index.php/news/article/guest_opinion_a_pro-growth_plan_for_americas_comeback12/

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The George Allen Record – Line-Item Veto Authority – September 27, 2005

In an effort to rein in wasteful government spending and change the way Washington does business, on September 27, 2005, George Allen, along with Senator Jim Talent (MO), proposed a constitutional amendment to give the President Line-Item Veto similar to the power Governors in 46 States have to disapprove specific spending items without vetoing an entire bill.

Commenting on the proposed amendment on the Senate floor, Allen stated, “When I was honored by the people of Virginia as Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, I had the power of the line–item veto. I used it 17 times. I saw how useful a tool that was as Governor to knock out undesirable, nonessential spending.”  He further explained that “after you use it [Line-Item Veto] a few times, you don’t have to use it as much, because the legislative branch understands … and when it comes to the final budget or appropriations bills, the undesirable or wasteful programs or spending are not in it.”

In addition to Line-Item Veto authority and implementing iron-clad spending cuts, George Allen advocates long-term fiscal solutions like the Balanced Budget Amendment and Paycheck Penalty for members of Congress to end Washington’s reckless spending habits which have made trillion dollar deficits the norm. In order for Americans to compete and succeed in the future, Washington should have to live by the same rules that Virginia families and businesses do – within their means.

America’s Morning News with Dana Mills and John McCaslin

A-Team: ICYMI: George Allen’s appearance on America’s Morning News with Dana Mills and John McCaslin, we discussed common sense ways to reinvigorate our economy, create jobs, and rein in Washington’s out of control spending.

Click here to listen.