October 2, 2013
-Obenshain Lays out Plans to Increase Transparency in the AG's Office, Make Communities Safer and Make Virginia More Friendly for Jobs-
Obenshain: "We can't have safe communities without a strong economy. And we can't have a strong economy without safe communities. I recognize that. And over the course of my 10 years in the General Assembly, I have fought for both. I have traveled Virginia rolling out my policy initiatives for what I would do to lead on both of these areas."
LOUDOUN – In the second debate of the General Election, sponsored by the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce and moderated by Jeff Goldberg of ABC7 Mark Obenshain laid out a results-oriented approach to running the Attorney General's Office, focusing on making Virginia a better place for job creation and making our communities safer. His message was in sharp contrast to Mark Herring's partisan attacks, his failure to defend his anti-business record as a State Senator and member of the Board of Supervisors in Loudoun County, and his continued refusal to take a stand on doing the job of the Attorney General to defend Virginia's laws against challenges.
Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman, who was in attendance and is one of the 59 Republican, Democratic and Independent Sheriffs who have endorsed Mark Obenshain for Attorney General said, "In today's debate, Mark Obenshain was clear, precise, and showed real conviction on issues that Virginians care about. As a Sheriff, I believe that we need a leader like Mark Obenshain, who has presented detailed plans for promoting public safety and keeping our communities safe."
Obenshain opened talking about his plans on jobs and public safety, "In order to keep Virginia strong, we have got to keep our tax burden low, our regulatory system fair, and ensure that we have a level playing field."
Obenshain noted his 100 percent lifetime rating from the National Federation of Independent Business, who has endorsed him for Attorney General. His opponent has a lifetime rating of 64 and a rating of 45 over the last two years.
On a question on ethics reform, Mark Obenshain outlined his proposals to increase transparency in the office saying, "I have made it clear that when I'm Attorney General, I am going to propose and advocate the passage of legislation – and policies for my office – but legislation that will cap gifts at $100 per person; That will apply to members of the household; that will increase the reporting requirements and will look at penalties, and whether that passes the General Assembly or not, I will be the chief personnel officer in the Attorney General's Office and that will be the rule in the Attorney General's Office irrespective of what the General Assembly does."
Obenshain also discussed his proposal for transparency in private attorney contracting with the Attorney General's office, so that contingency fees will be capped and disclosed to the public, which Mark Herring has so far refused to support.
On a question on Dulles Greenway Tolls, Obenshain was clear that he would represent commuters in State Corporation Commission meetings, saying "It's important for the Office of the Attorney General to have a role in these toll proceedings. The Attorney General's consumer affairs office has the ability to step in and participate in these proceedings as a watchdog. I would as Attorney General of Virginia appear on behalf of toll payers in toll proceedings, and would represent the commuters of Virginia."
Mark Herring in his response did not make the same pledge to appear on behalf of toll payers in SCC proceedings.
On a question about the Attorney General's role in defending Virginia law, Mark Herring, as he has done previously, declined to say if he would defend specific Virginia laws against challenges. He told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that "Whenever there is that kind of challenge or question about a law the General Assembly has passed, as to whether it is constitutional, what I would do is poll the attorneys in the attorney general's office who have the expertise in the particular subject matter that is at issue."
Mark Obenshain was clear on his view of the law and the role of the Attorney General, saying, "I think we owe it—we owe it to the people of Virginia to tell them what we're going to do on this and other lawsuits that are filed."
"Mark [Herring] talks about taking the politics out of the Attorney General's office… There's no more profound way of inserting your personal politics into the Attorney General's office than to say 'I'm not going to defend a lawsuit' and watch a constitutional provision or a statute fail by default. It's wrong."
In closing, Obenshain reiterated his focus on public safety and a better economy, saying, "We can't have safe communities without a strong economy. And we can't have a strong economy without safe communities. I recognize that. And over the course of my 10 years in the General Assembly, I have fought for both. I have traveled Virginia rolling out my policy initiatives for what I would do to lead on both of these areas…"
"The people across the state I've worked among the most closely with are Commonwealth's Attorneys and our Sheriffs around Virginia. They've worked with us. They've worked with me. They've taken our measure. They have evaluated us. They have heard us, they have sat down with us, they have seen what we have been able to accomplish, what we have done, where we have taken the initiative not just on the easy initiatives but on the tough problems, and focused on trying to solve those problems. And 116 of them, crossing party lines—Democratic, Independent, Republican—they believe that I have leadership qualities and skills that they want to work with them in making sure that Virginia remains safe and our economy remains strong. We need an Attorney General who will be a leader, who will stand up and tell you what he is going to do."
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