George Allen: Standing Strong for Freedom

Latest Federal Assault on Freedom

That is the word to describe the latest federal assault on the freedoms of America's working men and women. In the latest example of over-reaching by the intrusive federal government, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is attempting to block the Boeing Corporation from moving some operations from the State of Washington to South Carolina. South Carolina, like Virginia, is a Right-to-Work state where men and women are not compelled to pay union dues as a condition of employment.

Nowhere in the Constitution is power granted to any appointed group - or the unelected bureaucrats who staff them - to dictate to American companies where they can or cannot locate their businesses and create jobs. This unprecedented power grab can only be seen as an unconstitutional restraint of free trade within the U.S. This decision by President Obama's administration should send shock waves through every Right-to-Work state in the country, including our Commonwealth of Virginia.

Right-to-Work laws are a matter of personal liberty - they protect working men and women from being forced to join a union and pay dues just to get a job. As Governor I saw firsthand how Virginia's Right-to Work laws made our state more competitive for recruiting businesses and creating jobs here in Virginia. Being the furthest state North on the Eastern Seaboard with Right-to-Work laws gives Virginia a great competitive advantage.

As Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Tim Kaine chose to stand with big union bosses as they fought against reforms that would balance Wisconsin's state budget. Unlike Tim Kaine, I will always stand on the side of freedom and opportunity for Virginia's working men and women, not on the side of big union bosses.

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and U.S. Senator Jim DeMint are leading the fight to protect the freedoms of American workers - but they need our help. This is a fight we should all join to protect our foundational freedoms and the economic competitiveness of our country. Virginians understand that job creation only flourishes when you provide families and small businesses the freedom to succeed. If elected to the United States Senate I will lead the fight to protect Virginia from the federal government's attacks on our Right-to Work laws and economic competitiveness.

George Allen

Governor Eyebrow: Gutless Wonder

Tony Perkins, Family Research Council, notes how Kaine plans to disrespect Virginia's voters...

"Speaking of throwing a bone to the Left, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (D) has asked his staff to put together a proposal before he leaves office that would give state employees same-sex partner benefits. Kaine's successor, Bob McDonnell, is an outspoken opponent of special rights, but it would be his mess to clean up when he takes over for the Kaine next month. According to the Washington Post, "a change of this magnitude" would take a year and a half to implement. Of course, it's taken a lot less time for the idea to rile up conservatives, who--like New Jersey--see this as a gutless move meant to please a radical constituency after liberals lost in November's elections. Governors Corzine and Kaine could have acted on this agenda earlier, but both were too afraid of voter backlash--which, ironically, they couldn't avoid anyway."

Let Our Military Vote!

Cuccinelli to Push for Changes In Military Absentee Voting Laws Efforts require uniformity - some registrars don't mail ballots to active duty service members in time for them to vote

FAIRFAX, VA -- Ken Cuccinelli today reiterated his support to enact legislation in January that would require all registrars in the Commonwealth to keep to strict timelines for the mailing and processing of active duty military absentee ballots. "There is an immediate need to address issues related to active duty service members and whether their votes are being counted" said State Senator Ken Cuccinelli. "In last year's Presidential election, several counties in the Commonwealth mailed ballots to active duty service members so late that there was no practical way that the ballots would be returned on time to be counted. This effective denial of the right to vote of those who are defending us around the world must end," said Cuccinelli. "As Virginia's next Attorney General, I will lead the push put legal structures in place to ensure Virginia's military men and women that their votes will count in every election." As recently as last month, the Kaine Administration, in a legal brief in the McCain-Palin vs. Virginia State Board of Elections (Cunningham) filed in the Eastern District of Virginia (http://www.cuccinelli.com/memo.pdf), amazingly argued that because there is no statutory timeframe in place under federal law, they could mail absentee ballots to active duty service members right up to the day before an election. Of course, with the turnaround time in the mail for such ballots, those ballots would never be returned in time to be counted, thereby denying those military members the right to vote. "Rather than seeking immediate reliefto ensure that active duty military members have their votes counted, the Kaine Administration is making a technical legal argument that, if true, would still leave military members without a practical opportunity to vote" added Cuccinelli. "It's just unbelievable to me that the Governor of Virginia, who is also the Chairman of the Democrat National Committee, would place such a low priority on the voting rights of active duty military members. This is a mindset that will change should I be elected Attorney General," concluded Cuccinelli. Senator Cuccinelli pointed out that ensuring the rights of our military members to vote was point five of his five point plan to better equip Virginia to provide for our Veterans and active duty military members. To review that plan, jointly presented with Paul Galanti, Roger Sullivan, and Joe McCain, click here: http://www.Cuccinelli.com/press_veterans.htm.

Gov. Kaine has Failed Virginia

Wolf, Herrity, Comstock & Villanueva Blast Kaine Over Roads Spending

- Part-Time Governor Puts Virginia Dead Last - 51st Out of 51 in Spending Stimulus Dollars for Transportation -

RICHMOND - Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine has dragged Virginia into 51^st place - out of a possible 51 - in expending federal funding intended for transportation projects. Virginia placed behind all other states and the District of Columbia, earning a harshly-worded letter from the Democratic Chairman of the House Committee that oversees transportation issues.

On Monday, Congressman Frank Wolf (10^th District), Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity, candidate for the House of Delegates Barbara Comstock (34^th District) and Virginia Beach City Councilman Ron Villanueva, candidate for the House of Delegates (21^st District), blasted Kaine's slow-footedness in accessing funds already available to the Commonwealth.

In a letter that was a striking reprimand to Kaine, Rep. James Oberstar (D - MN), Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, wrote in no uncertain terms that Virginia had been negligent in ignoring available funds for transportation.

"Based on the State progress reports submitted to the Committee in September 2009, Virginia has fallen far behind other States in putting to work its Recovery Act Highway formula funds. According to submissions received from all States and the District of Columbia, your State ranks last among all States (51 out of 51) based on an analysis of percentage of Recovery Act Highway formula funds put out to bid, under contract and underway.

"As of August 31, Virginia had begun construction of projects totaling only 17 percent of the State's funding.

"I strongly urge you to refocus your efforts to implement the Recovery Act and use the available funds to create and sustain family-wage jobs. These jobs are critical to Virginia's and the nation's long-term economic growth."

Oberstar pointed out that Kaine had been warned in August that Virginia was falling behind other states.

"In August 2009, almost six months after enactment of the Recovery Act, I sent letters to the best and worst performers in putting to work Recovery Act highway funds," wrote Rep. Oberstar. "Since then, we have watched many states move aggressively to create and sustain family-wage jobs, contribute to our nation's long-term economic growth, and help the United States recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression.

"Regrettably, Virginia is not among these States."

Asked if he had concerns over criticisms about his negligence on transportation, Kaine told the Washington Post, "I don't worry about it."

Rep. Frank Wolf (10^th District):

"We could use that money, definitely. This morning, coming into the District, I-66 was bumper-to-bumper. It's that way every day - even Saturdays and sometimes on Sundays. Secondly, we could use that money to re-open rest stops. Take a look at anything that was on the six-year plan that was taken off.

"We're in a critical situation. The economic growth and the opportunities here in Northern Virginia depend on transportation. There are a lot of things that the money could be used for so that we're ready to come out strong when we come out of this recession.

"It's very important when you look at the unemployment rate. Right now it's at 9.8-percent. Some people say it is ready to go to 10 or 10.1."

Pat Herrity, Fairfax Board of Supervisors:

"The Fairfax County Parkway and Fair Lakes Parkway Interchange is a project that's been on the books since forever. It just seems that even though they have the funding, they keep getting pushed back. We've got that money. We just can't seem to get Richmond and the transportation bureaucracy to move these projects forward."

Barbara Comstock, Candidate for House of Delegates, 34^th District:

"For so many people, transportation is their number one concern. And when you have the governor say ‘we're comfortable' with our rate of spending, I can tell you that the people of my district are not comfortable at all. When we hear that not only are we 51^st in applying for the funding, but 51^st in spending it, you have to realize that transportation has not been the priority it needs to be."

Ron Villanueva, Virginia Beach City Council, Candidate for House of Delegates, 21^st District:

"We hate to beat up on V-DOT, but in this case, we need to beat up on V-DOT. Things are just not happening. There's no oversight on a lot of these projects. A lot of our projects are ‘shovel ready.' But when you go through the bureaucracy of V-DOT, you find out that a lot of their engineering designs aren't ready, a lot of the right-of-way acquisitions aren't ready and that's why a lot of our projects aren't ready at the state level. You've got to look at the failure of this administration.

Dems Don't Want Our Military Personell to Vote

Erick Erickson, Editor at RedState.com discusses an issue that every Virginian should be upset about.

Virginia argues that they don't need to send out military absentee ballots in time to vote

Last year, we covered some of the problems in the counting of military absentee ballots in Virginia, as did others. This problem has not gone away. It has just moved. The day before election day 2008, the McCain campaign filed a complaint in the Eastern District of Virginia to force Virginia to count military absentee ballots that came in after election day. McCain lost Virginia by more than enough votes, but the case went on with the Department of Justice replacing the McCain campaign.There were filings last month and will likely be a hearing this month. So what?

The Virginia State Board of Elections argued in their most recent filing that they have no legal obligation to send out military absentee ballots in a timely manner. Restated, the State of Virginia has argued in a federal court filing that they can legally send out absentee ballots to active duty soldiers the day before an election. Restated again, the Democratic Chairwoman of the Virginia State Board of Election (appointed by the Democratic National Committee Chair Tim Kaine, in his capacity as Virginia Governor) Jean Cunningham just claimed a legal basis for massively raising the barrier to voting for soldiers at war.

Really. Read on for details. . .

Please click here for the rest of the post.

Democrats have a 'Fool' for a Candidate

Creigh Deeds Meltdown Tops 50,000 Views on YouTube

Click Here to Join the Fun! In Kaine-Speak, Deeds is a “Fool” More Than 30-Times Over Tim Kaine expressed outrage over proposals to use portions of Virginia’s General Fund to pay for programs other than public education, seriously calling into question the validity of more than 30 spending promises offered by Creigh Deeds. Kaine made the exclamation with reference to Bob McDonnell’s proposal to use a part of the General Fund to address Virginia’s crumbling transportation system. In reality, only about 45-percent of the General Fund is used for public schools. That must mean that Kaine opposes almost all of Deeds’ plans. Read more here.

Deeds is Fibbing on General Fund Argument About Roads

Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine and his chosen successor for governor Creigh Deeds are now howling daily that Bob McDonnell would harm public schools with his roads plan, despite Deeds’ own extensive list of programs that draw money from similar sources. Deeds has listed more than 30 programs that would come from the same pool of money. Also, in reality, only about 45-percent of the General Fund is spent on education. Deeds Kaine are in cahoots in this scheme to mislead Virginia voters. If you believe the claim that any dime spent out of the General Fund robs education, then you have to conclude that Deeds himself is like Bonnie and Clyde rolled into one deceitful package. So, to paraphrase Deeds himself: ‘Creigh, what about the children?’ Read more.

Doctors Blast Deeds: Higher Malpractice Cap = Reduced Access to Medical Care

Four Virginia medical doctors have criticized Creigh Deeds for his attempt to triple the limit of awards for malpractice claims against physicians, a move that would have seriously threatened the ability of many doctors to continue their practices and endangered the health of patients seeking care. Deeds sponsored legislation in the General Assembly that would have increased the cap on such claims from $1 million to $3 million. Malpractice claims and the lawsuits that accompany them increase the cost of the insurance doctors must have to remain in the medical field – in many cases driving them out of practice entirely. In addition, fearing possible malpractice claims, some doctors often perform what is known as “defensive medicine,” which could mean keeping a patient in the hospital for a stay longer than fully necessary or calling for additional tests and procedures in order to avoid charges that sufficient care was not provided. These factors contribute to the increasing costs of medical care for everyone. Read more about why Deeds is wrong on medical issues. Cuccinelli Schools Shannon in WTOP Radio Debate Democratic candidate for attorney general Steve Shannon fraudulently claimed to be the centrist option in the race in a debate today on WTOP radio in Washington, DC, despite using his only opportunity to question his opponent, Republican Ken Cuccinelli, to push a radical environmentalist agenda that will harm the economy and destroy jobs in areas of Virginia that can least afford it. This should not surprise any observers, as Big Labor-backed Shannon attended a seminar hosted by the Democratic Attorneys General Association in September that gave lessons on how to attack private employers on environmental grounds. “I am a pro-business, law and order centrist,” Shannon claimed during the debate, despite his record of supporting Big Labor issues 100-percent of the time, according to the AFL-CIO. Big Labor has also been among Shannon’s greatest financial admirers, giving him $145,800 in contributions in his political career, including $119,850 during his run for attorney general (www.vpap.org). In Shannon’s only opportunity to question Cuccinelli, he essentially asked why his opponent did not fully agree with those who say that global warming is threatening modern civilization. The query puts Shannon squarely in line with those in the environmental lobby and the Democratic wings of Congress who are aggressively pursuing Cap-and-Trade legislation, a known job killer that will increase the price of energy, boost the cost of doing business and raise expenses for every person living in the United States. Read more about Cuccinelli’s victory.

Deeds: Got a Position?

Speaker Howell, Del. Kilgore, Mullins Challenge Dems to State Position on Deeds Tax Increase

RICHMOND - Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Pat Mullins has been joined by Speaker of the House of Delegates Bill Howell and Del. Terry Kilgore (1^st District) in calling for Democratic candidates from across Virginia to declare whether they support Creigh Deeds in his promise to raise taxes if elected. Deeds says he will raise more than $1 billion in taxes, which would mean at least a 20-cent hike in the gasoline tax.

"This is just the absolute wrong time, as Governor Kaine has recognized, to be raising taxes - when you're in a deep, deep recession. Particularly the gasoline tax, which is a very regressive tax that impacts the people who can least afford to pay it the most," said Speaker Howell. "I would be interested in knowing where the other Democrats are on this. Do they support their gubernatorial candidate or not?"

"I think it's a clear defining issue between our candidates and their opponents," said Kilgore. "Particularly in my part of the state, where people have to drive long distances just to get to work, raising the gas tax at this time is just the wrong idea. But we want to know where the House candidates stand."

"Mr. Deeds, in his transportation piece in the Washington Post, again really didn't outline a transportation plan. The one thing that was different this time was that he did acknowledge that he would raise taxes," Mullins said. "We feel it's important that since the top of the ticket has said he would raise taxes and his ticket mates have agreed, we really need to know as voters in the Commonwealth where their candidates for the House of Delegates are going to be."

Last week, Democratic state Senator Edd Houck (17^th District) threw up a red flag on tax increases in an e-mail to constituents, balking at increasing the economic burden on Virginians during a difficult economic period. Houck, a member of the Virginia Senate since 1984, is the second-ranking member on the budget-writing Senate Finance Committee. He is also one of five senators to serve as a conferee on the Budget Conference Committee, a small group of legislators from each chamber who meet to hammer out taxing and spending proposals for consideration by the entire General Assembly and approval by the governor.

"Fortunately, Governor Kaine's proposals contain no tax increases," Houck wrote in an e-mail that largely dealt with efforts to balance Virginia's budget. "With salaries remaining stagnant or worse individuals losing their jobs, a tax increase is unneeded."

Del. Steve Landes (R-25^th District) challenged his opponent to state a clear position on Deeds' tax increase proposal. Democratic candidate Greg Marrow quickly distanced himself from his party's standard-bearer, Marrow responded by saying he "does not support tax increases" (Waynesboro News-Virginian).

Deeds has felt the need to make clear his belief in higher taxes following his embarrassing performance in the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce debate last week. Immediately following the debate, Deeds held forth with the press corps in a disastrous exchange that resulted in a YouTube video that is rapidly approaching 50,000 views in one week's time. The Fairfax Chamber has since endorsed Republican Bob McDonnell for governor.

"With only about five weeks left until the election, we really need to know where these Democratic candidates stand on the Deeds tax increase," Mullins said. "It looks more and more like Creigh is out there on an island by himself, which tells me that not only does he have no firm plan for transportation, he's also not going to have a way to pay for it either."

Gov. Eyebrow Bungles Along

Kaine Misses Budget Mark: Furloughs, Lays Off Workers Without Pay, Cuts Budget - Then Back to Partisan Duties

- Kaine Skates Off to Deeds Fundraiser Following Grim Budget News -

- Jody Wagner Complicit in Overly-Optimistic Budget Projections -

RICHMOND - Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine has announced how he plans to make up a $1.5 billion budget gap created by his and former Secretary of Finance Jody Wagner's wildly optimistic revenue projections and announced that most state employees would be forced to take an unpaid furlough as part of the band-aid package. Kaine will lay off nearly 600 state employees and cut funding to higher education by as much as 15-percent, among other actions. Kaine then immediately returned to his increasingly consuming duties as Partisan-in-Chief by headlining a fundraising event for Democratic candidate for governor Creigh Deeds the same evening.

Kaine: Oops!

"Nearly 600 state employees will be laid off and state-supported colleges and universities will have state funding cut up to 15 percent in new budget reductions," reported the Associated Press.

"Gov. Timothy M. Kaine says his latest plan to balance the budget includes an unpaid day off for many state employees," reported the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Then Off to Raise Political Cash!

"Kaine will host a fundraiser for Deeds Tuesday at the historic Main Street Station in downtown Richmond," reported the Washington Post. "Tickets are $100 to $500."

Kaine, Jody Wagner Overestimated Revenues by $6 Billion!

The Kaine Administration, led by former Secretary of Finance Jody Wagner, has missed budget projections by a total of $6 billion. The cuts Kaine is forced to make now are the result of basing spending plans on the overly-optimistic projections.

Meanwhile, Bill Bolling Was Right ...

Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling - Wagner's opponent this November - has been a consistent budget hawk and has repeatedly cautioned against the financial scenarios painted by Kaine and Wagner for the last 18 months.

"While I hope that economic conditions improve and our economy will grow at a rate of 6.6 percent in the 2010 fiscal year, we cannot be certain of that, and we should not base our budget on such an overly optimistic revenue forecast," Bolling wrote in the Richmond Times-Dispatch in January. "If the Governor's revenue projections do not materialize we will be unable to afford the new programs he has proposed, and we will face massive budget shortfalls in the second year of the biennium. A wiser course is to wait and see how economic growth improves before embarking on so many costly new spending initiatives."

Additionally, Bolling sounded words of caution in June in the Washington Times, observing, "On July 1, we will start another budget year, fiscal 2009-10. The new budget is only ‘balanced' because it assumes revenue growth of 4 percent. Frankly, this Republican thinks it is very unlikely that our state's economy and subsequent tax collections will grow by 4 percent in the next 12 months. If we fail to meet this revenue projection, we will face another budget shortfall in 2010."

Bolling, as it turns out was exactly right. And as noted by more than one political observer, Wagner got the equation exactly wrong.

"[The Wagner term as Secretary of Finance were] years marked by muff-ups and miscalculations," wrote columnist Jeff Schapiro (Richmond Times-Dispatch, September 21, 2008). "There are legitimate reasons for taking a hammer to Wagner . . . The Kaine administration's fiscal sins, perceived and actual, are numerous. Among them: pushing for higher transportation taxes even as the economy began its decline, and missing revenue projections by a mile - or two or three. Also, taking baby steps to balance the $77 billion budget more than a year ago, when perhaps more aggressive measures were justified."

Too Much Focus on Politics, Not Enough at Home

"This is not the first time Tim Kaine has dropped terrible economic news on the people of Virginia and then hustled off to perform his DNC duties," said Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Pat Mullins. "First it was to help Barack Obama push his government-run health care bill and to campaign in New Jersey. Now it's a desperate attempt to buy a legacy by raising money for Creigh Deeds. How about tending to fiscal matters at home first?"

Gov. Eyebrow's Split Personality Emerges

Trying to be Governor and DNC Chair at the same time is bringing out the 'Mean-Spirited Timmy' in Virginia's Democrat Governor, not to mention the "Two-faced Timmy."

Kaine Now Full-Time Partisan-in-Chief

- DNC Chairman Drops Pretense of Being Governor of All Virginians -

- Formerly Praised McDonnell, Now Spouts Partisan Rhetoric -

RICHMOND - Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine has apparently completely abandoned his elected role as governor of all of the people of Virginia and now spends his time tossing political rhetoric at Republican candidate for governor Bob McDonnell. Kaine inserted himself into the story about a decades-old thesis McDonnell wrote as a graduate student, sending out a political press release and offering partisan quotes for news articles on the subject.

Just this February: Good Relationship

"Kaine said that he and McDonnell had a good working relationship before McDonnell resigned last week as attorney general to campaign full time," reported the Washington Post.

Kaine & McDonnell: Working Together

"After years of shrugging off the problem, the General Assembly finally addressed it last month, thanks to the bipartisan efforts of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, a Democrat, and Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell, a Republican. With scarcely a murmur of opposition, lawmakers approved a measure to raise the caps for court-appointed lawyers handling adult felony cases -- and, far more significantly, to allow the caps to be waived with judicial approval." (Washington Post, March 5, 2007)

Kaine Signed McDonnell Bill on Sexual Predators

Kaine signed McDonnell's legislation that changed the way Virginia monitors, incarcerates, and treats violent sexual offenders. Kaine and McDonnell issued a joint press release on the occasion.

Kaine, McDonnell Signed Joint Letter on NIETC

Kaine and McDonnell declared their opposition to Virginia's inclusion in the proposed National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor in a joint letter sent to the Secretary of Energy. The two objected to federal preemption of Virginia's historical, and necessary, control over transmission siting issues. They argued that Virginia knows far better than Washington the unique issues and concerns when it comes to placing transmission lines in the Commonwealth.

Worked Together in Wake of VA Tech Shootings

McDonnell provided legal advice as Kaine issued an executive order to instruct all executive branch agencies to immediately begin including the names of individuals found dangerous and ordered to undergo involuntary mental health treatment in the database accessed before the sale of firearms by licensed gun dealers to ineligible individuals. The two issued a joint press release.

*

"Gov. Tim Kaine made precisely the right call yesterday when he issued an executive order closing a loophole in state gun laws. Attorney General Bob McDonnell provided legal advice for the governor. A Democrat and Republican cooperated to put Virginia first." (Richmond Times-Dispatch, May 1, 2007)

Union Man Crosses the Line for Money

Democrat Hypocrisy - nothing new there.

Irony Alert: Deeds & Obama at Hilton -

Deeds Picketed Hotel Chain This Year

- Deeds Flummoxed: Picket or Dine? -

RICHMOND - Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Pat Mullins today noted the obvious irony inherent in Creigh Deeds' fundraising event with President Barack Obama tomorrow, given that Deeds notoriously picketed the very hotel franchise hosting the event. Obama is scheduled to appear with Deeds Thursday evening at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner less than seven months after Deeds joined hotel union workers picketing the Hilton in Crystal City in Arlington.

"This is rich," said Chairman Mullins. "Creigh probably doesn't know if he should grab a sign and start marching up and down the sidewalk or go on inside and start grabbing fat checks from donors. What a quandary."

In January, just a few weeks before Virginia Governor Tim Kaine proudly announced the movement of Hilton executives to Fairfax County, Deeds and his ticket mate Jody Wagner took part in a big labor picket line at the Hilton Hotel in Crystal City in Arlington County. Deeds handed out coffee and popcorn to the people picketing the well-established employer.

"Check out, not in," chanted the picketers.

While Deeds was seeking the Democratic nomination, there was no liberal interest group he failed to attempt to please. Big labor was among the greatest beneficiaries of his boundless affection. His two competitors for the nomination did the same, as seen by this picture.

Kaine Comes Clean

When weaseling out doesn't work, or what to do when you are a ghost governor...

Kaine Buckles on DNC Travel: More Time than Reported

RICHMOND - More than a month after Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Pat Mullins issued a Freedom of Information Act request for details of Governor Tim Kaine's travel in his role as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, the governor has acquiesced and released his prior schedule to the Washington Post. With the revelation that Kaine was absent from Virginia for half of the month of June, Mullins called on Kaine to return to serious matters at home as the Commonwealth struggles with high unemployment, budget shortfalls and a transportation crisis that shows no signs of lessening.

"What is a shame is that it took many weeks of prodding and poking around to get the governor to do what he should have done all along, which is tell us where he has been when he is not doing the work of the people of Virginia," Mullins said. "I firmly believe that if we hadn't made this an issue, Tim Kaine would still be hiding his travel schedule from the people who elected him to do an important job."

Mullins sent the governor a FOIA request on June 19, 2009, which was rejected five days later. At least two media outlets - the Washington Post and the Associated Press - filed similar requests and were likewise denied, until Kaine felt pressure enough to release greater detail to the Post. Nonetheless, the spreadsheet provided gives only dates and locations, not the purposes for the trips.

"What we find now is that Tim Kaine has been less than honest with Virginia as to the extent of his travel on behalf of his national political party," Mullins said. "Gone for half of the month of June? With unemployment hitting high double digits in Southside? This borders on governmental malpractice. Why was he in Naples, Florida? Why was he in Minneapolis? We want to know that stuff."

Evolution of an Excuse

Kaine's explanation of his job as DNC chairman has undergone a remarkable transformation since his initial emergence as a rumored candidate for Vice President in 2008. Initially, Kaine flatly ruled out taking on the political role as being in conflict with his duties as governor. Since then, something clearly has changed.

Not Interested in DNC Post

"I don't view that, frankly, as consistent with being governor, so I'm going to be governor,' Kaine said in November 2008. "I would view it as taking my eye too much off the ball about things that need to happen here." (Roanoke Times, November 13, 2008)

Well, Okay

"To Kaine, who had resisted previous overtures from party leaders to take the DNC post, the deciding moment came in an offer he couldn't refuse from a friend - the man he helped elect - President Barack Obama." (Richmond Times-Dispatch, July 5, 2009)

But it Will be Just on Weekends ... Trust Me

"Kaine said he will do the DNC job on personal time, evenings and weekends," reported the Associated Press on January 6, 2009 ("Kaine Says He'll Limit Time Spent As Party Leader"). "‘I think it will be an electronic gig anyway, using e-mail and phone and others," Kaine added.

"Even the governor is allowed to have a little fun on the weekends," said Kaine spokeswoman Lynda Tran (Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 20, 2009).

But I'm Not Telling

"The letter of the law clearly provides that the office of Governor Kaine need not provide documents related to his personal schedule under FOIA." (Tim Kaine Letter of Response to RPV FOIA Request, June 26, 2009)

Well, Maybe I Will

"I just think the easiest way to handle it is for folks to ask, and I'll answer it," Kaine said. ("Kaine on Travel," Washington Post, Virginia Politics Blog, June 23, 2009)

Or Maybe I Won't

"But repeated attempts to review Kaine's schedule -- in Richmond, around the state or across the country -- before and after he became DNC chairman in late January have been unsuccessful. The Washington Post has requested Kaine's calendar through the governor's office, the DNC and his political action committee, Moving Virginia Forward. The requests have been denied or gone unanswered." ("Va. Governor Is Really Going Places," Washington Post, June 25, 2009)

Okay, You Got Me

"According to newly released documents, Kaine's out-of-state travel has accelerated substantially as he has taken on a more visible national role in selling President Obama's agenda, but it has also come as the economic crisis has worsened in Virginia, where the unemployment rate has been rising and state revenue has been falling.

"Kaine also reversed course on Tuesday and announced that he will provide a summary of his daily whereabouts at the end of each month until he leaves office in January. That decision came after his office resisted weeks of pressure that he be more transparent about his travels for the DNC." ("Kaine Pledges to Publish Daily Travel Records Every Month," Washington Post, July 22, 2009)

"This whole thing has become absurd," Chairman Mullins said. "If he'd just been up front with us from the start, none of this nonsense would have been necessary. Now, if he'll just tell us why he's going to Chicago or Beverly Hills, then we'll be getting somewhere. Meanwhile, we still need jobs here in Virginia, we have to close the budget gap, we have to fix our roads, we have to address college tuition. There's a lot to do here, and you just can't do it when you spend fifteen days a month doing the bidding of your national political leaders."

The Republican Party of Virginia has produced an Internet video spotlighting Kaine's travel schedule and his reluctance to disclose to Virginia citizens where he is at any given moment. (Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg1kqenUyyI

Another Democrat in the Union's Pocket

Creigh Deeds is just another Anti-Market, Liberal Democrat. Same ol', same ol'...

Deeds Jobs Plan Ignores Own Record of Anti-Job Positions

- Big Labor Ties, Tax Increases, Cap-and-Trade Strangle Employers -

RICHMOND - Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Pat Mullins today noted the irony inherent in Democrat Creigh Deeds' proposals to fix the Tim Kaine economy, highlighting Deeds' own record of being in the pocket of liberal special interest groups and supporting policies that serve to stifle job growth. Deeds' plan makes no mention of his financial dependency on cash from big labor bosses, or his support of higher taxes and job-killing legislation and proposals.

"It's good that Creigh Deeds has recognized that Tim Kaine has been absent when it comes to the economic stewardship of the Commonwealth," Chairman Mullins said. "With unemployment still climbing - and with rural parts of the state seeing high double-digit joblessness - somebody's got to do something to change the path we're on. I just don't see how you make the argument that the answer is more of the same."

Dependent on Big Labor Boss Cash

Deeds has received at least $1.1 million dollars from major unions AFSCME ($500k) and SEIU ($100k), also including sizeable donations from the Democratic Governors Association - a major recipient of national labor money. (http://www.vpap.org/candidates/profile/home/5637 or http://www.vpap.org/committees/profile/money_in_donors/2719?end_year=2009&start_year=2008)

Deeds Walked Hilton Picket Lines

In January, just a few weeks before Tim Kaine proudly announced the movement of Hilton executives to Fairfax County, Deeds and his ticket mate Jody Wagner took part in a big labor picket line at the Hilton Hotel in Crystal City in Arlington County. Deeds handed out coffee and popcorn to the people picketing a well-established employer.

"Check out, not in," chanted the picketers.

Pro-Big Labor, Anti-Free Enterprise

Deeds has a lifetime rating of 92-percent from the AFL-CIO. His rating from the pro-growth group Virginia FREE has been in the bottom half of the Virginia Senate every year (Virginia Foundation For Research And Economic Education, "2009 Virginia General Assembly Incumbent Evaluations")

Card Check: Uh, We'll Take That as a ‘Yes'

Deeds has avoided taking a public position on legislation that would force workers to publicly state whether they favor forming a union, which will place undue pressure and scrutiny on workers who resist the strong arm of big labor. Given his dependence on big labor money, it is safe to assume that Deeds supports this job-stifling measure.

"We don't know what that legislation is gonna look like right now," Deeds said in dodging the question yet again.

More Taxes

Creigh Deeds voted for the two largest tax increases in Virginia history. He opposed elimination of the death tax (HB2490, 2003). He opposed a bill requiring an economic impact analysis before new government regulations on business take effect (HB1073, 1994; SB558, 1994).

Cap-and-Trade: Job Killer in Deeds' Senate District

Deceptively called the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES Act, H.R. 2454), the bill proposes a "Cap and Trade" scheme in which entities that exceed a government-imposed emission limit would be forced to buy "credits" from entities which emit amounts under the limits. Many analysts and employers have concluded that the idea would increase costs to consumers and severely limit the ability of private companies to create jobs. The bill narrowly passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is now pending in the Senate.

"A Deeds spokesman, Jared Leopold ... said Deeds doesn't have a position on the cap-and-trade bill." ("Independents Edge Away from Obama," Politico, July 9, 2009)

Deeds implicitly supports the bill by his silence and his dependence on national Democrats for campaign cash, despite strong evidence that the plan will kill MeadWestvaco, a major paper products company with 1,500 employees in Covington, Virginia - located in the heart of Deeds' own Senate District.

"If the ACES Act passes Congress, MeadWestvaco's Covington mill operations, which provide 1,500 jobs in the Alleghany Highlands, will definitely be one of the losers. The economic future for our area will be severely impacted," George wrote ("Kill the Climate Bill: Legislation Ignores Critical Factors...," Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 25, 2009).

It all Adds Up to More of the Same

"I've seen this movie before," Chairman Mullins says. "It stars Tim Kaine and the national Democrats. We can't have more of the same failed policies and focus on what's going on in Washington if we want to dig Virginia out of this hole. It's time we went a new direction. Creigh Deeds simply does not offer that."