By Suzanne Curran
Conservative Activist
Shenandoah County, VA
I support the Open Forum by Sen. Mark Obenshain and Del. Matt Lohr that explained solid reasons for opposing federal stimulus money and its federal interference (“Kaine Is Wrong On Unemployment,” April 27, Harrisonburg Daily News Record).
Virginia’s budget is in dire straits due to unrealistic expectations by the Kaine Administration. Many budget items have been reduced for lack of revenue. Federal “stimulus” funding is a one-time paycheck. Next year, who will pay for programs underwritten by that money? The Virginia General Assembly will be required to find state tax money to cover them.
The people who are ridiculing our dedicated elected officials for opposing the one-time funding will ridicule them again for not “finding” the money to keep the programs funded with new permanent tax dollars.
The Virginia Constitution requires a balanced budget. We pay as we go in Virginia. The Democratic Kaine Administration has based its budgeting on unrealistic assumptions. Do you believe in July 2009, just two months from now, Virginia’s tax revenues will grow at an annual rate of 4.5 percent? If they do not, the budget will not balance.
Do you know an economist who will predict that we will reach those revenue projections in 60 days? Virginia’s revenue was down 15 percent in January as compared to January 2008; down 13.6 percent in February, and, according to newly released data, down 13.9 percent in March for a total decline of nearly 14.2 percent from first quarter 2008 receipts. Some economists predict we will enter fiscal 2010 with higher unemployment.
Many of our immediate financial and job needs for Virginia could be greatly reduced if we would drill for natural gas and oil offshore. The oil and gas business produces extended employment and small business opportunities that surround that industry. Democrats say no.
Exxon employees who live in Malaysia next to the South China Sea work on offshore platforms 30 days then get 30 days home. Their salaries are excellent. Communities that surround their compound receive new revenue from taxes; local businesses have new patrons with money to spend. I visited there many times and I never saw a hint of a platform on the horizon, while that platform’s underwater stanchions created a rich reef-like world for marine life! But Democrats say no.
A drive through Timberville recently was so sad. Mason Motors is out of business; Broadway Ford out of business. How many jobs were lost by their closing? Their cute ad jingles on WSIG were a source of information and provided for employment at the radio station. Certainly, my son’s business, selling new car warranty insurance, has lost several dealership clients across Virginia. No one thinks beyond the immediate business closing, and, it affects so many others in an ever-widening circle.
This destructive debacle is a result of voters’ being either uninformed or misinformed. Obama told everyone during his speech at James Madison University that the Constitution is a “flawed document,” basically negative, and he was going to change it. He is?!
We need a statewide strategy to defeat the galloping, Obama-led, Democrat interlopers who say “the federal government is here to help.”
To quote Ronald Reagan, “The federal government is not the answer, it is the problem.” This version of federal governance is a problem as far as the eye can envision into several generations of our several great-grandchildren. To repeat Lohr and Obenshain’s piece, “Hang on, this may be a rough ride.”
To ease the pain for our Commonwealth, vote for Bob McDonnell for governor, re-elect Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and send Matt Lohr, Chris Saxman, Steve Landes, and Todd Gilbert back to the House of Delegates to continue their fight for a government dedicated to lower taxes, better jobs, and less regulatory interference in your places of business.
We do not need to take more federal government money with strings attached.
Suzanne Curran is the 2009 Volunteer of the Year for Americans for Prosperity.
3 comments:
Suzanne always seems tobe "on target". I guess that is why she was named AFP volunteer of the year
Great story, Suzanne knows her facts. Its clear that Gov. Kaine and President Obama are of the same tax and spend mind. I completely agree that Virginia should be drilling and harvesting our natural gas resources, there is a gold mine of new revenue down there just waiting for our state to make use of it. Think of the possibilites. We could actually pay all of our debt off and improve the state without another federal dollar. Wouldn't that be Great!
For those of you fortunate enough to call Suzanne a friend you know her briliance and for you poor SOB's who have been in her crosshairs you know her wrath. She is always "spot-on" with her analysis and was putting the "Drill Here Drill Now Pay Less" message out there a long time before it became a "right side slogan" not because it was cool, but because it made sense. I myself got my b sticker from her at the 6th District Convention last year. If you get the chance to be at an event where she is hang out and listen, you'll probably learn something.
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