Does Tim Kaine still stand with Obama on taxes?

Wednesday's speech by President Barack Obama supporting higher taxes begged the question: Does Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tim Kaine agree with Obama's proposal for higher taxes? He's supported Obama with ObamaCare and other overreaching increasing government programs.

Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Pat Mullins had thoughts:

"President Obama's speech today leaves no doubt about how he plans to deal with our country's massive fiscal problems - higher taxes that will cripple job growth, penalize hard working Americans and make our economic recovery more difficult.

"The President's speech raises some important questions about his cheerleader-in-chief, former DNC Chairman Tim Kaine. Does Chairman Kaine still stand shoulder-to-shoulder with his good friend Barack Obama on taxes? It's a question that voters deserve to have answered.

"During the 2005 gubernatorial campaign, Tim Kaine's rhetoric was clear - he would not raise taxes. Then-Lt. Gov. Kaine bristled when then-Attorney General Jerry Kilgore suggested Kaine was a closet tax-hiker.

" 'He's going to raise your taxes if he's elected governor,' Kilgore told the TV audience.

" 'There you go again, Jerry,' Kaine responded, 'making stuff up. You're not fit to be governor if you make stuff up on this stage.' (Virginian Pilot, Oct. 10, 2005)

"Tim Kaine's record in Virginia is clear and well documented. There are few taxes left in the Commonwealth that Kaine didn't try to raise. At various times he tried to raise the income tax, the car tax and the motor vehicle sales tax. He closed 18 rest areas in an effort to force the House of Delegates to raise the gas tax.

"When he left office to head to Washington to become President Obama's Cheerleader-in-chief he left a budget disaster for someone else to clean up. While he headed north on I-95 (by-passing the rest stops he closed) he left a $6 billion budget deficit and plans to implement the largest tax increase in Virginia history to balance the budget.

"Now, President Obama finds himself in a situation that Tim Kaine is very familiar with and just like his Cheerleader-in-chief, his proposal is to raise taxes.

"Since President Obama took a page out of Tim Kaine's playbook and is proposing to address our national deficit by raising taxes, does Tim Kaine's stand behind his own record? Will he support President Obama's efforts to raise taxes?"

Republican Party of Virginia

Richmond, the Governor, and VCU Rams

Governor Bob McDonnell (R-VA) at Saturday's Central Committee meeting.

RPV Chairman Pat Mullins listens as the Governor talks about basketball and politics.

The Governor was dressed in VCU gold and black as he prepared to leave for the airport and fly to the Final Four game in Houston.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell

2 April 2011

Pat Mullins: "Bob McDonnell was focused on job creation"

Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Pat Mullins commented on the campaign promise that was made ... and the campaign promise that has been kept:

"We knew Bob McDonnell was focused on job creation and economic development, but I don't think anyone expected his team to land a Fortune 100 company just 101 days into his term. But in hindsight, it's not surprising at all," Mullins said.

"Governor McDonnell made it clear from the first day of the campaign that jobs and economic development were at the top of his priority list," he said. "Anyone who's spent any sort of time around the Governor's team knows how focused they've been on this goal, putting in untold hours of effort, laying the foundations for new employers to make Virginia home. Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling has embraces his role as Chief Job Creation Officer with unbridled enthusiasm, and the Commonwealth has more jobs to show for it."

"Our Republican team in the General Assembly threw their efforts in during the legislative session, fighting off job-killing tax increases and regulation," he said, "while giving the Governor's team a whole new set of economic development tools to use, like a larger and more flexible Governor's Opportunity Fund, tax credits for major employers who bring large numbers of jobs to the Old Dominion, and incentives for clean energy and biotechnology companies."

"And yet today's announcement is simply the latest milestone on the road a better future for the Old Dominion that has seen new jobs Danville, Waynesboro, Southwest Virginia, Frederick County, Charlotte County and other places," Mullins said. "Congratulations, Governor, on a remarkable achievement. Virginia's future is all the brighter thanks to your efforts."

Shenandoah County GOP dinner ... RPV Chairman Pat Mullins

Pat Mullins, Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, addressed those at the Shenandoah County GOP dinner. Many thanks to Chairman Mullins for his leadership.

Photo by SWAC Girl
Lynn Mitchell
26 March 2010

"Read the Bill" marathon continues ... Day 3 of plowing through 2,409 pages of health care bill

It's Day 3 of the "Read the Bill" marathon at Republican Party of Virginia headquarters where volunteers have been calling in for 30-minute shifts, day and night, since 8:00 Wednesday morning reading the 2,409-page health care bill. Listen in live at www.RPV.org/ReadTheBill.

Reading out loud the past 48 hours, volunteers had gotten through page 2,148 as of 8:00 this morning. At that pace, all 2,409 pages of the bill will be finished up around 1:00 this afternoon.

Chairman Pat Mullins kicked off the event Wednesday morning and is slated to be the closing reading this afternoon.

A lot of people have asked RPV why they were doing this. The response:

The reasoning is simple: if it has taken our team 48+ hours of non-stop reading to get through this bill, do you think the average Democratic member of Congress has read this bill they're rushing to pass on Sunday? We've found some outrageous stuff in this legislation that has nothing to do with health care, like a federal mandate to put nutrition information on fast food menus.

I don't think you'll see that in any of the Democratic talking points.

And there are tons of other examples of things in there that have nothing to do with health insurance. But you'd never know it was in there unless you read the bill. Got an FSA or HSA through your employer? There are severe limits on how much money can be put into these accounts and how it can be used, like a prohibition on the purchase of non-prescription drugs.

And we haven't even touched on the fact that this bill — and the reconciliation package — levy billions upon billions of dollars in new taxes on citizens of all income levels.

This bill is a Democrat Christmas tree of government expansion, packed full of pet projects and fixes to pet peeves — a vision of the federal government as the cure for any and every ill in society.

And you wouldn't know any of this, unless you read the bill. That's why we've been reading it. Hopefully, Gerry Connolly, Glenn Nye, Tom Perriello and Rick Boucher have been listening. Because if they really knew what was in here, there's no way they'd still be undecided.

Please contact these Virginia Democrat Congressmen and ask that they vote "no" on the bill:

Congressman Tom Perriello – (202) 225-4711
Congressman Rick Boucher – (202) 225-3861
Congressman Glenn Nye – (202) 225-4215
Congressman Gerry Connolly – (202) 225-1492

RPV Chairman Pat Mullins kicks off "Read the Bill!"

At 8:00 this morning RPV Chairman Pat Mullins kicked off "Read the Bill!", the reading of all 2,400 pages of the proposed health care bill, paving the way for Virginia volunteers to read out loud for the next 40+ hours straight. Listen to it live at www.RPV.org/ReadTheBill.

You are encouraged to invite those who want to learn more about why the health care takeover legislation currently being considered in Congress is bad medicine for Virginia to listen in.

Want to help?
I am scheduled to read from 10-10:30 this morning, and my mom is scheduled to read from 3-3:30 this afternoon from Richmond. Won't you join us?

Folks are needed who are willing to help read the bill from home. If you are willing to volunteer to help read a few pages of the bill, please call 804-780-0111 or email Dave.Rexrode@RPV.org today and provide your name and phone number, and someone will call you to determine a specific, 30-minute shift for you to volunteer that will best help our efforts. You will be provided with a copy of the bill and a special call-in number.

Please call these Virginia Congressmen and ask them to vote NO:
Congressman Tom Perriello - (202) 225-4711
Congressman Gerry Connolly - (202) 225-1492
Congressman Glenn Nye - (202) 225-4215
Congressman Rick Boucher - (202) 225-3861

Virginia Republicans are saying to Congress, "Read the bill!"

RPV Chairman Pat Mullins comments on end of Session

From RPV Chairman Pat Mullins...

"I want to congratulate our Republican team in the State Senate and the House of Delegates for the extraordinary job they did during the 2010 legislative session.

"Faced with the worst budget picture since the Great Depression, our legislative team did an extraordinary job protecting taxpayers and Virginia's economy during this difficult session. Republicans in the House and Senate fought off Democratic efforts to reinstate the car tax and raise their income taxes.

"Republicans also worked across party lines to stand up against power grabs from Washington, D.C., bring new innovation and ideas to our schools and put the Commonwealth on the road to be the 'Energy Capitol of the East Coast.' Republicans and Democrats alike can be proud of the fact that they've kept taxes low and preserved the Commonwealth as the best place in the country to do business."

Chairman Mullins reacts to Del. Spruill's comments

Del. Lionell Spruill lashed out at Governor McDonnell's widely-supported education proposals on Monday, saying the governor "does not care about the kids who are at risk."

Really?

RPV Chairman Pat Mullins issued a statement concerning Del. Spruill's remarks:

"Delegate's Spruill's comments are as offensive as they are wrong, and that's saying something," said RPV Chairman Pat Mullins. "Governor McDonnell's proposals will open the door of innovation and give students who have been trapped in failing schools a fighting chance at a world class education."

Spruill lashed out at Governor McDonnell's widely-supported education proposals on Monday, saying the governor "does not care about the kids who are at risk."

"If that's what he thinks, then Delegate Spruill obviously hasn't taken the time to read the bills he was asked to vote on," said Mullins. "Under the governor's plan, teachers and administrators will be able to take the new ideas from these laboratory and charter schools and improve our existing public schools, giving our children an even better education."

"Governor McDonnell and a bipartisan majority in the General Assembly are to be commended for trying new ideas to improve our school system, not berated for 'not caring about at-risk children.'

"Even President Obama has said that limits on charter schools 'aren't good for our children, our economy, or our country,' Mullins said. "The Obama administration has made it clear with it's 'Race to the Top' program that innovation, not obstruction, is the way forward. What part of that doesn't Delegate Spruill understand?"

Congress cuts ACORN $$$ ... will Virginia Dem candidates return donations?

ACORN has been proven to be a corrupt organization that has squandered taxpayer money and caused questions to be raised in Congress and, yet, Virginia Democrats have accepted donations from them. A check of VPAP shows the following:

Creigh Deeds - $200,000
Jody Wagner - $5,000
Steve Shannon - $21,500
Democrat Party Committees - $220,000

That a lot of tainted money. In fact, RPV Chairman Pat Mullins called on Democrats to return the money, saying:

"ACORN is a corrupt organization that has its finances closely intermingled with SEIU's finances. The right thing to do would be for all Democrats to return the tainted money as soon as possible."

A press release from the Republican Party of Virginia laid it out:

All Democrat Candidates Should Return ACORN-Tainted Money

- SEIU Contributions to Statewide, House Candidates at Issue -
- Nearly $525,000 Distributed Statewide to Democrats -

RICHMOND - Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Pat Mullins today expanded his call for Democratic candidates to return all contributions received from the Service Employees International Union, a big labor group closely affiliated with the scandal-plagued organization ACORN. Following up on his demand that all three statewide Democratic candidates return the campaign cash, Mullins noted that SEIU has contributed almost $525,000 to Democrats, including a number of candidates for the House of Delegates or other offices.

"ACORN is a corrupt organization that has its finances closely intermingled with SEIU's finances," Chairman Mullins said. "The right thing to do would be for all Democrats to return the tainted money as soon as possible."

The relationship between ACORN and SEIU is well-documented. The union's president, Andy Stern, sits on ACORN's advisory council. During the years 2006 and 2007, SEIU gave more than $4 million to the organization, according to Department of Labor filings.

More ACORN-SEIU Links:

1. One SEIU local union, the Illinois Homecare Workers and Home Childcare Providers, sprouted from ACORN's organizing efforts and pays rent to ACORN.

2. SEIU Locals 100 and 880 are identified as allied organizations on ACORN's website.

3. U.S. Department of Labor LM-2's (financial disclosure forms) point to over $600,000 in transactions between SEIU Locals 100 and 880 locals and other ACORN operations .

4. ACORN founder S. Wade Rathke referred to mega-union SEIU 880 as "one of the pillars of the ACORN Family."

5. Service Employees International Union (SEIU) President Andy Stern handpicked ACORN's Rathke to direct SEIU's nationwide organizing projects.

ACORN, which bills itself as a "grassroots community organization," has been mired in scandal for some time. Already under investigation for fraudulently registering voters, the group has been rocked by recently released videos from across the United States showing ACORN employees " willing to abet prostitution, tax fraud, illegal immigration, and sex trafficking in minors ." In the wake of the scandal, Congress is moving to eliminate federal funding for ACORN, which has received $54 million in federal dollars since 1994.

SEIU/ACORN and Virginia Democrats - Perfect Together

Creigh Deeds $200,000
Jody Wagner $5,000
Steve Shannon $21,500
Democratic Party Committees $220,000
(Source: www.vpap.org )

"The only conclusion to be drawn from this pile of campaign cash is that Democrats running statewide and all across Virginia are beholden to the interests of a big labor union that is clearly in bed with ACORN," Mullins said. "These candidates should return this tainted money today."

RPV Chairman Pat Mullins' comment about Democrat ticket

Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Pat Mullins today issued the following statement regarding the selection of Democratic candidates for statewide offices Tuesday. The Democratic ticket will now feature Creigh Deeds for governor, Jody Wagner for lieutenant governor and Steve Shannon for attorney general. Mullins’ statement is as follows:

“Virginia Democrats have nominated a slate of three candidates that would raise taxes as soon as possible and lead with the people’s checkbook as their weapon. Should they succeed in their mission, these three candidates would increase the financial strain on Virginians and private enterprise, depress economic growth and stifle job creation.

“Republicans are the Party of ‘Yes.’ We will promote energy independence. We will protect our Right-to-Work law and keep Virginia competitive. We will promote education reform through charter schools and performance pay for teachers. We will demand efficiency in spending and eliminate burdensome regulations to make government simpler and more user-friendly. And we will offer innovative solutions to stimulate the economy and promote job growth. At each step of the way, Republicans will say ‘yes!’ to these ideals, while our opponents will say ‘no!’

“Given the dismal voter turnout in their primary election, it is clear that there is little excitement in their party and an even smaller appetite for the kind of expansive government their candidates represent. By contrast, our party is enthusiastically behind our excellent ticket of Bob McDonnell, Bill Bolling and Ken Cuccinelli, as proven by the attendance of over 8,000 Republicans at our recent convention. Everywhere I travel in Virginia, local Republican interest is high, which bodes well for our chances in November.

“In Creigh Deeds, Democrats have selected a candidate for governor who has answered every question government faces by seeking new taxes to hike. He has consistently looked into the pocketbooks of hardworking Virginia families to fund his priorities, including supporting a 30-percent increase in the gasoline tax – even at a time when gas was hovering around $4.00 a gallon. Additionally, he leads a ticket that refuses to oppose Card Check, which damages the economy and kills jobs. As we fight to emerge from a difficult economic period, Virginia simply cannot afford a governor whose first options are to find more of the people’s money to throw around and embrace policies that hurt job creation.

“Jody Wagner brings a record of failed economic and financial policies of the past to the general election. She has supported raising nearly every tax imaginable on Virginia's families and businesses and was the leader of the financial team that created $5 billion in budget deficits. A close ally of Big Labor, she also opposes efforts to expand nuclear power, clean coal and development of Virginia's off shore energy resources, which would create thousands of new jobs.

“Steve Shannon is looking to leave behind his status as a back-bencher in the legislature to continue to promote his belief in higher economic burdens on working families. His record reflects full-voiced support for higher taxes and staunch opposition to tax relief. When Virginians are hurting and are in need of new and better jobs, his view of the taxpayer as an unlimited funding source is the last thing we want.

“Finally, the rejection of Terry McAuliffe indicates that even Democrats are disillusioned about the direction their party and leadership have taken. When a wealthy, insider financed, nationally prominent, personal friend of the Clintons is rebuked in such a manner, it is a clear indicator of a party in disarray from top to bottom. On the Republican side, we are energized and look forward to the road ahead.”

So is Creigh Deeds Virginia's version of Jimmy Carter?