Gov. Bob McDonnell was sworn in as the 71st governor of Virginia earlier this afternoon at exactly 12:29 pm, according to my watch. 🙂
A clearly humble, yet enthused, McDonnell struck on familiar campaign themes during his inaugural address: creating opportunity and jobs, making Virginia the energy capital of the east coast, working with President Obama to create high-quality charter schools, and building a transportation system that can get everyone moving again to those jobs, schools, and other opprotunities.
“Where opportunity is absent, we must create it. Where opportunity is limited, we must expand it. Where opportunity is unequal, we must make it open to everyone,” said McDonnell. “Our Administration will be dedicated to building ‘A Commonwealth of Opportunity’ for all Virginians.”
Speaking in front of thousands under a brilliant blue sky and warm sun, the governor quipped that he had fulfilled his first campaign process of having an inauguation in good weather.
Of course, McDonnell didn’t waste anytime by fulfilling a more substantive campaign promise and signing two executive orders: number one establishing the Chief Job Creation Officer and the Governor’s Economic Development and Job Creation Commission and number two establishing the Governor’s Commission on Government Reform and Restructuring.
But McDonnell faces a significant challenge left to him by his predecessor – a budget that was only balanced by adding a 1% income tax increase.
“As jobs are lost and consumer confidence remains low, state revenues have declined, and an historic budget shortfall has stretched into the billions. Thus, like so many households and business across the Commonwealth, state government needs to devise new ways to operate and find savings,” said McDonnell. “The circumstances of our time demand that we reconsider and restore the proper role of government. Without reform the continued growth of government threatens our very prosperity.”
That theme was echoed by Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling, who later in the day at a rally for Americans For Prosperty said that because an income tax was not going to pass the legislature, “We must cut $2 billion from the budget and it’s never easy but it’s necessary. Government must tighten its belt and live within its means.”
Bolling also had a humorous moment at the inauguration when he was asked if he was ready to take the oath, he responded by saying he was “more than ready.”
Another funny moment occurred at the end of the ceremony when Senator Dave Marsden requested Sine Die by pronouncing it “sign dye”, to which Speaker Bill Howell responded, twice, without actually correcting Marsden, but he certainly was, by correctly saying “Seen-ay Dee-ay”.
