McDonnell works for jobs while Democrats work for felons
By Brian Kirwin | Tuesday, April 13th, 2010 | PolicyGovernor Bob McDonnell issued some great news on the jobs front today.
Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that EcomNets, a company dedicated to advancing energy efficiency in data centers and business computing ecosystems, will invest $1.94 million to establish a green computer, server and storage area network manufacturing operation in Danville. The project will create 160 new jobs. (Full announcement)
While McDonnell works to create jobs and turn the economy around, Democrats continue to whine about felons who can’t write a letter.
Also, Gov. McDonnell is urging keeping a tax deduction that creates jobs.
“I am asking the General Assembly to agree to our amendment allowing deductions of up to 6% of income attributable to domestic production activities. This is a pro-job creation amendment that will help keep employers in the Commonwealth, encourage businesses to locate in Virginia and give us a further advantage over other states.” McDonnell
McDonnell continues to work on improving the economy. If you need a job or want a better one, McDonnell’s working for you.
Let’s see..what’s more urgently in need of action? Creating jobs or ranting about the problems felons are having?
For those Democrat partisans, McDonnell rebuked their attacks.
McDonnell restated his desire to set up a system that rules on every application for rights restoration in 90 days.
“No governor has ever done that,” he said. “It’s usually six months to a year or more. I represented clients trying to get rights back as a lawyer in Hampton Roads. I tell you it took forever.” (Virginian-Pilot)
McDonnell has it right.
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The right wants to jeer him. The left wants to censor him. Moderates usually want both. Brian Kirwin is a political consultant and public relations strategist in Virginia Beach with a lightning-rod flair. Brian also serves on the VB Arts & Humanities Commission and frequently appears on Hampton Roads theatrical stages, if only to prove that all actors aren’t liberals. Kirwin’s columns stir up debate and hit the political scene with no punches pulled.
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17 Responses to "McDonnell works for jobs while Democrats work for felons"
Ok, let’s do the math. The Governor proposes a budget that causes the loss of 35,000 jobs, and announces that a private company will create 160 jobs. Let’s see, only 34,840 jobs to be created to get back to zero. Great start Governor, at this rate, you legacy will as the “loss of jobs Governor.”
I’m all about jobs, but let’s not forget that our illustrious Governor took the time to alter the process by which people ask for the restoration of their voting rights. This wasn’t an omission like, say, leaving sexual orientation out of his anti-discrimination executive order or forgetting that slavery was a significant issue leading to the creation of the Confederacy. This time it was actually him DOING something. I wonder how many job’s weren’t created while he was concocting this?
Joel, he’s actually shortening the process.
You opposing that?
Mike, when did the gov state that he inherited this mess or attribute it to X years of the previous gov? He did not, that is something you may have read from the Obama playbook.
Bob “Free Enterprise” McDonnell got it right. Made the painful decisions for the betterment of the state. In just a few months this man sent a shot across the bow and business leaders appreciate his latest move and support.
Ya gotta love the guv, he didn’t buy that R, he paid his dues for it with sweat equity.
I suppose the Democrats are counting on felons being a large part of their voting block…makes perfect sense to me.
Yes, the Governor made painful budget decisions all right; painful for the 35,000 public employees who will soon be on the unemployment line. I guess McDonnell showed his true colors when he basically said your jobs, those of teachers, policeman, fireman, school counselors, mental health workers, blue collar public works employees, and many other categories simply don’t count, whether you are doing a good job or not. Painful for the Governor; heck no, he and his anti tax cohorts must be rejoicing and planning how they will cut more public jobs next year. Afterall, once your party has destroyed the transportation infrastructure of this Commonwealth by an intentional policy of starvation of resources, what’s next? I guess we have seen the future.
MB-where are you getting that 35,000 number? I think the gov starts off in a jobs hole because of the budget cuts, but I don’t think it’s 35,000.
I don’t think we will cut more jobs at the state level next year. A cut of 35,000 sounds just about right. Let’s go for a cut of 350,000 in Federal Government next year.
I give Bob McD a free pass today and my personal thanks for supporting the local and state employees on the budget issue. If Bob McD actually reads this blog: “Thank you.”
Ditto William Bailey, Thanks Bob.
Mike, 35,000 public employees had to go! THEY HAD TO GO! My heart goes out to these people.. I used to work for the state, what a cushy job that was.. nice knowing the check would always clear, great benefits too. Now we are in a position where we cannot afford to employ so many to handle state business. There are a whole lot more private employers who made more drastic cuts in the past.
Public employees all have something in common.. their work is tax negative and we have thousands more positions that we do not have the funds to pay for without a tax increase. The work, if needed, should be put out for competitive bid to tax positive enterprises that do business in Virginia and pay taxes here. If the work is still needed, not just desired, there are people willing to do that work for a price that do not belong on state payroll.
Remember, we all pay for state salaries.. Do you keep more employees than you need? No.. neither does any business, especially in this climate. If Va intends to not just remain in business but to prepare to be more cost competitive with corporate tax incentives that are needed to encourage good businesses to remain here and new business growth, we need to whittle government down, even in good times. That is the way my father taught me and he has weathered this downturn better than most.
As for transportation, subcontract it to Norfolk Southern.. all of it!! We could move more freight on heavy rail and reduce our dependence on oil while reducing road wear and traffic congestion. What do you think?
Brian, it sounds like you’re trying to have it both ways. You champion the governor for making the process faster, which I applaud and see as a positive. I believe in “natural rights” and feel upon serving their full sentence, the person is again so entitled.
So, we both have some common ground there. However, you then speak of “working for felons” and how Democrats are too busy caring about them. Well, what did McDonnell do by proposing this? Is he helping rights restoration for former felons or not? Are the Democrats really correct in that he’s trying to prevent restoration with the essay? Or is this truly a principled stand on his part?
Sounds like you were “for rights restoration before you were against it.” Very John Kerry of you. Then again, the same can be said of me. I give credit for the intent to speed up the process. Then I turn around and dislike his proposal for being potentially subjective and the complexity worship of hoop jumping rather than simple acknowledgement of natural rights of people the state CHOOSES to release.
I believe in “natural rights” and believe that rights delayed are rights denied. To me, that is cut & dry. Also, evident is that speeding up the process is a good thing. Like you, I question the failure of the Democrats to acknowledge this positive. I also question their failure to acknowledge his bringing the very subject up, which is also a positive as it needs to be addressed. Are they standing on principle or just opportunistic vultures ready to peck Bob’s eyes out?
The grey area comes into play when deciding if this proposal is good for speeding things up, or mostly bad for the other reasons.
The vast majority of states return rights automatically, as mentioned in your linked WaPO article in that other thread. It is only Virginia and Kentucky that requires an act of the governor. One should wonder why Virginia would see things so differently from the rest of America. Isn’t it time we stood on the principle of freedom? Virginia has a lot of things so right, but we’re not perfect. Continual improvement is a good thing. Freedom is the solution. Let’s continue to move forward.
As a side note with Mike Barrett’s arguements in mind, I don’t blame McDonnell for the Obama economy. Just like I didn’t blame Kaine for the Bush borrow and spend idiocy. Just like I didn’t blame Gilmore for 9/11 or the world wide financial difficulties then.
I’d just automaticly restore the felons right to vote once the prison or jail time ended. If you did the crime and paid the time, you have commpleted the punishment. I do not believe this is a major issue as a felon has more important issues to worry about than voting. I also do not believe most convicted felons vote so I do not understand why this would be a priority or a concern for Bob McD’s folks.
I was glad to hear Bob say he isn’t requiring an essay nor is the policy set in stone as he wants a few more months to look at the issue.
Just restore the rights and get back to important “jobs” issues…
I think the suggestion that public jobs are “tax negative” is an appallingly ignorant statement that ignores the interrelationships between the public and the private economy. Both are interdependent; I can’t market or lease real estate without transportation access, companies cannot operate without educated workers, businesses cannot succeed without public utilities, civil society simply can’t exist without public safety. The loss of the jobs of 35,000 valuable employees will be felt in local economies throughout this Commonwealth, especially in small local businesses like grocery stores and other retail and restaurant establishments. Even the expression of this sentiment to me reveals profound ignorance, and/or ideology gone awry.
Mike, you are a bright guy.. You know so much that is not so. How do you come across such widespread misinformation? How many people are on your payroll?
Thanks James; I really appreciation your condemnation. It just raises up my own credibility with most readers.
BTW, Brian, great inflamatory headline! Too bad the Weekly World News is out of business. They really could have used you.
Agreed on the ridiculous headline. Straight outta the Breitbart handbook: “1. Start Fire 2. Ask questions later”. What crap.
BTW, for all you fine, fine religious folks out there: your “Jesus” would say that all felons need to be cared for and rehabilitated.
Shame on you for thinking otherwise.
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