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Brian Kirwin

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.

Comments

23 Responses to "George Allen vs. Tim Kaine – Liveblog"

1. 

   J.R. Hoeft December 7, 2011 13:41 pm

   Allen agreed with Kaine on a “wait and see” approach to Uranium mining? Wow. Not what I would have expected to see.

2. 

   James "turbo" Cohen December 7, 2011 13:44 pm

   Decisive, devisive bizarre.. I feel a chill running down my leg

3. 

   James "turbo" Cohen December 7, 2011 13:47 pm

   Thats my George.. Step in poo and then fling it into the fan.. Thank you sir..

   Popcorn anyone?

4. 

   Martin M. McMartin December 7, 2011 13:53 pm

   Tim Kaine is running fast and loose with the facts. He has a history of this. http://www.youtube.com/user/jnowlin?feature=mhee#p/u/3/9COMIBiyFj0

5. 

   J.R. Hoeft December 7, 2011 14:01 pm

   We’re getting rapid response messages from the Allen campaign. I’ll just post them for you as I get them unfiltered….

   Tim Kaine’s Real Record on Energy

   Longtime Advocate For Cap And Trade Which Would Kill Virginia Jobs:

   September 2007: Kaine Said He Supports “Legislation That Includes A Cap-And-Trade Program For Emissions Of All Greenhouse Gases.” “I support legislation that includes a cap-and-trade program for emissions of all greenhouse gases, imposes economy-wide controls, rather than singling out a particular sector, and accounts for state efforts to standardize methodologies to record and measure greenhouse gas emissions through the Climate Registry.” (Governor Tim Kaine, Testimony before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, 9/26/07)

   February 2009: “Governor Kaine Has Long Advocated A Federal, Nationwide Cap-And-Trade Program.” “Governor Kaine has long advocated a federal, nationwide cap-and-trade program to bring about annual CO2 reductions in the United States and has proposed a 19% reduction in electricity consumption in Virginia by 2025, the top recommendation of the governor’s commission on climate change.” (Governor Tim Kaine, “Governor Kaine, United Kingdom Forge New Agreement To Address Climate Change Issues,” Press Release, 2/12/09)

   June 2009: Kaine “I Do Think We’ve Got To Have A Cap And Trade Or Equivalent System.” “Yeah, it would be difficult for me to either cap and trade or universal health care as governor if the feds don’t do it. I mean, I do think we’ve got to have a cap and trade or equivalent system, uh, to start to control carbon emissions.” (“Ask The Governor” with Tim Kaine, 1140WRVA, 6/25/09)

   CAP AND TRADE WOULD HARM VIRGINIA JOBS:

   Cap And Trade Would Cost Virginia Between 41,400 And 56,400 Jobs. “The jobs impact of W/M is delayed by the free allocation of permits and generous carbon offsets. By 2030, as emission reduction targets tighten and other W/M provisions phase out, Virginia jobs decline by 41,400 under the low cost case and by 56,400 under the high cost case.” (“Virginia: Economic Impact on the State from the Waxman-Markey Bill, H.R. 2454,” American Council For Capital Formation, 2009)

   Household Income Would Decrease By As Much As $1,096. “Higher energy prices would have ripple impacts on prices throughout the economy and would impose a financial cost on households. Virginia would see disposable household income reduced by $103 to $235 per year by 2020 and $608 to $1,096 by 2030.” (“Virginia: Economic Impact on the State from the Waxman-Markey Bill, H.R. 2454,” American Council For Capital Formation, 2009)

   “By 2015, Gasoline Would Increase Between 6% And 8%, Electricity Between 2% And 3% And Natural Gas Between 13% And 20%.” (“Virginia: Economic Impact on the State from the Waxman-Markey Bill, H.R. 2454,” American Council For Capital Formation, 2009)

   “By 2030, Gasoline Prices Increase Between 20% And 26% While Electricity Prices Increase By Up To 53% And Natural Gas By Up To 64%.” (“Virginia: Economic Impact on the State from the Waxman-Markey Bill, H.R. 2454,” American Council For Capital Formation, 2009)

   “High Energy Prices, Fewer Jobs, And Loss Of Industrial Output Are Estimated To Reduce Virginia’s Gross State Product (GSP) By Between $1.0 And $1.8 Billion Per Year By 2020 And $10.9 And $14.9 Billion By 2030.” (“Virginia: Economic Impact on the State from the Waxman-Markey Bill, H.R. 2454,” American Council For Capital Formation, 2009)

   In 2006, As Governor, Tim Kaine Amended Legislation That Would Have Called For A Return To Drilling For Natural Gas To Instead Call For A Study:

   “Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) Blocked Provisions Friday Of An Energy Bill Passed By The General Assembly That Advocated Resumption Of Drilling For Natural Gas Off Virginia’s Coast.” (Chris L. Jenkins, “Kaine Amends Energy Bill That Sought Drilling Exemption,” The Washington Post, 4/8/06)

   “Kaine Amended The Bill So It Simply Supports Any Federal Efforts To Determine How Much Natural Gas Exists 50 Or More Miles Off The Atlantic Coast.” (Chris L. Jenkins, “Kaine Amends Energy Bill That Sought Drilling Exemption,” The Washington Post, 4/8/06)

6. 

   J.R. Hoeft December 7, 2011 14:02 pm

   Here’s their rapid response on taxes:

   Kaine Flip-Flopped-Flipped On Bush Tax Cuts

   IN SEPTEMBER 2010, KAINE SAID THE REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL TO EXTEND THE BUSH TAX CUTS WAS “BEYOND IRRESPONSIBLE” AND WOULD BE “DOWNRIGHT TOXIC TO OUR ECONOMY”:

   September 2010: Kaine Said Republicans Wanted To “Slash Taxes For The Wealthiest Americans” By Cutting Programs That Benefit The Middle Class Or By “Passing The Cost Of Those Tax Cuts On To Future Generations Of Americans,” Which Kaine Said He “Resent[Ed].” Kaine: “In short, Republicans have proposed to slash taxes for the wealthiest Americans by drastically cutting the programs that benefit hard-working middle class Americans, or by passing the cost of those tax cuts on to future generations of Americans. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think America should sacrifice the well-being of the many for the satisfaction of the privileged few. And I resent the idea that my children should have to pay for the Republican Party’s courtship of wealthy individuals and monied special interests. But that is, in fact, what Republicans have planned.” (DNC Chairman Tim Kaine, “The Republican Tax Plan: More Tax Breaks For Millionaires, More Debt For America,” DNC Blog, 9/15/10)

   Kaine: “[T]he Current Republican Tax Proposal Goes Beyond Irresponsible – It Would Be Downright Toxic To Our Economy, Our Middle Class, And Our Country’s Future.” (DNC Chairman Tim Kaine, “The Republican Tax Plan: More Tax Breaks For Millionaires, More Debt For America,” DNC Blog, http://www.democrats.org, Posted 9/15/10

   Kaine: “. . . What the Republicans want to do is extend these tax cuts, make them permanent to the wealthy, and the CBO has estimated that would double the deficit projections going forward for the next couple of decades.” (CNN’s “State Of The Union With Candy Crowley,” 9/19/10)

   Kaine Said Democrats Wanted The Bush Tax Cuts To Expire And Then Replace Them With “Targeted” Tax Cuts. KAINE: “Well, here’s how I heard that quote. Letting all the tax cuts expire might be a problem. That is not what the Democrats want to do. They don’t want to just let everything expire. They want to let the Bush- designed tax cuts expire and — but then put new tax cuts in place that are targeted for the middle class and small business.” (Fox News’ “Fox News Sunday With Chris Wallace,” 9/5/10)

   BUT IN DECEMBER 2010, KAINE WROTE AN OP-ED SUPPORTING THE TAX CUT COMPROMISE AND PRAISED AGREEMENT TO EXTEND THE CUTS ACKNOWLEDGING MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WON’T SEE A TAX INCREASE:

   Kaine: “This Week, The Results Of His [Obama’s] Efforts Became Clear With The Announcement Of A Bipartisan Agreement That Will Boost Economic Growth And Job Creation By Putting More Money In Middle-Class Families’ Pockets.” (Tim Kaine, Op-Ed, “A Tax-Cut Compromise That Promotes Jobs And A Growing Economy,” The Hill, 12/9/10)

   Kaine Said The Tax Cut Compromise Included “Many High-Impact Job-Creating Measures.” Kaine: “The president’s bipartisan agreement averts the twin disasters of tax hikes totaling more than $3,000 for the average family in 2011 and the creation of an unemployed underclass with no resources to move forward; it delivers real benefits for those most in need; and it includes many high-impact job-creating measures.” (Tim Kaine, Op-Ed, “A Tax-Cut Compromise That Promotes Jobs And A Growing Economy,” The Hill, 12/9/10)

   Kaine: “[I] Am Calling On Members Of Congress — Democrats As Well As Republicans — To Act Swiftly To Approve This Bipartisan Agreement.” (Tim Kaine, Op-Ed, “A Tax-Cut Compromise That Promotes Jobs And A Growing Economy,” The Hill, 12/9/10)

   Praising The Extension Of The Bush Tax Cuts, Kaine Said “Millions Of Hard-Working Americans Can Now Breathe A Sigh Of Relief Knowing That Their Taxes Will Not Increase Next Year.” “Across America, millions of hard-working Americans can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing that their taxes will not increase next year, that vital unemployment benefits will be renewed, and that their families can continue to count on tax provisions that make raising their children and sending them to college more affordable.” (Chairman Tim Kaine, “House Passes Middle-Class Tax Cut Bill And Sends It To President Obama,” Press Release, 12/17/10)

   IN A JULY OP-ED, KAINE SAID THE REPUBLICAN TAX CUTS WERE A “WEIGHT ON OUR ECONOMY”:

   Kaine: “And, Republicans Must Confront Reality On The Bush Tax Cuts. These Tax Cuts, Which Were Never Paid For And Never Intended To Be Permanent, Are A Weight On Our Economy. We Cannot Address Our Fiscal Crisis Without Repealing These Tax Breaks For Millionaires And Billionaires.” (Tim Kaine, Op-Ed, “A Balanced Approach To Deficit Reduction” [Hampton Roads, VA] Daily Press, 7/23/11)

7. 

   J.R. Hoeft December 7, 2011 14:04 pm

   A-Team on spending:

   Kaine Supported An Explosion Of Government Spending Adding $4.4 Trillion To The National Debt During President Obama’s Administration

   Advocated Obama’s Stimulus And Health Care Reform That Cost Trillions

   Since President Obama Took Office, The National Debt Has Risen $4.4 Trillion, An Increase Of Over 41 Percent. (US Department Of The Treasury, TreasuryDirect.gov)

   Current Debt: $15 Trillion (U.S. Department Of Treasury, http://www.treasurydirect.gov, Accessed 12/7/11)

   · Each Citizen Now Owes $48,207 In Debt. (U.S. Debt Clock Website)

   · Each Taxpayer Owes $133,899 In Debt. (U.S. Debt Clock Website)

   $15 Trillion Is More Than The Value Of All The Goods And Services Produced In The United States Last Year. (“Gross Domestic Product,” Bureau Of Economic Analysis)

   15 Trillion One-Dollar Bills Would Wrap Around The Earth’s Equator Over 58,000 Times. (“Earth: Facts & Figures,” NASA)

   $1.17 Trillion: Total Cost Of Obama’s Stimulus With Interest. (CBO, 8/24/11, CBO, 1/27/09)

   $2.6 Trillion: True Cost Of Obamacare Once Implemented. (Office Of The Speaker Of The U.S. House Of Representatives, Report, 1/6/11)

8. 

   J.R. Hoeft December 7, 2011 14:06 pm

   A-Team on Kaine and Taxes:

   Taxes, Taxes And More Taxes

   As Lieutenant Governor, Kaine Stood With Then-Governor Warner Calling For A Billion Dollars In New Taxes

   AS LT. GOVERNOR, KAINE CALLED FOR A $1 BILLION TAX INCREASE:

   The Kaine-Warner Administration Called On The State Legislature To Increase Taxes And Spending. “In forceful terms, Gov. Mark Warner called on Virginia lawmakers Wednesday night to pass legislation that brings fairness to the tax code, increases spending for education and other essential programs and puts the state ‘on the path to long-term fiscal stability.’” (Michael Sluss and Kevin Miller, “Warner Announces New Jobs,” The Roanoke Times, 1/15/04)

   $2.4 Billion Spending Increase And $1 Billion In Tax Increases. “In his third State of the Commonwealth address to a joint General Assembly session, Warner defined the stakes for a debate that will dominate the legislative session and go a long way toward establishing his administration’s legacy. The governor wants lawmakers to approve a two-year, $59 billion budget that calls for a $2.4 billion increase in general fund spending and more than $1 billion in revenue from new taxes.” (Michael Sluss and Kevin Miller, “Warner Announces New Jobs,” The Roanoke Times, 1/15/04)

   The Tax Increase A “Major Victory” For The Kaine-Warner Administration. (Michael D. Shear and Chris L. Jenkins, “Va. Passes Landmark Increases In Taxes,” The Washington Post, 4/28/04)

   “Mr. Kaine, Who Serves As President Of The Senate, Said Tuesday The Budget Deal Helps His Chances At Winning Next Year’s Gubernatorial Race.” (Christina Bellantoni, “Democrats Eye Gains From Winning Tax Fight,” The Washington Times, 5/13/04)

   “‘And I Do Believe It Is Positive For Me As Well,’ Mr. Kaine Added.” (Christina Bellantoni, “Democrats Eye Gains From Winning Tax Fight,” The Washington Times, 5/13/04)
   As Governor, Kaine Pushed For Billions In New Taxes

   ONLY DAYS INTO HIS ROLE AS GOVERNOR, KAINE PROPOSED A $3.7 BILLION TAX INCREASE:

   January 20, 2006: Kaine “Proposes Taxes And Fees To Raise $3.7 Billion For Transit Over Four Years.” (Andrew Cain, “Key Dates In Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s Tenure,” Richmond Times Dispatch, 1/3/10)

   Transportation Plan To Generate $3.7 Billion In New Revenue. “Gov. Tim Kaine will seek higher taxes on vehicle purchases and automobile insurance premiums and steep fines for driving violations to generate revenue for a transportation funding package that would produce $3.7 billion in its first four years and provide a sustained source of money for road and transit projects.” (Michael Sluss, “Kaine Unveils Road Map,” The Roanoke Times, 1/21/06)

   “Kaine Proposes Taxes On Buying, Titling And Insuring Cars And Steeper Fines For Traffic Offenses To Raise $3.7 Billion Over Four Years For Transportation. Measure Fails.” (“Key Points Of Gov. Tim Kaine’s Term,” The Associated Press, 12/26/09)

   IN 2007, KAINE HIT VIRGINIANS WITH HIGHER FEES FOR VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS AND DRIVING INFRACTIONS:

   In 2007, “The General Assembly Ended An Intense, Election-Year Session Saturday After Sending Gov. Tim Kaine A Transportation Funding Package That Likely Will Be Overhauled By The Time Lawmakers Return To Richmond In The Spring.” (Michael Sluss and Mason Adams, “Transportation Funding Bill Approved – Grudgingly,” The Roanoke Times, 2/25/07)

   “The Bill Also Calls For A $10 Increase In Vehicle Registration Fees And New Fees On Bad Drivers To Generate Revenue For Maintenance And Other Ongoing Transportation Costs.” (Michael Sluss and Mason Adams, “Transportation Funding Bill Approved – Grudgingly,” The Roanoke Times, 2/25/07)

   Along With Authorizing Local And Regional Taxation, The Bill Included The Following Taxes Or Fees: Abusive Drivers Fee, Registration Fees, Penalty for Violation of Weight Limits, Diesel Fuel Tax and Road Tax, 1/3 of Insurance Premiums Tax, Original Driver’s License Fee, Grantor’s Tax, Motor Vehicle Rental Tax, Commercial Real Estate assessment, Driver’s License Fee, Local Vehicle Registration Fee, Vehicle Inspection Fee. (Department of Planning and Budget, 2007 Fiscal Impact Statement, HB 3202)

   · “Driving with a suspended or revoked license – Three annual payments $250;

   · “Reckless driving – Three annual payments $350;

   · “Driving while intoxicated – Three annual payments $750;

   · “Any other misdemeanor driving conviction – Three annual payments $300;

   · “Any felony driving conviction; Three annual payments of $1,000; and

   · “Reaching the eighth demerit point means an automatic extra charge of $100 and $75 for each additional point.” (Hugh Lessig, “Virginia Drivers Beware,” Daily Press, 3/23/07)

   IN 2008, KAINE PUSHED AGAIN FOR A $1 BILLION TAX INCREASE FOR TRANSPORTATION:

   “Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine Proposed Monday Raising $1.1 Billion In Taxes And Fees To Build And Repair Roads, Including Boosting The Sales Tax By 1 Cent In Northern Virginia And Hampton Roads.” (Tim Craig and Anita Kumar, “Va. GOP Lawmakers Reject Kaine’s Latest Transportation Fix,” The Washington Post, 5/13/08)

   “Kaine (D) Also Recommended A Statewide $10 Increase In Annual Vehicle Registration Fees And A 1 Percent Rise In The Sales Tax On New Car Sales.” (Tim Craig and Anita Kumar, “Va. GOP Lawmakers Reject Kaine’s Latest Transportation Fix,” The Washington Post, 5/13/08)

   IN 2009, KAINE PROPOSED A $2 BILLION-A-YEAR INCOME TAX INCREASE:

   “Gov. Tim Kaine Wants [To] Eliminate Virginia’s $950 Million Annual Car Tax Reimbursement Payment And Exchange The Tax On Personal Vehicles For A 1 Percent Income Tax Surcharge.” (Sarah Krouse, “Gov. Kaine Calls For End Of Car Tax, New Income Tax Surcharge,” Washington Business Journal, 12/18/09)

   The Tax Increase Under Kaine’s Budget Proposal Would Be A $2 Billion-A-Year Income Tax Increase. “Virginia’s hated local car tax would be replaced with a $2 billion-a-year income tax increase under the new budget Gov. Timothy M. Kaine presented Friday.” (Bob Lewis and Dena Potter, “Va. Gov: End Car Tax, Raise Income Tax 1 Percent,” The Associated Press, 12/18/09)

   The Income Tax Change Would Have Resulted In A Tax Rate Hike For 60 Percent Of Taxpayers. “The increase would mean a hike in the income tax rate from 5.75 percent to 6.75 percent for those earning more than $17,000, 60 percent of taxpayers.” (Anita Kumar and Rosalind S. Helderman, “Virginia Governor Proposes An Income Tax Increase,” The Washington Post, 12/19/09)

   Kaine’s Proposal To Increase Virginia’s Income Tax Was Called A “Radical Restructuring Of The State’s Tax Code.” “Virginia’s outgoing Democratic governor, Timothy M. Kaine, proposed Friday replacing the long-hated car tax with an income tax increase, a radical restructuring of the state’s tax code that was immediately rejected by the governor-elect and other Republican leaders.” (Anita Kumar and Rosalind S. Helderman, “Virginia Governor Proposes An Income Tax Increase”)

9. 

   Tim J December 7, 2011 14:09 pm

   What Kaine is saying is irrelevant but the real message is in what Kaine’s eyebrows are doing when he is attacking, lying or diverting a question. Have you noticed an “attack brow”, “lie brow”, “tax brow, “divert the question brow” or “Obama brow”?

10. 

    James "turbo" Cohen December 7, 2011 14:13 pm

    Answer the questions George..

11. 

    Lauren Yoder December 7, 2011 14:14 pm

    Kaine seems to be making it clear he is running on the Obama record. I would say he has no plans on winning southside and southwest Virginia.

12. 

    J.R. Hoeft December 7, 2011 14:16 pm

    A-Team on Kaine’s service as governor:

    ‘My last year in office was my best year’ – Tim Kaine, Capitol Correspondents Debate, 12/7/11
    Kaine’s Mismanagement
    Closed Rest Stops

    In 2009, Kaine Closed 19 Of Its 42 Rest Stops In An Effort To Cut Spending And Help Close The $2.6 Billion Budget Gap. “State transportation officials last month decided to close 19 of the state’s 42 rest stops to help ease a $2.6 billion budget gap over the next six years. Each rest area costs about $500,000 to operate annually.” (Zinie Chen Sampson, “Crews Close 18 Virginia Rest Stops To Save $9 Million,” The Virginian-Pilot, 7/21/09)

    “AAA Mid-Atlantic Called On Gov. Timothy M. Kaine To Find The Money To Reopen The Rest Stops. ‘Highway Safety, Not To Mention Comfort, Hospitality And Tourism, Have Today Taken A Big Hit,’ The Motorists’ Group’s Spokesman, Mahlon G. Anderson, Said Tuesday In A News Release.” (Zinie Chen Sampson, “Crews Close 18 Virginia Rest Stops To Save $9 Million,” The Virginian-Pilot, 7/21/09)

    “Despite The Emphasis In Kaine’s [Senate Announcement] Video On The State’s Reputation For Sound Management And Business-Friendly Policies, The Story Of His Term Includes A Recession-Driven Decision To Close Highway Rest Stops . . . .” (Jeff E. Schapiro, Op-Ed, “Schapiro: For Kaine, The Problem — And Promise? — Of Obama,” Richmond Times-Dispatch, 4/6/11)
    McDonnell Audit

    “An Independent Audit Of Virginia’s Roads Agency [VDOT] Found Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars Languishing On Stalled Projects And Hundreds Of Millions More In Unspent Reserves, Gov. Bob McDonnell Announced Thursday.” (Kimball Payne, “Audit Finds $1.45 Billion Unspent For Virginia Roads,” [Newport News, VA] Daily Press, 9/24/10)

    · “Last Summer, As Virginia Drivers Passed Barricaded Rest Areas And Unmown Grass Along State Roads, The Virginia Department Of Transportation Had Squirreled Away $529 Million In A Reserve Fund. That Was One Of Several Financial Surprises Discovered By A Recent Independent Audit Of VDOT’s Spending And Operations.” (Kelly Hannon, “VDOT Sat On Millions,” [Fredericksburg, VA] The Free Lance-Star, 9/24/10)

    “In Total, Auditors Identified $1.45 Billion That Could Be Spent On Transportation In Virginia Through 2016.” (Kelly Hannon, “VDOT Sat On Millions,” [Fredericksburg, VA] The Free Lance-Star, 9/24/10)

    · “The $1.45 Billion Will Be Raised By Taking Several Steps, According To A Presentation At The News Conference Yesterday: $200 million is available by reducing the amount of cash VDOT keeps in a reserve fund. It will have a 60-day reserve, instead of a nearly six-month reserve. $524 million is available by spending federal funds on construction projects in the six-year budget sooner, rather than keeping federal money in reserve. $200 million can be spent on maintenance contracts in the 12 months, rather than trying to spread it out over several years. $130 million is available by releasing money from inactive projects. $400 million is available by taking advantage of federal toll credits. Virginia could use this $400 million in federal funds as the often- required 20 percent state match to federal funds. That frees up $400 million in state money to go elsewhere.” (Kelly Hannon, “VDOT Sat On Millions,” [Fredericksburg, VA] The Free Lance-Star, 9/24/10)

    Kaine Said The Audit Was “Good News” Since “Typically When An Audit Is Released With Such Anticipation, It’s Because Of A Discovery That Taxpayer Dollars Are Missing.” “‘Typically when an audit is released with such anticipation, it’s because of a discovery that taxpayer dollars are missing. In the case of today’s audit — thanks to tight-fisted project management and sharp reduction in overhead during the toughest economic downturn in a generation — what’s clear is VDOT has cash in the bank to pay for the projects in the Six Year Plan as they are built. That’s good news,’ Kaine wrote in an e-mail.” (Kelly Hannon, “VDOT Sat On Millions,” [Fredericksburg, VA] The Free Lance-Star, 9/24/10)

    IN 2009, KAINE PROPOSED A $2 BILLION-A-YEAR INCOME TAX INCREASE

    “Gov. Tim Kaine Wants [To] Eliminate Virginia’s $950 Million Annual Car Tax Reimbursement Payment And Exchange The Tax On Personal Vehicles For A 1 Percent Income Tax Surcharge.” (Sarah Krouse, “Gov. Kaine Calls For End Of Car Tax, New Income Tax Surcharge,” Washington Business Journal, 12/18/09)

    The Tax Increase Under Kaine’s Budget Proposal Would Be A $2 Billion-A-Year Income Tax Increase. “Virginia’s hated local car tax would be replaced with a $2 billion-a-year income tax increase under the new budget Gov. Timothy M. Kaine presented Friday.” (Bob Lewis and Dena Potter, “Va. Gov: End Car Tax, Raise Income Tax 1 Percent,” The Associated Press, 12/18/09)

    The Income Tax Change Would Have Resulted In A Tax Rate Hike For 60 Percent Of Taxpayers. “The increase would mean a hike in the income tax rate from 5.75 percent to 6.75 percent for those earning more than $17,000, 60 percent of taxpayers.” (Anita Kumar and Rosalind S. Helderman, “Virginia Governor Proposes An Income Tax Increase,” The Washington Post, 12/19/09)

    Kaine’s Proposal To Increase Virginia’s Income Tax Was Called A “Radical Restructuring Of The State’s Tax Code.” “Virginia’s outgoing Democratic governor, Timothy M. Kaine, proposed Friday replacing the long-hated car tax with an income tax increase, a radical restructuring of the state’s tax code that was immediately rejected by the governor-elect and other Republican leaders.” (Anita Kumar and Rosalind S. Helderman, “Virginia Governor Proposes An Income Tax Increase,” The Washington Post, 12/19/09)

13. 

    Nikki Sheridan December 7, 2011 14:16 pm

    Thanks very much to the BD team for the live blogging and rapid response filtering. It is appreciated.

14. 

    J.R. Hoeft December 7, 2011 14:21 pm

    A-Team on Kaine’s stimulus support (note: if I was getting anything like this from Team Kaine, I’d be posting it too):

    Tim Kaine In His Own Word: Stimulus Would “Jumpstart The Economy”

    Kaine Said The Stimulus Would “Jumpstart The Economy.” “The President and Members of Congress have passed a stimulus plan that will help jumpstart the economy and accomplish critical objectives to get our economy growing again.” (DNC Chairman Tim Kaine, BarackObamaDotCom YouTube Channel, 2/6/09)

    Kaine Said Stimulus Would Save Or Create More Than 3 Million Jobs. “The number one priority of the President’s economic recovery plan is to get Americans back to work. The plan will boost employment by saving or creating more than 3 million jobs nationally.” (DNC Chairman Tim Kaine, BarackObamaDotCom YouTube Channel, 2/6/09)

    Since President Obama’s $825 Billion Stimulus Passed, The Unemployment Rate Has increased From 8.2 Percent To 8.6 Percent and The Nation Has Lost 1.1 Million Jobs. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, Accessed 12/2/11)

15. 

    J.R. Hoeft December 7, 2011 14:28 pm

    A-Team challenges Kaine’s statement that DNC Chief is not a partisan job:

    My job was not the most partisan job in America” – Tim Kaine, Capitol Correspondence Debate, 12/7/11

    Kaine Was Described As “Obama’s Defender-In-Chief At The DNC.” “His position as Obama’s defender-in-chief at the DNC brought him national prominence.” (Cameron Joseph, “Virginia’s Allen And Kaine Prepare For First Debate Showdown,” The Hill, 12/4/11)

    Kaine Said When He Was DNC Chair, “Nobody Ever Asked Me To Say Anything I Didn’t Agree With Or Believe . . . That’s Not How I Operate.” “Kaine resigned Tuesday as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, where he was a tireless and unapologetic advocate for Obama’s agenda. ‘When I was DNC chair, nobody ever asked me to say anything I didn’t agree with or believe,’ Kaine said. ‘That’s not how I operate.’” (Michael Sluss, “Kaine Answers Questions About 2012 Senate Race, Jens Soering Controversy,” The Roanoke Times, 4/6/11)

    Kaine Said His Job As DNC Chair Is “A Wonderful Job,” And Includes Going Out And Being The President’s Advocate And Promoter. “‘My agreement with the president is I was going to do what he wants me to do,’ Kaine said on CNN’s ‘State of the Union.’ ‘And what I know sitting here today is he wants me to continue in this spot and that’s what I’m going to do with excitement, you know, traveling all around the country, going through the TSA lines like everybody else, going out and being the president’s advocate and promoter. And it’s a wonderful job and I intend continue it.’” (Felicia Sonmez, “Kaine To Stay On As Democratic National Committee Chairman,” The Washington Post’s Virginia Politics Blog, http://www.washingtonpost.com, Posted 1/2/11)

16. 

    J.R. Hoeft December 7, 2011 14:38 pm

    Tim Kaine is providing Rapid Response, at his website: http://www.kaineforva.com/rapidresponse

    Posts so far are:

    * Allen voted to raise his pay 4 times, but can’t give one reason why he deserved it
    * Allen calls for reining in spending, ignores his own big spending record
    * George Allen’s answer on taxes as confusing as his so-called plan

17. 

    J.R. Hoeft December 7, 2011 14:44 pm

    A-Team clearly doesn’t think the stimulus was a good idea!

    Kaine Supported Obama’s $800 Billion Failed Stimulus

    Kaine Said The Stimulus Would “Jumpstart The Economy.” “The President and Members of Congress have passed a stimulus plan that will help jumpstart the economy and accomplish critical objectives to get our economy growing again.” (DNC Chairman Tim Kaine, BarackObamaDotCom YouTube Channel, 2/6/09)

    Kaine Said Stimulus Would Save Or Create More Than 3 Million Jobs. “The number one priority of the President’s economic recovery plan is to get Americans back to work. The plan will boost employment by saving or creating more than 3 million jobs nationally.” (DNC Chairman Tim Kaine, BarackObamaDotCom YouTube Channel, 2/6/09)
    Stimulus Ineffective

    34 Record Number Of Straight Months With Unemployment Rate Above 8 Percent. (Bure
    au of Labor Statistics)

    Since President Obama’s $825 Billion Stimulus Passed, The Unemployment Rate Has increased From 8.2 Percent To 8.6 Percent and The Nation Has Lost 1.1 Million Jobs. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, Accessed 12/2/11)

    According To An Analysis By The Associated Press, Local Unemployment Unaffected Across The Country By Stimulus Regardless Of How Much Money Was Spent On Roads And Bridges:

    · “A federal spending surge of more than $20 billion for roads and bridges in President Barack Obama’s first stimulus has had no effect on local unemployment rates, raising questions about his argument for billions more to address an ‘urgent need to accelerate job growth.’” (Matt Apuzzo and Brett J. Blackledge, “Stimulus Cash Doesn’t Create Local Jobs,” The Associated Press, 1/12/10)

    · “An Associated Press analysis of stimulus spending found that it didn’t matter if a lot of money was spent on highways or none at all: Local unemployment rates rose and fell regardless. And the stimulus spending only barely helped the beleaguered construction industry, the analysis showed.” (Matt Apuzzo and Brett J. Blackledge, “Stimulus Cash Doesn’t Create Local Jobs,” The Associated Press, 1/12/10)

    As The Richmond Times Dispatch Reported, The Congressional Budget Office Found The Stimulus Less Effective Than Predicted. “Just before the Thanksgiving holiday, the Congressional Budget Office released its latest estimates of the economic effect from the Obama stimulus package, and guess what: The stimulus did less good than earlier estimates suggested.” (Op/Ed, “Stimulus: Correction,” Richmond Times Dispatch, 11/29/11)
    Stimulus Will Do More Harm Than Good In Long Run

    CBO: The Debt Caused By The Stimulus Will Drag On Economic Growth After 2016. “In contrast to its positive near-term macroeconomic effects, ARRA will reduce output slightly in the long run, CBO estimates—by between zero and 0.2 percent after 2016. … ARRA’s long-run impact on the economy stems primarily from the resulting increase in government debt. To the extent that people hold their wealth in government securities rather than in a form that can be used to finance private investment, the increased debt tends to reduce the stock of productive private capital. In the long run, each dollar of additional debt crowds out about a third of a dollar’s worth of private domestic capital, CBO estimates.” (“Estimated Impact Of The American Recovery And Reinvestment Act On Employment And Economic Output From July 2011 Through September 2011,” Congressional Budget Office, November 2011)

    Richmond Times Dispatch: “In The Future, Some Jobs That Would Have Been Created Otherwise Will Not Be. Of Course, Those Losses May Be Offset By All The Current Man-Hours Devoted To Stimulus Cheerleading.” “Finally, the CBO concedes that in the long run, the stimulus will be harmful because of ‘the resulting increase in government debt.’ In the future, some jobs that would have been created otherwise will not be. Of course, those losses may be offset by all the current man-hours devoted to stimulus cheerleading. It might not show up in tables from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but the pro-stimulus snow job may be the biggest ARRA-related job of all.” (Editorial, “Stimulus: Correction,” Richmond Times Dispatch, 11/29/11)

    The Stimulus “Shuffled” Jobs Rather Than “Created” Them. “What’s more, the CBO concedes that ‘the impact on employment suggested by [CBO] reports could be too great. Some people whose employment was attributed to ARRA might have worked on other activities in the absence of the law.’ In many cases, that is, the stimulus may not have ‘created’ jobs so much as shuffled them around.” (Editorial, “Stimulus: Correction,” Richmond Times Dispatch, 11/29/11)

    “So How Many Jobs Has The Stimulus Actually Created? We Have No Idea. But It Did Cost $825 Billion.” “So how many jobs has the stimulus actually created? We have no idea. But it did cost $825 billion. And the CBO predicts — using models favorable to the stimulus — that its positive effects (whatever they actually are) are fading and the burden of its debt soon will begin dragging the economy down. So, happy holidays.” (Editorial, “Stimulus Check: How Many Jobs?” New Hampshire Union Leader, 11/28/11)

    Now Chairman Kaine Supports Obama’s Second Stimulus Funded By Higher Taxes

    Kaine: “President Obama Offered A Series Of Strong, Bipartisan Solutions Designed To Spur Hiring And Job Growth Without Adding To The Deficit.” (Tim Kaine For U.S. Senate, “Kaine Statement On The American Jobs Act,” Press Release, 9/9/11)

    Kaine: “A Combination Of Budget Cuts And New Revenues.” “As Governor of Virginia, I invested in education and work force development initiatives that helped improve opportunities for our citizens and attract new business to Virginia. . . . In order to free-up revenue for these critical investments, Congress should employ a balanced approach to fiscal responsibility and job creation that emphasizes a combination of budget cuts and new revenues by rolling back tax breaks for corporations who don’t need them and the wealthiest Americans.” (Tim Kaine For U.S. Senate, “Kaine Statement On The American Jobs Act,” Press Release, 9/9/11)

    Kaine: “By Balancing Investments In Our Long-Term Economic Stability With Short-Term Job Growth Measures Like The President Proposed Tonight, We Can Ensure Sustainable Job Growth For Generations To Come.” (Tim Kaine For U.S. Senate, “Kaine Statement On The American Jobs Act,” Press Release, 9/9/11)

    Kaine: Obama’s Jobs Plan “Is A Very Tested Set Of Strategies.” “Kaine, who is seeking the party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Jim Webb, said Obama’s speech was ‘intense,’ and he voiced support for the plan. ‘It’s is a very tested set of strategies that has had bipartisan support in the past, and we need to do it’ he said. ‘If anyone’s going to be opposed to it, they’re going to have some explaining to do.’” (Olympia Meola And Wesley P. Hester, “At UR, Obama Urges Support For Jobs Plan,” Richmond Times-Dispatch, 9/10/11)

    The Washington Post: “Kaine Backs Much Of Obama’s Jobs Proposal.” “Kaine backs much of Obama’s jobs proposal, particularly a payroll tax cut, though he believes the measure should be offset by letting Bush-era tax cuts expire for people making over $500,000, and by eliminating subsidies for oil companies.” (Ben Pershing, “Democrats Look To Tie Allen To Senate GOP Jobs Proposal,” The Washington Post, 10/20/11)
    But Obama’s Jobs Plan Just More Of The Same

    The Washington Post’s Zachary Goldfarb: “The program includes the repackaging of some previous Obama proposals and the extension of other initiatives, including temporary payroll tax cuts that were enacted last year.” (Zachary Goldfarb, “Obama Announces $447 Billion Plan To Boost Economy,” The Washington Post, 9/8/11)

    Los Angeles Times: “But his speech offered no new thoughts on how to do so; instead, Obama simply repeated his call for modest reforms in entitlements and more taxes on the wealthy.” (Editorial, “A Jobs Generator?” Los Angeles Times, 9/9/11)

    New York Post: “That’s it? After waiting for weeks to hear President Obama’s answer to staggering unemployment and a stalled economy, the nation last night got nothing more than a $447 billion pile of recycled ideas that isn’t likely to pass Congress.” (Geoff Earle and S.A. Miller, “You Call That A Jobs Plan?” New York Post, 9/8/11)

    The Detroit News: “Instead, Obama offered the same ideas that have failed to stimulate the economy.” (Editorial, “Obama Offers Stimulus Lite,” The Detroit News, 9/9/11)

    Boston Herald: “So that was it? That was President Barack Obama’s really big jobs speech? The one that required a joint session of Congress to be both window dressing and whipping boy? The one that after his nearly three years in office is going to set things right? Honestly? ‘There should be nothing controversial about this piece of legislation,’ Obama said last night in announcing his American Jobs Act. ‘Everything in here is the kind of proposal that’s been supported by both Democrats and Republicans — including many who sit here tonight.’ Which is just another way of saying there is nothing new here.” (Editorial, “Same Old Barack Obama,” Boston Herald, 9/9/11)
    Jobs Plan Won’t Work

    The Economist’s Will Wilkinson: “Notice what Obama’s not claiming passing this bill will do: stimulate growth or significantly reduce the unemployment rate.” (Will Wilkinson, Twitter Feed, 9/8/11)

    USA Today’s Susan Page: “His dilemma: the public’s view of him, his leadership and his handling of the economy has soured, making it harder for him to convince Americans that he’ll be able to enact his proposals — or that, if enacted, they would work.” (Susan Page, “Analysis: Among The Jobs Obama Hopes To Save Is His Own,” USA Today, 9/8/11)

    Time’s Adam Sorensen: “The effects of Obama’s speech — and his plan — will be limited. Some of his proposals, already in place in some form this year, haven’t prevented the recovery from grinding to a halt.” (Adam Sorensen, “Obama Unveils A New Jobs Plan And A Sharper Message,” Time’s Swampland, 9/8/11)

    Las Vegas Sun: “But even if all of Obama’s recommendations were adopted, it might still not be enough for Nevada, which isn’t just crumbling under the job market. The drag from Nevada’s housing sector and failing education system is equally crippling.” (Karoun Dimirijan, “President Unveils Sweeping $450 Billion Jobs Plan,” Las Vegas Sun, 9/8/11)

    St. Petersburg Times: “He also would extend unemployment benefits that are scheduled to expire at the end of the year. With consumer confidence at historic lows, those efforts would help put a bit more money into Americans’ pockets and increase their purchasing power. But they would not directly put more people back to work.” (Editorial, “Obama’s Uphill Battle,” St. Petersburg Times, 9/9/11)

    The Washington Post’s Zachary Goldfarb: “Some economists warned that even if major tenets of the plan were to pass, overcoming deep Republican skepticism, they might do little more than keep the economy growing at a snail’s pace.” (Zachary Goldfarb, “Obama Announces $447 Billion Plan To Boost Economy,” The Washington Post, 9/8/11)

    Jason Fichtner, Policy Researcher At The Mercatus Center: “‘The infrastructure bank model that is being promoted by President Obama is all smoke and mirrors and continues to funnel taxpayer dollars to fund projects in a vain attempt to stimulate the economy in the short term without accounting for the long-term costs,’ Jason Fichtner, a policy researcher at George Mason University’s Mercatus Center, said in a statement.” (Lesley Clark, “Obama To Congress: Pass My $447 Billion Jobs Plan Now,” The Miami Herald, 9/8/11)
    And Obama’s Jobs Plan, Including Payroll Tax Cut, Panned By Business Community

    Companies Say Obama’s Jobs Plan Won’t Cause Them To Hire. “The dismal state of the economy is the main reason many companies are reluctant to hire workers, and few executives are saying that President Obama’s jobs plan — while welcome — will change their minds any time soon.” (Motoko Rich, “Employers Say Jobs Plan Won’t Lead To Hiring Spur,” The New York Times, 9/9/11)

    “Many Employers Dismissed The Notion That Any Particular Tax Break Or Incentive Would Be Persuasive.” “As President Obama faced an uphill battle in Congress to win support even for portions of the plan, many employers dismissed the notion that any particular tax break or incentive would be persuasive. Instead, they said they tended to hire more workers or expand when the economy improved.” (Motoko Rich, “Employers Say Jobs Plan Won’t Lead To Hiring Spur,” The New York Times, 9/9/11)
    Payroll Tax Cut’s Negative Impact On Social Security And Deficit

    Payroll Tax Cut Decreased Revenue By $112 Billion For Social Security, Creating Deficit Spending. “The one-year cut to Social Security’s funding stream decreased federal revenues by $112 billion in 2011, but the already-dwindling trust fund for Social Security remained untouched because the government borrowed extra money to fill the gap, adding instead to the $1.3 trillion deficit.” (Amy Bingham, “Payroll Tax Cuts: Will They Bankrupt Social Security?” ABC News, 11/30/11)

    · “‘On paper [the payroll tax cut] does nothing to Social Security,’ said Andrew Biggs, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. ‘It is just as solvent as it was before. But that’s not the sort of bookkeeping that you would do in the private sector.’” (Amy Bingham, “Payroll Tax Cuts: Will They Bankrupt Social Security?” ABC News, 11/30/11)

    “Some Democratic Lawmakers Say That, While President Barack Obama’s Plan To Cut Payroll Taxes May Strengthen The U.S. Economy, It May Have Some Unintended Fallout: Weakening Social Security.” (Brian Faler, “Obama Payroll Tax Cuts Seen Undermining Social Security,” Bloomberg, 12/6/11)

    USA Today Editorial: Payroll Tax Cut Is “Budgetary Malpractice.” “ “What is billed as a stimulative cut in payroll taxes is really budgetary malpractice on the order of diverting money that’s supposed to go into your 401(k) account, or your kid’s 529 college savings plan, to pay for current expenses.” (Op/Ed, “Our View: Payroll Taxes Raid Social Security,” USA Today, 6/16/11)

    USA Today: Payroll Tax Cut Will “Add To The Nation’s Debt Problems And Further Weaken Social Security.” “Absent such steps, extending or expanding the payroll tax cut would just add to the nation’s debt problems and further weaken the Social Security system just as the program faces unprecedented pressures from retiring Baby Boomers. It’s the height of irresponsibility.” (Op/Ed, “Our View: Payroll Taxes Raid Social Security,” USA Today, 6/16/11)
    Jim Webb, The Democrat Senator Kaine Seeks To Replace, Opposes Obama’s Jobs Plan

    “President Barack Obama’s New Jobs Plan Is Hitting Some Unexpected Turbulence In The Halls Of Congress: Lawmakers From His Own Party.” (Manu Raju, “Obama Jobs Bill Picked Apart By Congressional Democrats,” Politico, 9/14/11)

    “[Webb Has] Opposed President Barack Obama’s Jobs Proposals Because Of Its Tax Policies. He Suggests The Administration Is Not Being ‘Serious’ And Believes The White House Seems To Have ‘Misquoted’ Warren Buffett In Some Of Its Proposals. Webb Won’t Even Say Whether He’d Stump Next Year For Obama In Virginia, A State Critical To The President’s Reelection Hopes.” (Manu Raju, “Webb Goes Out Swinging,” Politico, 11/2/11)

    “In An Interview With POLITICO, Webb Made Clear His Opposition To The President’s $447 Billion Jobs Agenda, The $35 Billion Package For Local Governments To Hire First Responders And Teachers And The $60 Billion Infrastructure Bank Plan, Which All Rest Primarily On One Concern: They’re All Funded By A Surtax On Millionaires.” (Manu Raju, “Webb Goes Out Swinging,” Politico, 11/2/11)

    “‘I Do Not Believe We Should Be Increasing Ordinary Earned Income Taxes On Any Level,’ Webb Said Monday on Andrea Mitchell Reports. ‘I think there are places for us to be able to get money by changing things like the capital gains tax and the loopholes that have existed in our tax code.’” (Ben Pershing, “Webb Criticizes Obama’s Tax Hikes, And GOP Pounces,” The Washington Post, 9/14/11)

    “Webb Was More Blunt Tuesday, Telling Politico That Obama’s Proposed Tax Increase Was ‘Terrible.’” (Ben Pershing, “Webb Criticizes Obama’s Tax Hikes, And GOP Pounces,” The Washington Post, 9/14/11)

18. 

    J.R. Hoeft December 7, 2011 14:59 pm

    A-Team on Kaine’s support for ObamaCare:

    Chief Advocate For Obama’s Health Care Reform
    Kaine Said Health Care Reform Would Be Obama’s Greatest Achievement And Would Be Good For The American People

    Kaine: “[I] Think Health Care Reform Is Going To Go Down In History As One Of The Great Achievements Of This President.” (CNN’s “State Of The Union,” 1/2/11)

    In 2010, Kaine Said He Wanted To Be Out On The Campaign Trail Promoting Obama’s Health Care Reform. KAINE: “[L]et me, let me focus on it, because I think you’ve asked an excellent question. Will the campaigns of 2010 be heavily focused on health care? You will have the Republican Party campaigning to repeal this historic health bill that will pass. You’ll have me and my team out promoting it. I want to have that campaign.” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” 1/10/10)

    Kaine Said When The American People “Immediately See The Benefits,” Then Health Care Would Be “A Great Thing Politically For The Dems.” AMANPOUR: “You mentioned health care. I want to say something that you, yourself, said about this issue when it comes to elections.” KAINE: “OK, great.” (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) KAINE: “When make this happen, and people immediately see the benefits that are going to come their way, I think this is going to be a great thing politically for the Dems. And we’re trying to show members that they’ve got their constituents behind them if they vote with the president.” (ABC’s “This Week,” 10/24/10)

    Kaine Said He Was A “Strong Believer” That Obama’s Health Care Reform Was “The Right Thing To Do” And That It Would Bear “Positive Fruit For The American Public For Generations Going Forward.” KAINE: “I am a strong believer that the health care bill was the right thing to do, and I think it’s going to be very, you know, positive fruit for the American public for generations going forward. It will shift and change, just like Social Security doesn’t look today like it did when enacted. But I think when you have the opportunity, you should do big things.” (MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” 11/2/10)
    Kaine Said Health Reform Would Control Costs And Reduce The Deficit

    Kaine Said The Health Care Overhaul Would Reduce The Deficit By Over A Trillion Dollars And Said The Bill Was “Good News For The Health Of Our Economy.” Kaine: “And we’ll do this [health care overhaul] while reducing the deficit by over a trillion dollars over the next twenty years. So this isn’t just good news for the health of our people, it’s also good news for the health of our economy.” (Andrew Malcolm, “What Each Said About The Healthcare Vote: Obama, John Boehner, Tim Kaine, Michael Steele,” Los Angeles Times, 3/22/10)

    Kaine: “This [Health Care Overhaul] Is Fiscally Responsible Reform, And It’s An Important Step Towards Getting Our Economy Back On Track For The Short And Long Term.” (Andrew Malcolm, “What Each Said About The Healthcare Vote: Obama, John Boehner, Tim Kaine, Michael Steele,” Los Angeles Times, 3/22/10)
    Kaine Said Virginia “Stands To Benefit” From Health Care Reform:

    Kaine Said Virginia Would Benefit From Obamacare. KAINE: “I think Virginia stands to benefit, much as do other American states, from finally passing meaningful healthcare reform.” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” 1/10/10)
    But In Reality, Obama’s Health Care Reform Hurts The Economy And Small Businesses

    UBS Investment Research: “Arguably The Biggest Impediment To Hiring (Particularly Of Less Skilled Workers) Is Health Care Reform, Which Has Added The Drawback Of Straining State And Federal Budgets.” (UBS, “Great Suppression II,” UBS Investment Research, 9/19/11)

    The Health Reform Law Is Hampering Small Businesses From Expanding. “The new law requires most businesses to provide a generous ‘essential’ package of benefits, which is beyond what many small businesses provide today. It subjects businesses to highly complex rules that increase the cost risk, and ‘hassle factor’ of adding payrolls. Companies that do offer insurance can be fined if low-income employees take a government-subsidized plan. All firms with more than 50 workers must provide benefits, which creates an incentive for smaller firms to stay ‘under the limit’ by expanding overseas, outsourcing, or dividing into two companies.” (UBS, “Great Suppression II,” UBS Investment Research, 9/19/11)
    And Health Care Reform Will Add To The Deficit, Cut Medicare, And Raised Taxes By Hundreds Of Billions

    The Richmond Times-Dispatch: The Health Care Reform Law Will Cause Higher Health Care Costs, Higher Deficits, Higher Taxes, And Higher Premiums. “The critics’ predictions — it’s going to raise health care costs, the deficit, taxes, and insurance premiums, make getting medical care more complex, and help fewer people than advertised — are coming true already. Members of the public understand this all too well.”(Editorial, “Health Care: ‘You Dummies,’”The Richmond Times-Dispatch, 9/27/10)

    $2.6 Trillion: True Cost Of Health Care Reform Once Fully Implemented. (Office Of The Speaker Of The U.S. House Of Representatives, Report, 1/6/11)

    $701 Billion: Amount Health Care Reform Will Add To The Deficit. (Office Of The Speaker Of The U.S. House Of Representatives, Report, 1/6/11)

    $500 Billion: Cuts To Medicare In Health Care Reform. (Lori Montgomery and Paul Kane, “House Leaders Announce $940 Billion Health-Care Compromise Bill,” The Washington Post, 3/19/10)

    $491.7 Billion: Taxes Raised In Health Care Reform Law. (Letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 3/18/10; Joint Committee On Taxation, 3/2/10)

    $210 Billion: Amount Of Income Taxes Collected Over 10 Years Through Health Care Reform Law. (“Estimated Revenue Effects Of The Manager’s Amendment To The Revenue Provisions Contained In The ‘Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act,”Joint Committee On Taxation Report, 3/20/10; Editorial, “Taxes Upon Taxes Upon…,” The Wall Street Journal, 7/11/11)

    $60 Billion: Health Insurance Tax On Businesses. (“Estimated Revenue Effects Of The Manager’s Amendment To The Revenue Provisions Contained In The ‘Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act,” Joint Committee On Taxation Report, 3/20/10; Editorial, “Taxes Upon Taxes Upon…,” The Wall Street Journal, 7/11/11)

    $4.5 Billion: Taxes On Retiree’s Prescription Drug Plans. (“Estimated Revenue Effects Of The Manager’s Amendment To The Revenue Provisions Contained In The ‘Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act,” Joint Committee On Taxation Report, 3/20/10)

    $2.2 Billion (SFY 2010-2022): Estimated Added Medicaid Costs To Virginia Under Health Care Reform Law: (“Medicaid Expansion In The New Health Law: Costs To The States, Joint Congressional Report, Senate Finance Committee And House Energy & Commerce Committee, http://www.energycommerce.house.gov, Accessed 11/22/11)

    78 Million: Americans Forced To Find Other Sources Of Health Coverage. (Grace Marie-Turner, “No, You Can’t Keep Your Health Insurance,” The Wall Street Journal, 6/8/11)

    14 Million: Americans That Won’t Keep Their Current, Employer Based Coverage. (Anna Wilde Mathews, “Workplace Set To Remain Key Source Of Health Coverage,” The Wall Street Journal, 5/17/10)

    7 Million: Number Of Medicare Advantage Recipients That Will Have To Find Other Coverage. (Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, “Medicare Official Doubts Health Care Law Savings,” The Associated Press,1/26/11)

    6 Million: Retirees That Will Lose Prescription Drug Coverage. (The Board Of Trustees, Federal Hospital Insurance And Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Funds, “2010 Annual Report Of The Boards Of Trustees Of The Federal Hospital Insurance And Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Funds,” 8/5/10)

    800,000: Number Of Workers That Will Be Cut Out Of The Workforce By The Health Care Reform Law. (J. Lester Feder & Kate Nocera, “CBO: Health Law To Shrink Workforce By 800,000,” Politico, 2/10/11)
    Worst Of All, Health Care Reform Harms Virginia

    January 2010: “Local [Virginia] Health Care Leaders Said That, Overall, They Didn’t Believe The Bills Now Pending In Congress Would Bring Down Costs. ‘The legislation as it stands would actually lead to higher health insurance premiums,’ King said.” (Amy Jeter, “Industry Execs Diagnose Bills’ Effectiveness,” The Virginian-Pilot, 1/26/10)

    A Virginia Small Business Owner Said The Health Care Reform Bill Is “Detrimental To The Incentive To Grow And Provide Jobs For People.” “Karch, for example, said 95 percent of the staff at Home Instead Senior Care work part time, but he technically has more than 50 full-time equivalent employees. He said he doesn’t know if that means he has to provide health insurance for all his employees or just those who work full time. If part-timers are included, he said he’d either have to shut down or raise his rates. ‘As a small business owner, I definitely feel this legislation is detrimental to the incentive to grow and provide jobs for people, especially people that, for a variety of reasons, can only work part time,’ Karch said.” (Cathy Jett, “Reform Getting Mixed Reviews,” The Free Lance Star, 4/3/10)

    A Virginia Cardiologist Said Medicare Cuts Will Force Him And Other Small-Town Doctors To Close Their Offices. “The cuts would be ‘impossible’ for some small-town cardiologists who rely on Medicare patients, said Zia Roshandel, a heart doctor in Culpeper, Virginia. The town of 10,000 people is about 60 miles southwest of Washington . . . If the proposal stands, ‘the bottom line is I’m going to close the office,’ he said. ‘This is impossible for me to survive.’” (Alex Nussbaum & Lisa Rapaport, “Cardiologists Crying Foul Over Obama Medicare Cuts,” Bloomberg, 8/28/09)

    Virginia’s Norfolk Southern Corp. Took A $27 Million Charge For New Health Care Costs. “Norfolk Southern Corp. has announced it will pay about $27 million more in expenses for the first quarter of the year as a result of federal health care legislation signed last month. ‘Under the new legislation, to the extent the corporation’s future health-care drug expenses are reimbursed under the Medicare Part D retiree drug subsidy program, the reimbursed expenses will no longer be tax deductible after 2012,’ the company stated in a filing Monday with the Securities and Exchange Commission” (Robert McCabe, “Norfolk Southern To Pay $27M More After Health Care Bill,” The Virginian-Pilot, 4/8/10)

    Richmond, VA-Based Brink’s Took A $14 Million Hit From Obama’s Health Care Reform. “The Brink’s Company, a global leader in security-related services, reported a first-quarter loss from continuing operations of $5 million ($.10 per share) versus income of $22 million last year ($.48 per share). Results include an income tax charge of $14 million ($.28 per share) related to recently enacted U.S. healthcare legislation.” (The Brink’s Company, “Brink’s Reports First-Quarter Results,” Press Release, 4/29/10)

    The Richmond Times-Dispatch: The “Problem” Is Not The Complexity Of The Law, But “That The Law Stinks.” “The problem is not that people just don’t understand a complex law, or even that — as a recent AP story spun it — Obama ‘has yet to find the right wavelength for communicating information that’s relatively straightforward.’ After all, congressional Democrats conceded they didn’t understand what was in the bill, either. But that didn’t keep them from voting for it. The problem is that the law stinks.” (Editorial, “Health Care: ‘You Dummies,’” The Richmond Times-Dispatch, 9/27/10)

19. 

    VA is for Politics December 7, 2011 15:04 pm

    The more Kaine ties himself to Obama (and don’t think some of his defenses aren’t going to end up in a TV ad), the riskier his entire election strategy becomes.

    George Allen wants to nationalize this election and make this Senate seat a referendum on Obama. Kaine’s embrace of the President is playing right into his hands.

20. 

    Lauren Yoder December 7, 2011 15:08 pm

    I was shocked at Kaine’s defense of Obama at every opratunity, even when Obama wasn’t part of a question. Surely he isn’t planning on limiting himself to only Obama voters?

21. 

    Brian Kirwin December 7, 2011 15:32 pm

    I think Kaine’s goal is to win Virginia for Obama, regardless of whether it wins a Senate seat.

22. 

    Britt Howard December 7, 2011 15:59 pm

    Too bad he can’t win Virginia for Obama. Wow, if Kaine keeps campaigning for Obama and not himself, he’s in real trouble.

23. 

    James "turbo" Cohen December 7, 2011 16:37 pm

    The problem is polling data does not lie and Kaine is preaching to the faithful masses on the left, many of whom are out of work.