Mullins op-ed: Virginia can’t afford McAuliffe’s wishful thinking

By Pat Mullins

Making a promise is easy. Keeping it is hard.

That’s the difference between campaigning and governing. Out on the trail, you can promise voters the whole world. But once you’re in office, all those rainbows and unicorns are mighty hard to come by.

Which brings me to this week’s policy difference: Ken Cuccinelli’s economic plan is a solid road map for future economic growth, while Terry McAuliffe’s agenda is full of promises that we simply can’t afford.

I’ve already touched on this subject, but after reading through the information compiled by Ken’s campaign this week, I was struck by just how empty Terry McAuliffe’s campaign promises have turned out to be.

Ken Cuccinelli’s economic plan comes down to a few simple ideas that I’ve already written about in this space — reduce business tax rates to make Virginia more competitive, and to help create jobs. Reduce the personal income tax rate to put a little more money back in everyone’s pocket.

All this is offset by cleaning out Virginia’s overstuffed closet full of tax credits and exemptions. Ken will work with Republicans and Democrats to find $1.4 billion in credits that aren’t providing the value to taxpayers that they should.

Compare that to Terry’s plans. In a nutshell, if you support a government program, Terry McAuliffe wants to “invest” in it. If you have a problem, Terry McAuliffe wants to start a new government program to help alleviate it. And if something isn’t working, then we need to spend more tax payer dollars and hope it starts working.

The total bill? Upwards of $14 billion, or about $1,700 out-of-pocket for every family in Virginia. And those are just the parts where Terry has been specific enough to actually assign a dollar value. Looking at these numbers makes it obvious why Terry McAuliffe is willing to shut down Virginia government to force Medicaid expansion — he can’t afford to do anything without it.

Even Terry McAuliffe’ plan to take “free” federal money to expand Medicaid is fraught with budget problems, not the least of which is that the Federal government still requires Virginia to pick up the tab for $200 million, right out of the gate. That money has to come from somewhere — schools, roads, law enforcement, or your wallet.

Ken’s plan acknowledges a reality that Terry McAuliffe won’t — the Virginia General Assembly.

I can’t tell you how many governors I’ve seen stand in front of the House chamber and roll off a long series of plans. But as any of our 140 legislators will be proud to tell you, the Governor proposes, but the legislature disposes.

Ken knows that he’s going to have to work with Republicans and Democrats to come to an agreement on which credits are working for Virginians and which ones aren’t. He knows Governors can’t dictate a final outcome.

So, if the General Assembly can’t find or agree on the tax credit reductions to offset the tax cuts, the tax cuts don’t happen.

Folks, we’ve seen what happens when a politician rides into to town with nothing but a pocket full of promises. President Obama handed out more than his fair share of rainbows and unicorns on the campaign trail 2008 and 2012 (he almost caused a rainbow and unicorn shortage).

Take ObamaCare for example, after three years of planning and more than $600 million dollars later, they can’t even get the website to work.

Ken’s plan puts more money back in your pocket. Terry, if he gets what he wants, will wind up taking $1,700 out of it every year.

Ken Cuccinelli has a plan. Terry McAuliffe has wishful thinking. Virginia can’t afford more wishful thinking. Vote for Ken Cuccinelli for Governor!

Pat Mullins is chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia