Congressman Cantor introduced Governor Bob McDonnell to members of the Republican Study Committee as “His Excellency,” the official title of Virginia Chief Executive. McDonnell met yesterday morning with a select group of conservative members of Congress on Capitol Hill. He had a clear message for Washington Republicans who are hoping to take back the majority: “Do less, not more” when governing.
In candid conversation with conservative members of Congress, McDonnell stressed the value of Republican ideas and principles over rhetoric.
McDonnell condemned the evident bi-partisan trend of trampling on the principles of federalism and encouraged Members of Congress to respect the forgotten 10th Amendment . He urged the Members to govern like they have campainged – on the principles of limited government, fiscal sanity and personal responsibility.
Speaking as a Governor and a member of Republican Governor’s Association, McDonnell strongly counseled the Members against bailing out states that are in a poor fiscal position. While acknowledging that some stimulus monies helped Virginia balance its budget in the short term, he maintained that bailouts would lead to a “45 state” lineup at the federal trough. Instead, McDonnell asked the Members to stop enacting new mandates that burden the states and force tax increases or cuts in more essential services. McDonnell noted that Obamacare alone imposed $1.7 billion in new mandates on Virginia.