While Governor Abuser Fees whips himself in to a tizzy over personhood and social issues (a strategy that cost Kaine an ever-so-slim lead according to Rasmussen), former Governor George Allen is continuing to focus on another tack that hits a little closer to home: jobs and the economy.
Inside NOVA has a great op-ed on a topic Allen has championed for years: lower energy costs:
And what about the small business owners in towns throughout Virginia, who rely on tourism to lift their local economy? The owner of a hotel in Clarksville put it into perspective easy enough for even Washington to understand. He said it costs upwards of $100 just to fill up some pick-up trucks, so who’s going to have the money left to fuel their boat to get it into the water plus pay for a hotel, food and fishing tackle? A 143-pound catfish was caught on Buggs Island Lake last summer – the largest on record — but if gas prices surge past $4 this spring and summer, can they count on people having the money to get out on the water to fish?
Nearly everywhere I go in Virginia I hear from someone – whether it is a small business owner, working people in the suburbs and rural areas, or a parent who drives the carpool – who is worried about the increased cost of gasoline and how it is affecting their monthly budget. The rising costs of gasoline and fuel touch virtually every aspect of our economy. It increases the cost of food and causes families to cut back on discretionary spending like eating out at restaurants or buying clothes or gifts. And in a State blessed with historic sites, beautiful mountains, lakes, rivers and coasts – our diverse tourism industry is hurt when people are unable to afford family vacations.
Virginia families and businesses urgently need action and relief. And, there are opportunities for constructive action that would spur economic growth to create American jobs.
Allen has consistently led on improving America’s available energy infrastructure. As gas prices climb north of $4.00 this spring, voices and solutions from the GOP vs. the obstructionist tactics employed by Barack Obama and Tim Kaine in blocking projects such as the Keystone Pipeline (and declaring war on clean coal) deserve more sunlight.
