McDonnell Wants More Specifics From GOP
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) has some advice for Republicans going into the midterms: Offer more specifics.
McDonnell told Hotline On Call on Wednesday that he hasn't seen the level of detail in national proposals as he campaigned on in '09.
"I haven't heard as much as I would like," McDonnell said when asked about specifics in the GOP platform.
McDonnell qualified his remarks by noting that he believes the House leadership will release more detailed policy proposals in the near future. He also praised House Min. Leader John Boehner, Min. Whip Eric Cantor and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) for developing proposals that "haven't gotten much coverage or air time."
McDonnell was swept into office in '09 with a 17-point margin of victory over Dem Creigh Deeds. During the campaign, McDonnell emphasized policy proposals, releasing detailed blueprints on many issues. He has urged House Republicans to do the same.
"I have encouraged them to do that," he said. "I spoke to the House caucus a couple weeks ago and I told them that I think a lot of the reason why I won is because I had specific ideas, policy proposals and tried to run an idea driven campaign."
McDonnell has had some success since taking office and, at times, has been considered a potential WH contender or a VP candidate in '12. Since taking office, he has balanced Virginia's budget and created a $400M surplus. He has also hit some speedbumps, most notably when he declared April "Confederate History Month."
A lack of details in the GOP message this year has been a rallying cry for Dems, who have accused GOPers of being the "party of no." That accusation clearly gets under the GOP's skin, and the party is working to craft a more formal platform before the fall stretch run.
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has been tasked with running America Speaking Out, an in-house ideas factory that is soliciting policy planks from the public. Party insiders say that effort will eventually lead to a more fleshed-out set of governing ideas. But McCarthy is fond of pointing out that the Contract with America didn't come out until Sept. 27, '94, and GOPers believe they have time to develop their own plans.
In the meantime, Dems have tried to use Ryan's "Roadmap" to tag GOPers as favoring cutting some social security benefits. Ryan has gotten wide press coverage for his plan, which would balance the budget and eliminate the deficit through a series of sharp cuts in services over several decades.
Republicans should be more specific and agree to wipe
out Social Security, Medicare, Department of Education,
food stamps and other communist social programs.
He is exactly right...that is how they will get the Independent's vote and a lot of Dem votes that are tired of seeing this Government spin our wheels!
The Virginia budget cannot be unbalanced; Bob was simply following the law for his part in its creation. The budget surplus relied on budgetary sleight-of-hand, such as not making the contribution to the pension system on time, and squeezing sales tax receipts out of retailers a month earlier than normal to get the income on the books sooner. Not more, just sooner.
His "specific" proposals were great talking, but have not produced actual results. Transportation is still a huge mess with no solution in sight.
There is NO budget surplus in Virginia. To say there is, is to lie. It is based, as Michael said, on early tax collection and a failure to pay bills like the pension fund. In addition McDonnell wants to privatize liquor stores, effectively destroying one of the most lucrative revenue streams in the state. This in spite of major public disapproval of his proposal. And lets not forget the removal of the ban on the purchase of bottled water by state government agencies. We now get to spend more to pollute our state. The only winners are those who contributed to McDonnell's campaign.