National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Communications Director Brian Walsh issued the following statement in response to Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tim Kaine’s decision to run for U.S. Senate in Virginia:

“Now that his fellow party leaders in Washington have twisted Tim Kaine’s arm enough to get him into this race, Republicans welcome the clear contrast that his candidacy presents and the choice before Virginians next year.

“Over the last several years, Tim Kaine has been the most vocal cheerleader in Washington for the reckless fiscal policies and massive expansion of government that have been the hallmark of the Obama Administration. And now Tim Kaine is staking his election hopes on this costly partisan agenda that has failed to create new jobs while driving our national debt past $14 trillion.

“It’s an agenda Virginians have rejected overwhelmingly in two consecutive election cycles and there is no reason to believe they will not reject it again by sending a fiscally responsible, pro-jobs Republican to the U.S. Senate.”

Background Information:

Kaine Was President Obama’s #1 Cheerleader For The Failed $787 Billion Stimulus…

“Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tim Kaine On Tuesday Said The Stimulus Saved The Nation From The Worst Economic Crisis Since The Great Depression . . . .” (Bob Cusack, “Speaker Pelosi Bets The House On Success Of $787 Billion Stimulus,” The Hill, 2/17/10)

Kaine Said The Stimulus Was One Of The First Flagstones In The “Road To Recovery.” “His first priority was to stem the tide of job losses, shore up U.S. industry and set the wheels of economic growth turning again. From his efforts came the first flagstones in the road to recovery. The Recovery Act, which put vital dollars back into the pockets of working families, pumped critical funding into high-growth industries and promoted projects that employed Americans and improved vital infrastructure.” (Tim Kaine, Op-Ed, “The President’s Progress,” Politico, 12/31/10)

In January 2009, Before The “Stimulus,” The Unemployment Rate In Virginia Was 5.7%. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics Website, www.bls.gov, Accessed 1/27/11)

• Virginia’s Unemployment Rate Was 6.4% As Of February, 2011. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics Website, www.bls.gov, Accessed 4/5/11)

Kaine Described Democrats Who Distanced Themselves From President Obama As “Nuts” And “Crazy”…

Kaine Said Any Democrat Who Distanced Themselves From The Party Was “Nuts.” “Democratic candidates who are shunning their party and its policies are ‘nuts,’ Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine said Thursday. In an interview with Fox News to air Thursday night, Kaine said that Democratic candidates should ‘be proud of accomplishments’ while on the campaign trail, even though President Obama and most Democratic policies are currently unpopular with the public. ‘I do think Democrats thinking that they can, you know, hold the Democratic label at arm’s length, I do think that’s nuts,’ he said. ‘You put the label after your name, be proud of it.’” (Jordan Fabian, “DNC Chief Doubles Down, Says Democrats ‘Nuts’ To Run From Party,” The Hill’s Blog Briefing Room, www.thehill.com, Posted 10/28/10)

When Asked About Calling Democrats Running Away From Their Party “Crazy,” Kaine Said “It’s Foolish” To Run From The Democrat Label Because Democrats Have “A Lot To Be Proud Of.” WALLACE: “OK. I want to put up something that you said last month about Democrats running away from the Democratic Party. Here it is.” KAINE: “Yep.” WALLACE: “‘Democrats who kind of are afraid to be who they are or are pushing back on the leaders — I think they’re crazy.’ But, Governor, I want to show you what some Democratic congressmen are putting in their TV ads running for re-election right now.”(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JOE DONNELLY: “That may not be what the Washington crowd wants, but I don’t work for them. I work for you.” (END VIDEO CLIP) (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MIKE MCINTYRE: “I don’t work for Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid or anyone else. I work for you.” (END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: “Are those Democratic congressmen crazy?” KAINE: “I’m going to stick with what I said earlier. I think if you run away from who you are, that you’re a Democrat and you’re proud to be a Democrat, it’s foolish. And the reason it’s foolish is you’ve got a lot to be proud of. . . .” (Fox News’ “Fox News Sunday With Chris Wallace,” 9/5/10)

Kaine Sided With President Obama Rather Than Defend Virginia Jobs…

An Advisory Group To The Pentagon Recommended The Elimination Of The Joint Forces Command Based In The Hampton Roads Area Of Virginia. “The Hampton Roads-based Joint Forces Command could be headed for extinction if Defense Secretary Robert Gates adopts the recommendation of a Pentagon board to eliminate it. A draft report issued by the Defense Business Board, an advisory group of former military officers and executives, calls for downsizing combatant commands, ‘beginning with the elimination of JFCOM.’” (Julian Walker, “Board Suggests Joint Forces Be Closed As Part Of Defense Cuts,” The Virginian-Pilot, 7/24/10)

“President Obama Has Accepted The Pentagon’s Plan To Close The Norfolk-Based Joint Forces Command, an economic blow to Virginia that was softened by the announcement that half of the installation’s functions would remain in the Hampton Roads region.” (Ben Pershing, “Obama Accepts Gates’s Plan To Close JFCOM, But Many Jobs Will Stay In Norfolk,” The Washington Post, 1/7/11)

Defense Secretary Gates Said “Roughly 50 Percent Of The Capabilities Under JFCOM Will Be Kept And Assigned To Other Organizations.” “As Gates announced the details Thursday of a plan to cut $78 billion in defense spending over the next five years, he said that ‘we have identified a number of missions since the August announcement that should be retained in the Norfolk/Suffolk, Virginia, area. We are still refining the details, but expect that roughly 50 percent of the capabilities under JFCOM will be kept and assigned to other organizations.’” (Ben Pershing, “Obama Accepts Gates’s Plan To Close JFCOM, But Many Jobs Will Stay In Norfolk,” The Washington Post, 1/7/11)

“The General Of The U.S. Joint Forces Command Said Wednesday That 2,300 Workers In Virginia Will Lose Their Jobs As Part Of The Pentagon’s Plan To Trim Bureaucracy And Cut Costs. The command employs nearly 6,000 military and civilian personnel, with the bulk of those working at its headquarters in the Norfolk/Suffolk area.” (“Closing U.S. Joint Forces Command To Cut 2,300 Jobs In Va.,” The Richmond Times-Dispatch, 2/10/11)

• “Virginia Will Retain About 1,900 Jobs Between Operations In Norfolk And Suffolk. About 500 Of The Command’s Jobs Will Remain Between Fort Belvoir And The Dahlgren Naval Surface Warfare Center In Northern Virginia. ‘While Joint Forces Command will still close, we were successful in retaining 50 percent of the command’s positions in the region,’ McDonnell said in a statement.” (“Closing U.S. Joint Forces Command To Cut 2,300 Jobs In Va.,” The Richmond Times-Dispatch, 2/10/11)

Reaction Of Virginia Congressional Delegation To JFCOM Closing

July 2010: Webb And Other Members Of Virginia’s Congressional Delegation Issued A Joint Statement That Expressed Support For Defense Savings, But Said “Doing It At The Expense Of The Command That Is Leading The Charge For The Future Of Our Military Training Efforts Would Be A Step Backward And Could Be Harmful To The Capabilities Of The Finest Military In The World.” “Virginia Reps. Rob Wittman, Glenn Nye, Bobby Scott, Randy Forbes and Sens. Jim Webb and Mark Warner jointly issued a statement expressing support for the search for defense savings, but arguing that ‘doing it at the expense of the command that is leading the charge for the future of our military training efforts would be a step backward and could be harmful to the capabilities of the finest military in the world.’” (Julian Walker, “Board Suggests Joint Forces Be Closed As Part Of Defense Cuts,” The Virginian-Pilot, 7/24/10)

August 2010: Webb And Other Members Of The Virginia Congressional Delegation Sent A Letter To Defense Secretary Gates “Calling Into Question The Strategic And Legal Basis For His Recommendation To Eliminate The U.S. Joint Forces Command.” “Virginia Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner and Congressmen Glenn Nye, Randy Forbes, Rob Wittman, and Bobby Scott today sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates calling into question the strategic and legal basis for his recommendation to eliminate the U.S. Joint Forces Command.” (Senator Jim Webb, “Virginia Delegation Challenges Recommendation To Close JFCOM,” Press Release, 8/13/10)

• The Letter Noted That, In The Delegation’s View, The Closing Of JFCOM Would Result In, Among Other Things, “A Significant Adverse Economic Impact In The Hampton Roads Region.” “Citing the guidance of legal counsel, the delegation challenged the legality of Secretary Gates’ ‘apparent strategy to eliminate the command without complying with the provisions of Title 10 U.S. Code, Section 2687 or, alternatively, to propose the command’s elimination be considered as part of a Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC) process.’ In the delegation’s view, eliminating the command would result in a number of substantial adverse consequences, including ‘…the future erosion of our military’s joint warfighting capabilities, the dismissal of thousands of highly skilled civilian federal employees and defense contractors, and a significant adverse economic impact in the Hampton Roads region.’” (Senator Jim Webb, “Virginia Delegation Challenges Recommendation To Close JFCOM,” Press Release, 8/13/10)

But While Senator Jim Webb & Other Members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation Stood Up For Virginia Jobs, This Is What Tim Kaine Said…..

August 2010: When Asked About Closing Down Joint Forces Command In The Norfolk Region, Kaine Said “Everything Has To Be On The Table.” O’LEARY: “Well, we’ll see whether their bets are right come November. I’ve got one other question for you in your – . . . – old back yard, the Joint Forces Command. Every single Virginia politician has come out and criticized that decision, saying it would kill jobs in the Norfolk region. What’s your take?” KAINE: “Well, it would have an effect on jobs, no doubt about it. And I don’t think Secretary Gates has any illusions about that either. And the Joint Forces Command has been an incredibly important aspect of Virginia in terms of our huge number of military installations and the work that’s done there. On the other hand, there is a crying need, expressed by the public and also expressed by Congress, for this President to address the deficit. He has already done it with Secretary Gates in a number of military weapons systems. There’s a bipartisan deficit commission that’s working. And the President has said everything has got to be on the table. If we’re going to deal with the federal base budget and the deficit, everything has to be on the table.” (Bloomberg’s “Political Capital,” 8/13/10)

Just Before Leaving His Post As Governor, Kaine Tried To Increase Virginia’s Income Tax

Before Leaving Office, Kaine Proposed A Plan To Balance Virginia’s 2010-2012 Budget, Which Included An Increase In The State Income Tax. “Kaine proposed balancing the budget shortfall for 2010-2012 by eliminating the $1.9 billion car-tax subsidy the state pays to localities and making an additional $2.3 billion in cuts through agency reductions, layoffs and requiring state employees to contribute to their pensions. Kaine proposed that localities could recoup the money lost in the car-tax subsidy if lawmakers agreed to pass an increase of 1 percentage point in the state income tax, the proceeds of which would be distributed to localities.” (Olympia Meola, “House Rejects Kaine Tax-Increase Plan,” Richmond Times-Dispatch, 1/22/10)

“Not A Single Member Of The House Of Delegates Voted Thursday To Support Former Gov. Tim Kaine’s Proposal To Increase The State Income Tax And Effectively Eliminate The Personal Property Tax On Vehicles.” (Michael Sluss, “Bill To Raise Taxes Gets No Takers,” The Roanoke Times, 1/22/10)

The Income Tax Change Would Have Resulted In A Tax Rate Hike For 60 Percent Of Taxpayers. “His [Kaine’s] proposal would allow local governments to phase out the car tax and phase in a 1 percent income tax increase over two years. 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)