Liberal Former DNC Chairman Once Again Outside The Mainstream In
As U.S. Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and Jim Webb (D-VA) announce today a proposal to allow responsible energy exploration off Virginia’s coast, voters are once again reminded that – when it comes to critical issues like job-creation and energy costs – liberal former DNC Chairman Tim Kaine stands far to the left of mainstream Virginians.
As the Washington Post reports today:
Virginia Sens. Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner, both Democrats, introduced a bill Wednesday that would allow oil and natural gas drilling off the state’s coast starting next year… Most of Virginia’s elected officials — regardless of political party — have expressed interest in drilling, saying production would bring thousands of jobs and millions of dollars to the financially strapped state.
“It’s no surprise to see liberal former DNC Chairman Tim Kaine once again standing far outside the mainstream in Virginia,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Chris Bond. “Most Virginia Republicans and Democrats can agree on this bipartisan job-creating proposal, but sadly Tim Kaine chooses to support higher gas prices and put his liberal Washington ideology ahead of Virginia’s economic interests.”
Background Information:
Kaine Was Not Supportive Of Drilling Offshore Of Virginia
2006: “Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (D) Today Rejected Legislation That Could Have Opened The State’s Coast To Offshore Drilling But Indicated That He Would Support A Federal Survey Of Some Areas. The General Assembly last month approved a provision in a broader energy bill that allows the state to opt out of a federal moratorium on offshore drilling. Kaine returned the bill to the Legislature but stripped the opt-out provision. Instead, he inserted language saying the state would support a survey of offshore areas located more than 50 miles from the coast, as long as it was paid for with federal dollars.” (Alex Kaplun, “Offshore Drilling: Va. Governor Rejects Plan To Opt Out Of Moratorium,” E&E News PM, 4/7/06)
2009: “He [Cantor] Recently Asked The U.S. Department Of The Interior To Include Virginia In Its Five-Year Plan For Offshore Oil-And-Gas Drilling. Even Though Governor Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Is Against It.” (Asha Beh, “Cantor Fights Kaine Over Ruining Virginia’s Shores,” NBC Washington, www.nbcwashington.com, 9/30/09)
“An Area Must Be Included In The Plan In Order To Be Offered For Lease Sales To Energy Producers For Exploration Purposes. The draft program proposes 31 lease sales of outer continental shelf lands in areas off the coast of Alaska, the Pacific coast, Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic, including one off Virginia’s coast.” (Allison Brophy Champion, “Cantor: Drilling for oil off Va.’s coast would ‘power our economy,’” [Culpeper, VA] Star Exponent, 9/30/09)
“In February, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine Asked The Department Of The Interior To Postpone The Proposed Lease Sale For Oil And Gas Exploration, Which Could Occur As Early As 2011.” (Allison Brophy Champion, “Cantor: Drilling for oil off Va.’s coast would ‘power our economy,’” [Culpeper, VA] Star Exponent, 9/30/09)
“Kaine Argued That The State’s Offshore Energy Policies Do Not Support Exploration For Oil Or Production Of Gas Or Oil. Instead, he believes the state policies support federal efforts “to determine the extent of natural gas resources 50 miles or more off the Atlantic shoreline, including appropriate federal funding for such an investigation.” (Allison Brophy Champion, “Cantor: Drilling for oil off Va.’s coast would ‘power our economy,’” [Culpeper, VA] Star Exponent, 9/30/09)
“Kaine, Chairman Of The Democratic National Committee, Said He Supports Considering ‘The Atlantic Coast As A Whole, Rather Than Singling Out A Particular State For A Lease Sale.’” (Allison Brophy Champion, “Cantor: Drilling for oil off Va.’s coast would ‘power our economy,’” [Culpeper, VA] Star Exponent, 9/30/09)
