WASHINGTON – Tim Kaine supports defense cuts that would cripple Virginia’s economy and wipe out jobs.  That’s the clear message from a new TV ad released today by the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC).

The ad uses Tim Kaine’s own words to highlight his misplaced priorities of supporting the failed economic stimulus, while now supporting massive defense cuts to pay for it.

Kaine was a vocal cheerleader for the stimulus, arguing it was “what’s needed.”  But a George Mason University study revealed that Virginia would lose over 200,000 jobs from the defense spending cuts that Kaine now supports to pay for it.

“As thousands of critical defense jobs hang in the balance, voters will be reminded that Tim Kaine has consistently put the agenda of his liberal party leaders in Washington ahead of what’s best for the Commonwealth of Virginia,” NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh said today.  “We need someone in the Senate who is going to stand up for Virginia, not someone who will put politics and party first.”

 Click Here To Watch

BACKGROUND….

Kaine supported the stimulus…

·       Kaine: Stimulus Is “What’s Needed”: “This Bill Is What’s Needed To Put Americans Back To Work.” (MSNBC’s “1600 Pennsylvania Avenue,” 2/6/09)

·       Kaine: Stimulus Saved Nation. “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)

But the impact of defense cuts are clear…

·       A Loss Of Over 200,000 Jobs. According To A Study By George Mason University, The Defense Spending Cuts In Sequestration Would Result In Virginia Losing 207,571 Jobs. (Stephen S. Fuller, “The Economic Impact Of The Budget Control Act Of 2011 On DOD And Non-DOD Agencies,” Report, 7/17/12)

·       The Virginia Economy “Crushed”. “As the chart on the right shows, the Virginia economy will be crushed by the cuts, suffering a loss of 207,571 jobs.” (Greg McNeal, Op-Ed, “Virginia, Florida and Pennsylvania Among States To Be Hardest Hit By Sequestration,” Forbes, 10/1/12)

·       “Big Hit” To Virginians. “‘It’s a pretty big hit’ for Virginia, said Stephen Fuller, an economist at George Mason University who conducted the analysis along with Chmura Economics and Analytics, a research firm in Richmond.” (John Reid Blackwell, “Virginia Stands To Lose 207,571 Jobs If Federal Budget Cuts Happen,” Richmond Times-Dispatch, 7/18/12)

The post NEW NRSC AD: KAINE’S SUPPORT FOR MASSIVE DEFENSE CUTS WOULD CRIPPLE VIRGINIA’S ECONOMY appeared first on NRSC - National Republican Senatorial Committee.

“Whether as Governor or Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Tim Kaine’s answer to every problem has been higher taxes on the backs of Virginia families and small businesses,” NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh said today.  “Every time Virginians hear Tim Kaine claim that he’s cutting to fight spending, they should remember to hold onto their pocketbooks a little tighter.” 

Click Here To Watch

BACKGROUND….

Kaine Demands Tax Increases To Avert Fiscal Cliff And Devastating Defense Cuts

Kaine: “There’s A Middle Ground. Let The Tax Cuts Expire For Those Earning Over $500,000. This Reduces The Deficit, Avoids Devastating Cuts To Defense, Education, And Medicare, And Saves Jobs.”  (“Middle Ground,” Kaine for Virginia, 9/19/12)

Kaine Supports Raising Taxes On Virginia Small Business Owners 

Kaine:  “I disagree with those Republicans who argue that the Bush tax cuts should be made permanent in their entirety,’ Kaine said Monday.”  (Seung Min Kim, Manu Raju, and Scott Wong, “Embattled Dems Buck President Obama On Taxes,” Politico, 7/10/12)

July 2012: “Virginia Senate Candidate Tim Kaine, The Former Chairman Of The Democratic National Committee, Prefers A $500,000 Threshold.” (Seung Min Kim, Manu Raju, and Scott Wong, “Embattled Dems Buck President Obama On Taxes,” Politico, 7/10/12)

Democrats Willing To Go Over Fiscal Cliff If Their Demands To Raise Taxes Aren’t Met

Headline: “Democrats Threaten To Go Over ‘Fiscal Cliff’ If GOP Fails To Raise Taxes.”  (Lori Montgomery, “Democrats Threaten To Go Over ‘Fiscal Cliff’ If GOP Fails To Raise Taxes,” The Washington Post, 7/15/12)

Headline: “Democrats Threaten To Push America Over ‘Fiscal Cliff’ In Absence Of Tax Increases.”  (Rachel Rose Hartman, “Democrats Threaten To Push America Over ‘Fiscal Cliff’ In Absence Of Tax Increases,” ABC News, 7/16/12)

Kaine Attacked Allen For Not Supporting Deal, Saying It Was “Bad Policy For The Commonwealth”

Kaine Called Allen’s Position On The Debt Limit Deal “Bad For The Commonwealth.” Also yesterday, Democratic Senate candidate Tim Kaine — who is seeking Webb’s seat next year when Webb retires — held a call with reporters to denounce his Republican opponents’ opposition to the debt deal. . . . That position,Kaine said yesterday, is ‘based on a rigid ideology that’s bad policy and bad for the commonwealth.’”  (Chelyen Davis, “Warner, Webb Back Ceiling Bill,” The Free Lance-Star [Fredericksburg, Virginia], 8/3/11)

Allen Opposed The Deal Because It Threatened Virginia Jobs

“Allen Said The Defense Cuts In The Deal Would Threaten Virginia Jobs.” (Chelyen Davis, “State’s Congressional Representatives Support Legislation,” The Free Lance-Star [Fredericksburg, Virginia], 8/2/11)

 According To The Aerospace Industry Association, Defense Budget Cuts Put 207,571 Virginia Jobs At Risk

 According To An Analysis Of “The Impact Of The Budget Control Act Of 2011 On DOD And Non-DOD Agencies,” Virginia Could Lose 207,571 Jobs Due To Budget Cuts.  (Stephen S. Fuller, Ph.D., “The Impact Of The Budget Control Act Of 2011 On DOD & Non-DOD Agencies,” Goerge Mason University as Prepared for the Aerospace Industries Association, 7/17/12)

“Virginia Could Lose 207,571 Jobs And Nearly $10.7 Billion In Labor Income From Federal Spending Cuts Starting Next Year If Congress Fails To Resolve The Looming Budget Crisis, According To An Analysis Released Tuesday.”  (John Reid Blackwell, “Virginia Stands To Lose 207,571 Jobs If Federal Budget Cuts Happen,” Richmond Times-Dispatch, 7/18/12)

“Big Hit” To Virginians. “‘It’s a pretty big hit’ for Virginia, said Stephen Fuller, an economist at George Mason University who conducted the analysis along with Chmura Economics and Analytics, a research firm in Richmond.”  (John Reid Blackwell, “Virginia Stands To Lose 207,571 Jobs If Federal Budget Cuts Happen,” Richmond Times-Dispatch, 7/18/12)

Areas Hardest Hit Would Be Northern Virginia And Hampton Roads, But Whole State Would Feel The Ramifications. “In Virginia, the spending cuts likely would hit Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads the hardest because of the concentration of defense-related and federal contracting jobs in those areas. Still, the entire state would suffer losses, Fuller said.”  (John Reid Blackwell, “Virginia Stands To Lose 207,571 Jobs If Federal Budget Cuts Happen,” Richmond Times-Dispatch, 7/18/12)

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Speaking on CBS’ 60 Minutes last night about the current problems in the Middle East, President Obama said:

“I was pretty certain and continue to be pretty certain that there are going to be bumps in the road…” (CBS’s “60 Minutes,” 9/23/12)

These are the same words he used about our economic problems in a speech last year:

“There are always going to be bumps on the road to recovery.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks, Toledo, OH, 6/3/11)

“It’s typical of President Obama and the Democrat leadership to dismiss serious problems as being ‘bumps in the road’.  While they might just be inconvenient to them, to everyone else, these ‘bumps in the road’ are real and they amount to some of the biggest diplomatic and economic challenges we’ve seen in our lifetime,” NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh said today.  “Chairman Kaine needs to tell Virginians whether he shares President Obama’s casual view of the position we’re in. Voters want and expect strong leadership from their elected officials, as well as real policy solutions, but these are not things we are seeing from Democrats in Washington these days.”

President Obama and congressional Democrats are dismissive of these problems even as evidence mounts about the scale of the challenges this country faces. On the economy, the recovery continues to be too slow for families across America:

• More Than Twenty-Three Million Americans Are Unemployed, Underemployed, Or Have Stopped Looking For Work. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, 9/10/12)

• The Latest Jobs Report Showed The “Economy Slogged Along For The 43rd Month In A Row With Joblessness Above 8 Percent.” “American employers added 96,000 jobs in August, the Labor Department reported Friday. The unemployment rate fell to 8.1 percent as the economy slogged along for the 43rd month in a row with joblessness above 8 percent.” (Susanna Kim, “August Jobs Report: Unemployment Falls To 8.1 Percent,” ABC News, 9/7/12)

• In August, The Unemployment Rate Either Increased Or Was Unchanged In 38 States. “The Labor Department says rates increased in 26 states. They fell in 12 states and were unchanged in the other 12.” (Christopher S. Rugaber, “Unemployment Rates Rise In Half Of US States,” The Associated Press, 9/21/12)

• “A Record 46.7 Million Americans Received Food Stamps In June…” “A record 46.7 million Americans received food stamps in June, up 0.4 percent from the previous month, the government said. Participation was 3.3 percent higher than a year earlier and has remained higher than 46 million all year as the unemployment rate has stagnated just above 8 percent. New jobless numbers will be released Sept. 7.” (Alan Bjera, “Food-Stamp Use Climbed To Record 46.7 Million In June, U.S. Says,” Bloomberg, 9/4/12)

In the Middle East, commentators worry about the direction the Middle East is taking:

• The Wall Street Journal: “Mideast Turmoil Spreads” (The Wall Street Journal, 9/14/12)

• Bloomberg: “U.S. Officials Concerned Over What Follows Arab Spring”(Bloomberg, 9/12/12)

• The Associated Press: “Arab Winter? Spreading Anti-American Unrest Prompts Debate On US Policy In The Arab World” (The Associated Press, 9/14/12)

• The New York Times: “U.S. Is Preparing For A Long Siege Of Arab Unrest” (The New York Times, 9/15/12)

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After supporting President Obama and his EPA’s job-killing regulations on clean and affordable energy, today former Democrat National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tim Kaine unveiled a new ad that attempts to mask his liberal record on energy.

Despite Kaine’s election year posturing, he’s actually been a staunch supporter of President Obama’s job-killing cap-and-trade proposal.  Additionally, Kaine has also fought against offshore energy exploration, which would create thousands of jobs and lower the price of gasoline.

“Former DNC Chairman Tim Kaine’s ad is incredibly misleading, because not only does he oppose offshore energy exploration – which would create jobs and lower gas prices – he also supports President Obama’s job-killing cap-and-trade proposal,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Brian Walsh.  “With a record like that, it’s clear Chairman Kaine’s  record on energy is wrong for Virginia.”     

BACKGROUND….

CHAIRMAN KAINE SUPPORTS CAP-AND-TRADE

Kaine Has “Long Advocated” For A Federal Cap-and-Trade System: “Governor Kaine has long advocated a federal, nationwide cap-and-trade program to bring about annual CO2 reductions in the United States and has proposed a 19% reduction in electricity consumption in Virginia by 2025, the top recommendation of the governor’s commission on climate change.”   (Governor Tim Kaine, “Governor Kaine, United Kingdom Forge New Agreement To Address Climate Change Issues,” Press Release, 2/12/09)

During The 2008 Presidential Campaign, “Mr. Kaine . . . Stressed Mr. Obama’s Plan For A Cap-And-Trade Program Involving The Auction Of Carbon Allowances, and the senator’s goal of using the funds to invest $150 billion over 10 years to promote and research green energy issues. He said the Democratic presidential candidate also would hold a global summit aimed at coming up with an updated strategy to deal with energy and climate change.” (Gary Emerling, “Allen, Kaine Face Off Over ‘08 Candidates,” The Washington Times, 10/16/08)

“‘[I] Think We Ought To Be Preparing For A Long-Term Shift Toward Energy Sources That Are Lower Carbon Or No Carbon,’ Said U.S. Senate Candidate Tim Kaine, a self-described ‘all of the above’ guy on energy production.” (“Kaine: ‘All Of The Above’ On Energy,” Augusta Free Press, www.augustafreepress.com, Posted 1/27/12)

AND OPPOSES OFFSHORE ENERGY EXPLORATION

2009: Kaine, While Still Claiming To Support Exploratory Drilling For Natural Gas, “Asked The Department Of The Interior To Postpone The Proposed Lease Sale For Oil And Gas Exploration”

2009: “[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)

“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.” (Allison Brophy Champion, “Cantor: Drilling For Oil Off Va.’s Coast Would ‘Power Our Economy,’” [Culpeper, VA] Star Exponent, 9/30/09)

• “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)

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WASHINGTON – Nearly four years ago, President Barack Obama and former Democrat National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tim Kaine rammed an $825 billion stimulus into law that was supposed to “create or save” 3.5 million jobs, yet today’s jobs report reiterates that their failed economic policies are not working.

As the Wall Street Journal reports:

JOB GROWTH SLOWS SHARPLY IN AUGUST: Job growth slowed sharply in August, the Labor Department said Friday. Total nonfarm payrolls increased by 96,000, lower than the 125,000 gain expected by Wall Street economists.  Adding to the sense of weakness, job growth in the past two months were revised down by 41,000.  The unemployment rate declined to 8.1% in August from 8.3% in the previous month but the drop was due to a smaller labor force.  Economists forecast the unemployment rate to hold steady at 8.3%.  Average hourly earnings were flat at $23.52.  Earnings are up 1.7% in the past year. The average workweek was unchanged at 34.3 hours. (Greg Robb, Job growth slows sharply in August, Wall Street Journal’s Market Watch, 9/7/12)

Notably, according to Kaine and his fellow Democrats, if their policies actually worked the national unemployment rate would be well below 6 percent by now.

“We’ve tried the failed policies of President Obama and former DNC Chairman Tim Kaine and today’s report is just further proof that their tax-and-spend agenda is not working,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman Brian Walsh. “Virginians simply cannot afford Tim Kaine’s failed economic leadership and it’s time to send a true reformer like George Allen to the Senate.”

BACKGROUND….

President Obama & Chairman Kaine Promised The Stimulus Would ‘Create Or Save’ 3.5 Million Jobs  

ASSOCIATED PRESS:  The Obama administration is defending its claim that the $787 billion economic stimulus plan will save or create 3.5 million jobs before 2011 even while conceding that unemployment will likely continue to rise beyond its earlier predictions.  (Stimulus plan will create or save 3.5 million jobs, White House says, Associated Press, 05/11/09)

Kaine Promised The Stimulus Would Create “Millions” Of New Jobs

Kaine: “This [Stimulus] Bill Is What’s Needed To Put Americans Back To Work.”(MSNBC’s “1600 Pennsylvania Avenue,” 2/6/09)

Kaine Said The Stimulus Would Create Or Save Over 3 Million Jobs. Kaine:“. . . The stimulus bill does three things, Gretchen. It has tax cuts for working Americans — those that make — their families make less than $150,000 a year so they can pay bills, put food on the table, help their kids go to college and start spending again. It has infrastructure spending — roads, bridges, alternative energy projects — that will put people to work and then build a platform for greater economic growth. And then it has an important piece of relief as we take care of rising Medicaid and unemployment rolls for Americans that have been hit so hard by 1.8 million job losses in the last three months. This is exactly what we ought to do. We’ll create or save more than 3 million jobs — 90 percent of them in the private sector.” (Fox News, “Fox And Friends,” 2/10/09)

When Discussing Jobs In February 2010, Kaine Said “We’re In A Much Better Place Because Of The Stimulus Package.” Kaine: “We all know, David, the economy was in a free-fall, shedding 700,000 plus jobs a month. We were in losing GDP. A year later, the job losses have been shaved down to a fraction of that. GDP is growing now for two quarters in a row, which has to happen to get jobs growing again. We’re not where we want to be yet, but we are in a much better place because of the stimulus package that Senator Bayh and others were willing to go out and do the tough work to support.”(MSNBC, 2/16/10)

And That The Unemployment Rate Today Would Be Less Than 6%  

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WASHINGTON – Last month the top Senate Democratic leaders who are overseeing Tim Kaine’s campaign for Senate made clear that they were willing to allow the country to go over a “fiscal cliff” unless their demands for massive tax hikes were met.

But today, a new report from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) made clear that as a result of the Democrats’ reckless tax-and-spend policies, we are already headed in that direction.  The report shows that the economy would go into a recession and unemployment would increase if the Democrats’ proposed small business tax hike and massive defense cuts are put into effect.

“Today’s report is just the latest evidence that the failed economic policies trumpeted by Tim Kaine and President Obama are driving our country over a fiscal cliff,” National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Brian Walsh said today.  “From the reckless spending to the massive expansion of government in ObamaCare, Tim Kaine has marched in virtual lockstep with President Obama and their failed policies are hurting Virginians.

“Under the Obama-Kaine economy, we’ve had 43 straight months of unemployment above 8 percent, a skyrocketing debt that’s now reached almost $16 trillion, and four straight years of trillion dollar deficits.  This report is yet another big wake-up call that Virginia simply can’t afford four more years of Kaine and Obama’s failed economic policies,” Walsh concluded.

BACKGROUND….

CBO Projects ‘Significant Recession,’ ‘Jobless Rate Rising’

NATIONAL JOURNAL: “CBO: Jumping Off Fiscal Cliff Would Cause Recession” (“CBO: Jumping Off Fiscal Cliff Would Cause Recession,” National Journal, 8/22/12)

NEW YORK TIMES: “…if Congress takes no action to stave off tax increases due and automatic budget cuts scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, the economy could fall into a recession, with total output shrinking and the jobless rate rising to about 9 percent in the second half of 2013… Fears about tax increases and spending cuts — the ‘fiscal tightening’ — are depressing economic growth…” (“Report Sees Risk Of Recession If Budget Stalemate Persists,” The New York Times, 8/22/12)

WASHINGTON POST: “The nation would be plunged into a significant recessionduring the first half of next year if Congress fails to avert nearly $500 billion in tax hikes and spending cuts set to hit in January…” (“Significant Recession Imminent If Congress Doesn’t Act On Fiscal Cliff: CBO Report,” The Washington Post, 8/22/12)

REUTERS: “…even worse economic damage than previously thought if Washington fails to come up with a solution, Congress’ budget referee said on Wednesday.” (“U.S. CBO Sees Deeper ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Recession Next Year,” Reuters, 8/22/12)

AP: “… fresh, dire projections by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.” (“Analysts: Recession Likely Without Budget Accord,” AP, 8/22/12)

CBO: “…a recession, with real GDP declining by 0.5 percent between the fourth quarter of 2012 and the fourth quarter of 2013 and the unemployment rate rising to about 9 percent in the second half of calendar year 2013.” (“An Update To The Budget And Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2012 To 2022, Congressional Budget Office, 8/22/12)

Under Senate Democrats’ We Are Now Facing A Fourth Straight Year Of Trillion Dollar Deficits

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Is Predicting The Fourth Straight Deficit To Exceed $1 Trillion At $1.1 Trillion. “Congress’ nonpartisan budget analysts are projecting a $1.1 trillion federal deficit for 2012, the fourth straight year the government’s shortfall will exceed $1 trillion.” (“Analysts Project $1.1T Federal Deficit This Year,” The Associated Press, 8/22/12)

• CBO: “The Federal Budget Deficit For Fiscal Year 2012 … Will Total $1.1 Trillion … Marking The Fourth Year In A Row With A Deficit Of More Than $1 Trillion.” (“An Update To The Budget And Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2012 To 2022,”Congressional Budget Office, 8/22/12)

CBO: “The Amount Of Federal Debt Held By The Public Has Skyrocketed In The Past Few Years, Rising From 40 Percent Of GDP At The End Of 2008 To An Estimated 73 Percent By The End Of This Year.” (“An Update To The Budget And Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2012 To 2022,”Congressional Budget Office, 8/22/12)

• According To The CBO, Federal Debt Held By The Public Will Reach The Highest Levels Since The 1950s. ”Federal debt held by the public will reach 73 percent of GDP by the end of this fiscal year-the highest level since 1950 and about twice the 36 percent of GDP that it measured at the end of 2007, before the financial crisis and recent recession.” (“An Update To The Budget And Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2012 To 2022,” Congressional Budget Office, 8/22/12)

Senate Democrats’ Plan —  ‘Risk Racing Over The Fiscal Cliff’

“…Democratic Senator Patty Murray said her party is willing to risk racing over the fiscal cliff and into financial chaos in 2013.” (“US Lawmakers Head Home, Severe Challenges Loom,” AFP, 8/4/12)

“Democrats say they are prepared to go over the so-called fiscal cliff at the end of the year …” (“Democrats Risk Fiscal Cliff By Targeting Top Earners’ Break,” Bloomberg News,7/10/12)

·       “Democrats have made clear that they are ready to allow tax rates to rise and automatic cuts to kick in for both defense and domestic programs… Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., who outlined the Democratic strategy in a speech this month, put the GOP on notice that her party would rather plunge off the fiscal cliff than extend tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. White House aides pointedly backed Murray’s threat on Tuesday.” (“Democrats Waxing Tough On Fiscal Cliff,” National Journal, 7/25/12)

·       SEN. PATTY MURRAY (D-WA): “So if we can’t get a good deal… then I will absolutely continue this debate into 2013… our country is going to have to face the consequences…” (Sen. Murray, Remarks At The Brookings Institute, 7/16/12)

·       SEN. MARK BEGICH (D-AK): “There are more people today than before that say let this all just expire out.” (“Geithner Meets Murray Amid Fears Lawmakers Might Not Stop Fiscal Cliff,”The Hill, 8/2/12)

·       SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): Q: “Do you agree with Senator Murray that if you do not get a balanced deal, you’ll fight this into 2013?” SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “…Patty Murray knows what she’s talking about.” (Sen. Reid, Press Briefing, 7/17/12)

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As Democrat U.S. Senator Jim Webb prepares to leave Washington, earlier today he was on MSNBC and said he regretted how President Barack Obama and then-Democrat National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tim Kaine strong-armed their $1.76 trillion, job-killing healthcare bill through Congress.

As many Virginians remember, during the healthcare debate Senate Democrat Leader Harry Reid along with the Obama Administration made a slew of backroom deals – including the infamous Cornhusker Kickback – to convince members of his party to support Obama and Kaine’s flawed healthcare bill.
As MSNBC reports:

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

Notably, Kaine once said that ObamaCare would go down in history as one of President Obama’s great achievements.

“It speaks volumes that Senator Jim Webb’s greatest regret is how President Obama and Chairman Kaine rammed their divisive, job-killing healthcare bill through Washington,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Brian Walsh.  “Virginians deserve a Senator like George Allen who will work to repeal and replace this job-killing healthcare law.
BACKGROUND …

MSNBC’S CHUCK TODD:   “Was there any one vote he would want back if he could do it all over again.”

SENATOR JIM WEBB:  “My great regret on that is that I believe the whole health care issue could have been handled differently by the administration and over here. I think the way that the process was put forward without a clear set of principles from the administration caused a lot of fear in the country.”

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After announcing that he would raise taxes on small business owners in the Commonwealth, today former Democrat National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tim Kaine will visit the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce where he’ll double-down on President Barack Obama’s tax-and-spend agenda.  

Chairman Kaine vigorously fought for Barack Obama’s job-killing healthcare law, which raised taxes on small business owners in Henrico, Glen Allen and across the Commonwealth of Virginia.    

Notably, the Wall Street Journal reported that Kaine and Obama’s healthcare law amounts to the largest tax increase ever on the middle-class.

• “It is now undeniable that Mr. Obama has imposed the largest tax increase in history on the middle class. Individuals who don’t buy insurance will have to pay several hundred dollars, depending on income. The Congressional Budget Office says that 76% of those who pay the mandate tax will make less than 500% of the federal poverty level, estimated to be $24,000 for a family of four in 2016. That means 76% of the payers will earn less than $120,000 a year.” (Editorial, “It’s Up To The Voters Now,” The Wall Street Journal, 6/28/12)

“Not only does former Democrat Chairman Tim Kaine want to raise taxes on small business owners, he also supported ObamaCare, which is the largest tax increase ever on the middle-class,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Brian Walsh.  “Given Chairman Kaine’s job-killing record, it’s clear he will always place his loyalty to President Obama over that of hardworking Virginians.” 

BACKGROUND …

TIM KAINE SUPPORTS RAISING TAXES ON SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS

TIM KAINE:  “I disagree with those Republicans who argue that the Bush tax cuts should be made permanent in their entirety,’ Kaine said Monday.”  (Seung Min Kim, Manu Raju, and Scott Wong, “Embattled Dems Buck President Obama On Taxes,” Politico, 7/10/12)

·      July 2012: “Virginia Senate Candidate Tim Kaine, The Former Chairman Of The Democratic National Committee, Prefers A $500,000 Threshold.”(Seung Min Kim, Manu Raju, and Scott Wong, “Embattled Dems Buck President Obama On Taxes,” Politico, 7/10/12)

KAINE HAS BEEN A VOCAL SUPPORTER OF OBAMACARE

TIM KAINE: “[I] Think Health Care Reform Is Going To Go Down In History As One Of The Great Achievements Of This President.” (CNN’s “State Of The Union,” 1/2/11)

·      Kaine Called The Health Care Overhaul One Of Obama’s “Proudest Achievements.” “So the president made health insurance reform a priority — and the Affordable Care Act remains one of his proudest achievements.”(Tim Kaine, Op-Ed, “The President’s Progress,” Politico, 12/31/10)

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As President Obama campaigns in Virginia today, where he will be joined on the trail by his former hand-picked DNC Chairman Tim Kaine, the National Republican Senatorial Committee is asking Kaine whether he will continue to stand with the Obama Administration as massive defense cuts loom over Virginia just as he has done in the past.

“As President Obama and Chairman Kaine travel to Norfolk today, at the same time massive defense cuts loom over Virginia’s military bases, it reminds Virginians that Kaine has a record of putting his loyalty to President Obama ahead of Virginia jobs,” National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Brian Walsh said today.  “Given the fact that neither President Obama nor Senate Democrats have yet to put forward a plan on these proposed cuts, Virginians are rightfully left to wonder if Kaine still believes that ‘everything has to be on the table’ when it comes to cutting Virginia’s military resources.”

The Republican-led House of Representatives voted in May to replace these devastating cuts with common-sense spending cuts and reforms.   But as House Speaker John Boehner’s office reminds Virginians today, both the president and Senate Democrats have rejected the solutions in the House bill, and the Obama administration refuses to respond to requests from Congress on how it plans to implement the military cuts, as well as how specific federal programs and activities would be affected.

The Virginia-Pilot has called these cuts “a ticking time bomb to America’s national defense capability.”

Unfortunately this isn’t the first time Tim Kaine has stood silently by President Obama’s side while his Administration prepared to kill Virginia defense jobs and resources.  Instead of sticking up for his home state in 2010,  Kaine eagerly carried the Obama Administration’s water in promoting the closure of the Joint Forces Command (JFCOM) in the Hampton Roads area of the Commonwealth – a measure universally rejected by Virginia’s political figures, including Senator Jim Webb.

When given the opportunity to stand up and defend this important part of Virginia’s economy, Kaine instead declared that “everything has got to be on the table” despite his admission that “it would have an effect on jobs, no doubt about it.”

Kaine’s loyalty to the President’s agenda stood in stark contrast to the Virginia congressional delegation, and particularly both Democratic Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner, who voiced their strenuous opposition to the proposed cuts.

Background Information:

FLASHBACK – Kaine’s Reaction To Closing JFCOM Was

“Everything Has To Be On The Table” 

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)

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

August 2010: But 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)

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