Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Editorial: To be the jobs governor
Check the record. Bob McDonnell voted to strip a job fund he now calls vital.
From the RoundTable blog
Read the latest entries
Bob McDonnell is proving to be a clever campaigner as he works to get himself elected as Virginia's next governor and carry Bill Bolling along for a repeat term in the second-fiddle spot.
McDonnell's been masterful in presenting his plans and picking issues that matter to voters. Like jobs.
Last week, McDonnell and Bolling staged an announcement of their four-point job creation plan that would: double the amount of money in the Governor's Opportunity Fund, appoint Bolling as a job czar, put a deputy commerce secretary in charge of rural job growth and halve the number of new jobs businesses must create to gain a tax credit.
Some of it makes sense.
"The Governor's Opportunity Fund can be a powerful weapon in the fight to attract new employers to the commonwealth," said McDonnell, noting the fund is half what it was in 2002.
Interesting comment coming from a former House member who voted thrice to slash the fund. Surely, he didn't frown on the fund then because a Democrat held the governor's post.
McDonnell really should explain himself.
So, too, should Bolling, who blames the last four years (translation: the Kaine years) for "the highest prolonged rate of unemployment in 20 years." Has he missed the nationwide recession? Better yet, where was Bolling the last four years?
Granted, being in the opposition party minimized his exposure. But what has he done as lieutenant governor to inspire confidence that he'd do any better at job creation if given another four years?
Voters, especially jobless voters, will recall Republicans voted against accepting stimulus money that would have extended their unemployment benefits.
The Republican ticket mates are also trying to convince voters that the Democrats have been bad for business.
As they made their case, implying Virginia isn't welcoming enough for business, U.S. News & World Report released its rankings, naming the state as one of the five best in which to start a business.
During Kaine's term, Virginia has received six No. 1 rankings as the most business-friendly state in the nation.
Of course, Virginians need jobs, and they need to understand what their next governor plans to do to help create them. Fortunately for voters, the candidates have records as well as rhetoric to check.
