Wagner's support for higher taxes, record of fiscal mismanagement and dishonest, negative campaign is exposed-
-Bolling clearly outlines record of accomplishment and New Ideas for a Better Virginia-
SALEM - Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling handily defeated Jody Wagner in the Lieutenant Governor's debate tonight at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia. The debate was sponsored by the Young Lawyers Division of the Virginia Bar Association, moderated by WSLS reporter Jay Warren and broadcast live on the WSLS website.
Throughout the debate, Bolling clearly outlined his record of accomplishment during his 18-years of public service and his plans to create new jobs, grow the economy, restore fiscal management to state government and provide solutions to the education, energy, transportation, public safety and health care challenges facing Virginia.
Many times appearing flustered, Wagner was repeatedly put on the defensive for her consistent and habitual support for higher taxes, including her proposal to increase of the gas tax, her record of fiscal mismanagement as Secretary of Finance, which has caused over $7B is budget shortfalls and the loss of more than 2,000 state jobs, her lack of positive ideas and plans to solve the challenges facing Virginian and her dishonest, negative personal campaign attacks on Bolling.
Throughout the debate Bolling connected Wagner to her running mate Creigh Deeds plans to raise taxes and his dishonest, negative personal attacks.
Wagner has embraced Creigh Deeds' plans to raise taxes on Virginia families and business, including higher job-killing gas taxes, even in a bad economy. Additionally, Wagner has supported every major tax increase during her eight years in state government, including increasing the sales tax by 20%, imposing higher taxes on small businesses and seniors and higher taxes on home and car sales.
When discussing their respective records, Bolling summed up the differences between himself and Wagner best when he said, "She has worked for people who have accomplished things. She has accomplished very little."
As a State Senator and Lieutenant Governor, Bolling has a long record of accomplishment. Some highlights include:
- Kids First legislation to crack down on dead beat parents
- Establishing the children's health insurance program in Virginia, which is currently covering over 100,000 low-income children
- Expanding the Governor's Economic Opportunity Fund to make incentives available to small businesses in economically depressed regions of Virginia
- Eliminating hundreds of unnecessary and redundant regulations as chairman of the Regulatory & Government Reform Task Force
- Providing the first state funding to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which is cracking down on internet sexual predators
- Streamlining the regulatory process to position Virginia as the nation's leader in advancing wind and solar projects
As Lieutenant Governor, Bolling promoted numerous initiatives that focused on important health care issues. Through his Steptember program, Ending Cervical Cancer In Our Lifetime initiative, Helping Virginians Breath Easier campaign, and the Lieutenant Governor's Challenge: Your Heart Is In Your Hands program, Lieutenant Governor Bolling has helped focus public attention on important health care issues like obesity, cervical cancer, asthma and cardiovascular health.
Bolling also clearly outlined his innovative and plans to create jobs, grow the economy and restore fiscal responsibility to state government and address the education, energy, transportation, health care and public safety challenges facing Virginia.
The Manassas News & Messenger called Bolling's proposals "comprehensive and extensive plans to deal with transportation, education, public safety and more".
Earlier today, The News & Messenger joined the Arlington Sun Gazette as the second Northern Virginia newspaper to endorse Lieutenant Governor Bolling.
Bolling has also been endorsed a long list of other organizations including National Federation of Independent Business/ Virginia, Virginia Association of Realtors PAC, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation's Virginia AgPAC, Virginia Credit Union League, Associated Builders and Contractors, Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, National Rifle Association - Political Victory Fund, Fraternal Order of Police and Police Benevolent Association.
