In front of the Virginia Economic Developers Association at
the Hotel Roanoke on Thursday, former Virginia governors Tim Kaine and George
Allen spelled out their economic plans for the country, drawing distinctions
between their policy positions on energy and how to overcome the looming
sequester.
Allen and Kaine appeared separately before the association
to lay down their economic visions.
Allen took the usual
position of defunding the middle and working classes while “protecting”
national defense, remarking that he’d “start with what the House passed in
May,”[1]
which included $380 billion in cuts from social programs like Medicaid and food
stamps. Allen also called for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, citing the
figure of $1 trillion in savings.
Tim Kaine, by contrast, repeated his call to end tax cuts
for those with an annual income over $500,000, saying that the change would
create $500 billion worth of added revenues over the next decade.
Kaine also resumed his enlightened position on alternative
energy. “But if you think humans affect climate, then you do wrestle with the
notion that we’ve got to do something about carbon, and the best thing we can
do about carbon in my view is invest in low- and no-carbon energy.”[2]
Citing his across-the-aisle governing style, Mr. Kaine also
talked about his time working with House Republicans to pass a higher education
bond package that facilitated the creation of the Virginia Tech Carilion School
of Medicine.
Neither of the candidate’s positions are new[3],
nor is the relevancy of this election in Virginia. If Tim Kaine becomes
Virginia’s next U.S. Senator, it will not only send a public figure that truly
understands the needs of a broad spectrum of Americans, it will also help the
Democratic Party retain control of the U.S. Senate.
So if you’re concerned about public health, the middle
class, the environment, the existence of the social safety net, and appropriate
legislative compromise, then Tim Kaine is your guy.
[1] http://blogs.roanoke.com/politics/2012/10/11/allen-kaine-detail-dueling-economic-development-philosophies-at-hotel-roanoke/
[2] http://blogs.roanoke.com/politics/2012/10/11/allen-kaine-detail-dueling-economic-development-philosophies-at-hotel-roanoke/
[3] http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-first-televised-prime-time-debate-kaine-and-allen-heighten-stakes-for-pivotal-senate-race/2012/10/08/fafa5ce0-11a5-11e2-9a39-1f5a7f6fe945_story.html
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