Creigh Deeds and Terry McAuliffe joined Gov. Kaine in condemning Republicans - including Bob McDonnell - for rejecting $125 million in stimulus money for unemployed Virginians. First, here's Creigh's statement:
It’s unconscionable that Bob McDonnell and Virginia Republicans decided to turn their backs on stimulus funding that would have helped laid-off Virginia workers get back on their feet. This economic crisis is breaking family budgets across the commonwealth, yet Bob McDonnell and his Republican allies still don't get that Virginians are hurting. This isn’t about Democrats or Republicans, it’s about what’s best for Virginia. We need a leader who understands the day-to-day struggles of working families. As Governor, I will build on the Warner-Kaine years and put hard-working Virginians first.Next, here's Terry:
Yesterday, Virginia Republicans, led by Bob McDonnell, turned their backs on Virginia families and communities facing record unemployment rates and unprecedented economic challenges. At a time when we should be working across party lines to get our economy back on track, McDonnell has shown once again that he is more interested in political games and heated partisan rhetoric than working to find bipartisan solutions.Now, here's my statement:
Not only will this decision to reject $125 million in federal economic recovery money hurt our families, but it will also discourage responsible behavior among unemployed workers, like looking for part-time work and enrolling in job training programs. We should be doing everything in our power to encourage unemployed Virginians to take these steps.
Bob McDonnell's refusal to accept economic recovery money to alleviate the problems of unemployment in Virginia is just another sign that he will not continue the progress of the Warner-Kaine administrations. Instead, McDonnell would take us back to the era of Jim Gilmore, who turned his back on Virginians experiencing hardship when he repeatedly failed to claim federal matching funds for children's health insurance and refused to extend emergency unemployment aid to workers laid off from the Tultex textile plant in Martinsville.
SCREW YOU BOB MCDONNELL AND VIRGINIA HOUSE REPUBLICANS!Subtle enough? Hey, that's why I'm a blogger. :)
UPDATE: Jon Bowerbank weighs in:
With nearly 300,000 Virginians unemployed, families across the Commonwealth need this aid. But Bill Bolling put politics first and came out early and often against all stimulus funding, including the unemployment aid Republicans rejected yesterday. He is allowing Virginia's families to continue to suffer to score political points. We need a Lieutenant Governor who will stand up and fight to help Virginians when they need it, and that's the change I plan to bring to the office
