Republican and Democrats are filling the void these days fighting for the upper hand on the $125 million in federal stimulus money that House Republicans refused because it was tied to potentially hirer business taxes down the road.
Democrats clearly feel that they have a winning issue here. They've been hammering the GOP since the vote, lining up Democrats and unemployed Virginians to lament the move and blasting Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bob McDonnell for siding with the GOP. They've started a petition - called Stand Up for Va - and they're barnstorming around the state - starting in unemployment-heavy Martinsville.
Sen. Creigh Deeds, Brian Moran and Terry McAuliffe have played the partisan version of Whack-a-Mole - graciously allowing each other to take turns nailing McDonnell. McDonnell clearly wants to diffuse the issue - this week he sent a letter to the state's congressional delegation asking them to allow states to let the new benefits run out when the federal money does.
The Republicans haven't taken the issue lightly, House Speaker William J. Howell and other members of the GOP have trotted out small-business owners and other members of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce to talk about what expanded benefits might have done to their bottom lines.
Just this week, Howell's office touted a letter signed by 25 members of the state chamber supporting the vote by the GOP. If you want to see video of Howell and other business leaders talking about the problem with expanding benefits click here.
Right now this back-and-forth is about laying the groundwork but the major question is how does this play on the campaign trail with all 100 seats in the House of Delegates up for grabs in November?
Democrats have the head start here, because they can make their case for taking the $125 million in one short sentence - perhaps even a single phrase. Meanwhile, Republicans are going to need a serious handle on the issue and a little bit of patience because their case is a bit more complex and difficult to explain.
This kind of debate probably isn't going to do in a lawmaker like Del. Phil Hamilton, who has been out ahead on this and has no problem taking a little bit of time and justifying his vote on the unemployment benefits. Shortly after the vote, Hamilton quickly fired off a editorial laying out his view of the pros and cons.
But the GOP problem isn't candidates like Hamilton. The Republican problem is with House lawmakers further down the totem poll who are going to have to run their own fall campaigns. Every Republican who voted against the $125 million is going to have to re-live that vote in nearly every debate and candidate forum on the trail.
Even the most novice Democratic challengers are going to make sure this issue is front-and-center on the campaign trail - and an economic tailspin doesn't simply go away so don't expect unemployment numbers to suddenly plummet off the political radar.
You're going to keep hearing about that $125 million in federal stimulus money until November.
On the campaign trail "explanation time" can be deadly. A discussion can quickly become an uphill battle. When your opponent debates with words and you need full paragraphs - the reality is that you are probably in trouble.
It figures that the state GOP wouldn't give a flyin' rat's pink behind about the thousands of unemployed workers. They never have, and never will. Without the expansion of benefits, we might well have lost our home. Considering the current economic enviroment, the lower level members of the GOP better count their numbered days, because the average worker has a LONG memory. Your eliteist attitude will eventually come back to bite you in the butt. BIG TIME.
Posted by: KD | Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 11:35 PM