McDonnell selected as head of RGA for 2012

After finishing out Texas Gov. Rick Perry's term as chairman of the Republican Governors Association, Gov. Bob McDonnell was elected to chair the organization for 2012 Wednesday at the group's quarterly meeting in Orlando.

McDonnell, who served as RGA vice-chairman, took over leadership in August after Perry stepped down to run for president.

The Virginia governor will lead the group of 29 Republican governors through the 2012 election cycle and touted their accomplishments in a statement sent out by his political staff.

"Unemployment is unacceptably high, too many of our citizens lack access to a good paying job and the American Dream, and for too long our leaders in Washington have over-promised, over-spent, and under-delivered," McDonnell said. "Republican governors across the country have been showing the way forward by balancing budgets by cutting spending, not raising taxes; reforming state governments to make them more efficient, effective and user-friendly to taxpayers; and focusing on private sector job creation to get our fellow citizens back to work and reignite the economic engine of America."

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will serve as vice chairman of the RGA. Joining McDonnell and Christie on the groups executive board are Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels will serve as the RGA policy chairman.

McDonnell said in his statement he looked forward to increasing the numbers of Republican governor's across the country come November 2012.

"Across the country these efforts are producing positive results, and I look forward to working with my colleagues over the next year to continue implementing good, fiscally responsible policy, and to working hard to build on the RGA's successes of 2009-2011 to add to the ranks of our 29 outstanding Republican governors," he said.

 

Top VA Dems and Reps join to push tax reform for school remodeling

Some of the commonwealth's most powerful politicos from both the Democratic Party and the GOP joined together to author an op-ed supporting Congressional legislation that would rework part of the nations tax code to encourage private investment in updating public schools.

The piece, which ran on Politico, was authored by U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Jim Webb, who are both Democrats, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Richmond, Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell, and Former Govs. George Allen, Republican, and Tim Kaine, Democrat.

These heavy hitters are urging COngress to pass legislation that would make private industry eligible for a federal rehabilitation tax credit if they modernize older public school buildings.

The credit, which is already available for private investors if they revitalize historic buildings, would give a tax credit for up to 20 percent of construction costs. The problem, the authors say is that because public school buildings are tax-exempt, they don't normally qualify.

"The national interest — not to mention the best interests of parents, children and teachers — is not served by allowing obscure provisions of current law to cost jobs and opportunities for students and private investors. This is a bipartisan jobs bill that could help make America more competitive while also expanding our economy. We hope our colleagues and the White House agree," they wrote.

Both Kaine and Allen are seeking their respective partys' nominations to fill the U.S. Senate seat held by Webb, who is not running for reelection. The two former governors are scheduled to debate each other Dec. 7 in Richmond.

"The Rehabilitation of Historic Schools Act of 2011" was introduced in the U.S. Senate last month by Webb and is being cosponsored by Warner.

Dems unleash anti-Romney ad

Just under a year before the 2012 presidential election and before Republican primary voters have chosen who the party's nominee will be, the Democratic National Committee has launched an ad attacking GOP front runner Mitt Romney.

The ad, called "Trapped" paints the former Massachusett's Governor as a flip-flopper. The slickly done 30-second ad is done in the style of a Hollywood film trailer and urges viewers to go online and view a nearly 5-minute pice title "MittvMitt.com: The story of two men trapped in one body."

Th ad and internet video show Romney changing his position on a number of issues over the years from president Barack Obama's health care reform package to abortion to the Reagan presidency.

On abortion Romney  is shown at one moment saying, "I will preserve and protect a woman's right to choose.' he is then shown saying, "The right next step is to see Roe v. Wade overturned."

In a conference call Monday promoting the ad and the video, Democratic Party of Virginia chairman Brian Moran said it's a "terrific ad," because it's in Romney's own words.

"We need only to let him speak for himself, and the video the DNC released this morning does exactly that," Moran said. "So it's time the American people hear what Mitt Romney truely believes in and what he stands for. They deserve a leader who doesn't drift with the winds of politics and is dedicated fighting for the middle class."

 

Reps. Scott and Cantor

In the spirit of Thanksgiving and to encourage people to give during the holiday season, U.S. Reps. Robert "Bobby" Scott, D-Newport News, and Eric Cantor, R-Richmond, volunteered together Wednesday at the Richmond's Central Virginia Food Bank.

Scott said it is important to give to those "who normally go without, especially during Thanksgiving.

"This is all made possible by the generous donations of time, money, and food from the people right here in the greater Richmond community who understand that caring for one another should be our number one priority," Scott said.

Cantor said in tough economic times it's important for to work to prevent hunger in local communities.

"I thank all those who have given generously with their time, resources, and food donations, and encourage others to give what they can this holiday season and throughout the year," Cantor said. "Together, we can help feed more families and improve the lives of the entire Richmond community."

The Central Virginia Food Bank takes donations from industry groups, individual donors and community gardens and distributes food to needy families in five cities and 31 counties in central Virginia.

Scott and Cantor were invited to participate by FeedMore, the organization that runs the food bank, and the Federation of Virginia Food Banks in order to raise awareness about hunger.

"Hunger is not a far-away problem, yet it has such far-reaching consequences," said FeedMore's chief philanthropy officer Gayle Haglund. "As we prepare for Thanksgiving, their visit reminds us that just as hunger impacts a diverse population in a wide variety of situations, it is also a challenge that will require all of our solutions."

Gov. McDonnell using 'conservative' revenue figures for budget

Gov. Bob McDonnell said he will continue to follow the same pattern he has over the past two years, using "conservative" revenue projections as he develops his two-year budget over the next couple of weeks.

Following a meeting with his Advisory Council on Revenue Estimates, McDonnell said revenue growth is expected to be 3.3 percent for fiscal year 2013 and 4.6 percent for fiscal year 2014.

He said he will be looking for ways to "reform and improve" the delivery of government services and Virginians should expect budget cuts when he presents his spending plan to the General Assembly on Dec. 19.

"They should expect ongoing conservative budgeting," McDonnell said. "People should expect some reductions in spending in certain areas of the government."

The governor said he has been reviewing reports from state agencies where he asked them to provide plans that would cut 2, 4 and 6 percent from their respective budgets. McDonnell said he will use some of those agencies plans as he puts together his budget.

While he said he is not looking at laying off state workers "per se," some could lose their job through the consolidation of some programs and agencies to reduce redundancy.

"To the degree that government reform efforts would cause a shrinking of governing, then there would be some," McDonnell said. "So if you consolidate agencies, you would expect the reason you do that is you want to save money. At least then an executive director, maybe a couple of support staff - so, yes, consolidations mean some reductions. Then again, we've got 103,000 state employees, but I am not looking at any major layoffs."

The governor said he plans to preserve the states core services and not "inflict to much pain in any one area."

"Unless it's an area we feel government shouldn't be involved in," he said. "And then we'll make more wholesale reductions."

When asked what areas he felt government shouldn't be involved in, McDonnell demurred.

"We're still going through all that, and the answer is there's a few," McDonnell said. "I'll report all that back when I release the budget Dec. 19."

The Governor's Advisory Council on Revenue Estimates is made up of legislators and private business leaders who meet with the governor to discuss revenue estimates with respect to the economic climate of the state.

Monday's meeting was closed to the press and public following McDonnell's opening remarks to the group.

The governor said closing the meeting is allowed by state law because he and the members of the business community discuss proprietary information including those companies revenue and employment estimates.

Members of the council include top representatives from the state's heavy hitters in the private sector, including Dominion Power, Hilton Worldwide, Northrup Grumman Shipbuilding, Verizon Virginia and Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield.

Penn State scandal leads to VA bills on mandated reporters

In the wake of the child sexual abuse scandal at Penn State the cost legendary football coachJoe Paterno his job, a Virginia legislator has filed two bills that add to the list of mandated reporters in the case of child abuse or neglect.

In HB3 and HB4 Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Manassas, proposes adding coaches and athletic directors working at colleges or universities or for private sports organizations to be required to report any suspected abuse or neglect to their local Department of Social Services.

If passed these coaches and athletic directors would be added to a long list of professionals who are considered mandated reporters by the state, including doctors, nurses, K-12 teachers and coaches, probation officers and day care workers.

The controversy at Penn State centered around former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky and allegations he sexually abused at least eight young boys who took part in his Second Mile charity program.

In 2002, a graduate student who is now an assistant football coach at Penn State reportedly saw Sandusky molesting a child in the team's locker room shower. From their the questions have swirled over who told who what and when, and ultimately why weren't the proper law enforcement authorities brought into the loop.

Sandusky was indicted on child sexual abuse charges by a grand jury in Pennsylvania earlier this month.

Gov. McDonnell gets "Turkey-of-the-Year" award

ProgressVA gave its first annual "Turkey-of-the-Year" award to Gov. Bob McDonnell Monday for what the group said were his "gimmicks to mislead and confuse Virginians about the Commonwealth’s fiscal condition, his cuts to education, public safety and social service programs, and his refusal to take a balanced approach to Virginia’s budget deficit."

“Virginians across the Commonwealth are bearing the brunt of Governor McDonnell’s fiscal policies," said ProgressVA executive director Anna Scholl. "While middle class families pay taxes on their income and purchases, approximately 64% of Virginia corporations pay no corporate income taxes. Governor McDonnell hasn’t asked his corporate donors to pay their fair share, instead punishing middle class families by cutting millions from education and public safety programs. That’s a turkey if I ever saw one.”

The liberal advocacy group delivered a frozen turkey and a framed copy of the resolution declaring McDonnell "Turkey of the Year" to the governor's office in Richmond.

ProgressVA also included a list of food banks in the Richmond area that are accepting donations in case the Republican governor wants to fob the frozen fowl off on someone else.

Here is the full text of the resolution ProgressVA delivered to McDonnell's office:

“Whereas, Governor McDonnell used a series of accounting gimmicks, including borrowing money from the Virginia Retirement System, to balance Virginia’s budget,

 and Whereas, as Governor, McDonnell has cut millions of dollars from education, public safety, and social service programs,

 and Whereas, under Governor McDonnell’s tenure the Commonwealth has pushed state responsibilities off onto local governments, ducking its responsibilities and increasing the burden on localities,

and, Whereas, Governor McDonnell has borrowed billions of dollars, maxing out the state's "credit card"

and Whereas, Governor McDonnell insisted on closing Virginia’s budget deficit through a cuts-only approach that ignores closing tax loopholes that benefit his corporate donors,

and Whereas, approximately 64% of Virginia corporations pay no corporate income tax while middle class families pay their fair share and Governor McDonnell has proposed no remedy,

Now Therefore,

On this day of November 21, 2011, ProgressVA does hereby confer and award Governor Robert F. McDonnell the honor and accomplishment of “Turkey of the Year”, as recognized by this proclamation and the accompanying turkey.”

McDonnell hopeful Israel, India trip will yield return on investment

Gov. Bob McDonnell in telephone press conference from Tel Aviv Monday said he hopes to "have some announcements in the next 60 days or so" that Israeli companies will be expanding in Virginia.

"These international trade missions, while they are both time consuming and labor intensive for our staff - and expensive - we think they generate immense good will between Virginia and these other countries," McDonnell said. "But more importantly a tremendous economic development. If just one of these major companies that we met with today chooses to come to Virginia or expand in Virginia the return in terms of tax payer dollars will be met."

McDonnell is on a two week "job creation and economic marketing mission to Israel and India.

The governor said his meetings with  66 Israeli companies and Israeli President Shimon Perez have been positive and productive. He noted that the commonwealth is the first state to establish a relationship with the Israeli Manufacturers Association, which represents more than 2000 companies in Israel.

He said he hopes to attract Israeli bio-tech firms to the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park in Richmond and telecommunications and technology companies to Northern Virginia.

"We think with the leadership role Israel plays in technology and bio-tech there are additional commercial innovation opportunities where they night be able pursue," McDonnell said. "It's going to be one of the areas we focus on in the upcoming session, is biotechnology. It's an area where Virginia can clearly grow and expand."

McDonnell leaves Israel Monday for India where he will open the state's third foreign trade office in Mumbai. The commonwealth currently has trade offices in China and the United Kingdom.

Did redistricting confuse voters -- or candidates?

Last weekend, in the waning hours of the campaign, Gary West spent time knocking on doors along Wreck Shoal Drive in Newport News. Some homes on the street near City Center were lined with campaign signs, but one seemed out of place. In the front lawn of the home, a sign read "BaCote for Delegate."

West said he wrote the residents a note thanking them for supporting the party, mentioning that he would be the Democratic candidate for the district's seat.

"The homeowner may have been friends with her," West said, referring to Del. Mayme BaCote, D-Newport News, who was re-elected to the 95th District seat on Tuesday.

West was unsuccessful in his bid for the 94th District House of Delegates seat, losing to Republican David Yancey.

State and local party officials for Democrats and Republicans said that the 2011 redistricting process may have left some candidates confused about whom they would represent.

"I’m not sure all of the candidates had come to a full appreciation for redistricting of where the lines moved," said Chuck Young, chairman of the Newport News Republican City Committee. Young spent Election Day at Palmer Elementary School in Newport News handing out campaign literature. The precinct  includes residents of the 93rd, 94th and 95th districts.

"There were voters who were coming to the polls who weren’t really sure who the candidates they were going to vote for were. I suspect there were candidates who didn’t know for sure," Young said.

David Rexrode, executive director of the Republican Party of Virginia, said that because the redistricting process lasted late into the spring, many candidates didn't have enough time to get fully acquainted with their districts.

"It put a time crunch on elections and candidates to get everything finalized," Rexrode said.

Here's what the parties spent in the battle for the state Senate

We did a little number crunching using figures from the Virginia Public Access Project, which tracks campaign financing in Virginia, to try to get an idea of how much it cost the Republicans to secure -- and the Democrats to try to defend -- a Senate majority this year.

Here are some highlights from the Senate race:

• The Democrats outspent the Republicans by $7,392,586 ($19,806,362 to $$12,413,776).
• Independent expenditures favored Republican candidates by $327,903 ($335,346 to $8,253).
• Republicans spent far more in independent expenditures on attack ads than Democrats did. Independent The GOP spent $243,317 (91 percent of total GOP spending) on attack ads -- the Democrats, $8,113 (85 percent).
• The GOP spent $25,682 on positive adds (9 percent) -- the Democrats, $140 (15 percent).
• The GOP spent $187,701 more than the Democrats on the two seats that changed hands.

Here's the spreadsheet we put together: