Thursday, October 08, 2009

There You Go Again, Bob

This maven has observed ten or eleven gubernatorial contests in Virginia. In every one of them the Republican candidate has accused the Democratic candidate of intending to raise taxes if elected. This is such a standard part of Republican campaign rhetoric that I assume it’s required by the rules of the Virginia GOP. So, it came as no surprise to me last night that I saw and heard—

I’m Bob McDonnell, and I approved this message. . . Then comes the standard attack. Creigh Deeds intends to raise taxes. In fact, Creigh Deeds has promised that if elected he will raise our taxes. This ad even goes so far as blaming Creigh Deeds for possible increases in federal taxes. All this Deeds devilry will cost the average Virginia family thousands of dollars.

You know, loyal reader, my three young ‘uns received wonderful public school educations in the Commonwealth. All of them took civics in middle school and government in high school. All three of them learned that in Virginia only the General Assembly has the constitutional authority to enact legislation, including laws that raise taxes. They understand that no Virginia governor has the authority, under our constitution, to raise taxes.

Which leads me to conclude that either—

Bob McDonnell is deliberately deceiving the voters of Virginia, or
Bob McDonnell slept through his civics and government classes.

7 comments:

FanGuy said...

Um, hasn't Deeds said he will raise taxes to pay for transportation?

Bert Berlin said...

No,
Senator Deeds said that, if the General Assembly passed a transportation bill that included a tax increase, he would sign it.

James Young said...

Well, as to the point in chief, it's a "standard part of Republican campaign rhetoric" because virtually every Democrat elected as Governor in the last twenty years (save, possibly, Doug Wilder) has promised to NOT raise taxes, and then, proposed and signed a tax increase. Talk about "deliberately deceiving the voters of Virginia"....

"only the General Assembly has the constitutional authority to enact legislation, including laws that raise taxes. They understand that no Virginia governor has the authority, under our constitution, to raise taxes."

So the Governor has no veto authority? Or authority to sign a tax increase?

YOU'RE the one who is "deliberately deceiving the voters of Virginia, or ... slept through his civics and government classes."

Roger Mc Cauley said...

The evil "I".

Hasn't every poitician framed all of the things to be done under his new administration in this fashion? If you want to go after "Bob" go after him for his claim of becoming the "Jobs Governor". Ask specifically and you get no information, The only way you create jobs now is when the Federal government pumps out money and this Administration is too busy with its political agenda to worry about the unemployed. That will be put off until next August as a run up to the 2010 elections

FanGuy said...

LOL. Bert, are you really drawing that distinction? That's how law is made. Of course there has to be a bill for him to sign.

Bert Berlin said...

Obviously, we are in disagreement.

Personally, I think that any candidate that promises not to raise taxes is a fool. Nobody knows what the future may bring. If the survival of the Commonwealth depends on a tax increase, should the governor oppose it just to keep his promise?

FanGuy said...

Bert, I am a moderate, and am not opposed to well targeted, necessary taxes (like user taxes). I wish Deeds would just come out and say it rather than hemming and hawing about taxes. Then I could respect the man and maybe vote for him.