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Posted on 08/01/2005 6:15:24 AM PDT by Corin Stormhands
Weekly wrapup of Virginia Campaign News. Post 'em if you've got 'em...
Last week's thread:
Virginia Campaign News - Monday, July 25 - Thread XVII - Hot Hot Hot!
Check my profile page for the list of all threads.
Articles from the RTD unless otherwise noted.
FROM TODAY
Tax rise key issue in campaign
Kaine, Kilgore express opposing views on wisdom of Warner's 2004 reforms
by Michael Hardy
The state's two major gubernatorial candidates are hoping to get ahead by looking back.
FROM THE WEEKEND
Va. Hopeful Hopes to Ride Governor's Wave
by Bob Lewis
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- He's a Democrat who was elected in a heavily Republican state with a promise not to raise taxes - then went ahead and raised them. Even so, Gov. Mark R. Warner is golden and his lieutenant governor hopes their association will help carry him to victory in this year's gubernatorial race.
Mason-Dixon: Poll Data Go Through Spin Cycle
by Jeffy Schapiro
Two days after a new statewide poll showed the contest for Virginia Governor a dead heat, Republican Jerry Kilgore's public-relations machine went into overdrive.
Where's my ping?!? :-P
Monday pingage.
In a bit of Virginia political history. Tomorrow marks the 27th anniversary of Dick Obenshain's death in a campaign plane crash. Thus leading the way for John Warner to become U.S. Senator from Virginia.
Obenshain's daughter, Kate Obenshain Griffin is chair of the Virginia Republican Party. His son, Mark, is one of the good guys in the Virginia State Senate.
On a personal note, I don't remember the Obenshain plane crash very well. My dad died the day before (27 years ago today).
I know this the Va. Politics thread (I now live in Williamsburg, Va.), but I have to ask:
What is with all the vanity license plates in this state?
You mean as opposed to any other states? Or are you looking at specific tags?
The personalized plates...and yes, compared to other states, it is real common around here....
It's a fad. Does there need to be another explanation?
Nah, no other explanation...I guess I spend too much time on the road, 75 mile round trip to work....
Personally I like the wide variety of "themed" plates to choose from, but I do agree, I have noticed far more "personalized" plates here than elsewhere...............and I say that as a person who has personalized themed plates!
I knew it wasn't just me....
LOL!!!
And to be honest, I thought it was more of an Eastern Shore thing, as opposed to statewide :)
.........the only people who pay attention to the polls in July: politics junkies.
At least one Virginia gubernatorial debate will be televised, its organizers announced.
The Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce said yesterday that the Sept. 13 debate between former Virginia Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore, a Republican, and Lt. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, a Democrat, will be televised live on NewsChannel 8.
As of yesterday, independent candidate H. Russell Potts Jr., had not been invited to participate in the debate.
Tim Russert, host of NBC's "Meet the Press," will moderate the debate, which will be held at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner. The debate is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m.
< snip >
By Michael D. Shear
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 28, 2005; Page B09
RICHMOND, July 27 -- The political action committee representing Virginia's 35,000 Realtors endorsed Republican Jerry W. Kilgore for governor Wednesday, reversing its position from four years ago when it supported Mark R. Warner for the state's top job.
The group's chairman said its members believe that Kilgore will promote a better environment for their industry and the state's homeowners than Democratic candidate Lt. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine or Sen. H. Russell Potts Jr. (R-Winchester), who is running as an independent.
"It was just more of a feeling that the group had that Kilgore was probably closer to how they perceived candidates should be toward our profession," said Schaefer Oglesby, a Realtor in Lynchburg. "It wasn't a clear-cut, he's against this or for that."
The association, which endorsed the Democratic candidate for governor in 1993 and split its endorsement between the major parties in 1997, interviewed all the candidates July 8 and met to make its decision two weeks later.
Oglesby said that several of the committee's members expressed deep concern about homeowner tax relief proposals from Kaine and Kilgore. Kaine would allow a 20 percent exemption for homes; Kilgore would cap assessment increases at 5 percent annually.
By Chris L. Jenkins
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 22, 2005; Page B01
RICHMOND, July 21 -- Virginia ended its fiscal year with a $544 million surplus, powered by rising tax collections from a healthy real estate market and robust economy in the Washington suburbs, Gov. Mark R. Warner (D) announced Thursday.
But the rosy results for fiscal 2005, which ended June 30, intensified a debate among the candidates for governor over whether state politicians should have raised several taxes in 2004.
Republican candidate Jerry W. Kilgore said the outcome proves that Warner and lawmakers backing his plan should have waited for the economy to rebound before raising taxes. Democratic nominee Timothy M. Kaine, the lieutenant governor, supported the increases. He said Thursday that the tax increases, which amounted to $1.5 billion, were necessary to maintain the state's fiscal integrity.
< SNIP >
State officials said that most of the surplus for the budget, which totals $63 billion over two years, was generated by increased tax collections from residents who made money from stock market gains and other non-wage income. The state also benefited from growth in corporate income taxes and from revenue drawn from taxes and fees on real estate sales, largely in Northern Virginia, administration officials said.
Although the large surplus had been expected, this is the second consecutive year that Virginia has had a surplus in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
< SNIP >
Kilgore's press secretary, Tim Murtaugh, said that the surplus is proof that all state politicians had to do last year was wait for the economy to rebound. "This completely bears out everything Jerry Kilgore has been saying about the tax increase since it was first considered: that the economy would be turning around and that the tax increase was rushed and unnecessary," Murtaugh said.
< SNIP >
"We didn't need a tax increase that was that large," said House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem), who suggested that in light of the budget numbers, the General Assembly should consider lowering recordation fees that were raised last year.
Corin, we never do seem to forget the anniversary of our parents' passing ... I hope as the day arrives each year you are filled more with thanks for his life than sorrow at his passing. God Bless.
Thank you. You're right. We never forget.
Allen will help Marrs at campaign kickoff
Despite requests, senator will appear with delegate who attacked gay donor
by Jeffy Schapiro
Gay Republicans yesterday urged U.S. Sen. George Allen, R-Va., to withdraw as headliner at the re-election kickoff of Del. Bradley P. Marrs, R-Chesterfield, to protest Marrs' attack on a gay political donor.
Jeffy is lying here to cover his clymer. The Marrs letter did go too far, but he din't "attack" Pence. Marrs sent a letter to the editor to clarify. It hasn't run yet. I have a copy at home I'll try to post here tonight.
How can Jeffy be lying? He actually believes the drek he writes.................
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