With the Democratic primary debates and forums now behind them, Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam and former Congressman Tom Perriello have dragged their party further to the left than ever before, supporting policies harmful to the Commonwealth’s economy and counter to the priorities of its people. In their primary battle to out-progressive one another, they have opposed Virginia’s longstanding, bipartisan support for the Commonwealth’s Right to Work laws; opposed critical energy infrastructure projects, while supporting job-killing energy policies; and opposed reforms that would strengthen schools. Northam and Perriello are clearly out-of-touch with Virginia’s families.
Here’s a look back at their long journey to the left:
On Right To Work
Perriello and Northam broke with Governor Terry McAuliffe and Virginia’s longstanding, bipartisan support for the Commonwealth’s Right to Work laws that that guarantee Virginians are not compelled to join a union to obtain or keep a job, and have long been regarded as crucial to maintaining Virginia’s reputation as a pro—business state where employers can locate and expand.
Even Governors of neighboring Tennessee and Kentucky know how critical Right to Work has been for Virginia’s economy:
“We noticed a difference when Kentucky, our northern neighbor, became a Right to Work state,” said Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam. “If Virginia did flip, I can promise you that it would be to Tennessee’s benefit in attracting not only individuals, but in attracting corporations, it would be a huge advantage to us.”
“If Virginia were shortsighted enough to make the decision that your competitors are calling for, it would absolutely be, no question about it, to the advantage of not only surrounding states but states all over the country,” said Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin. “When a company is looking to move from somewhere else in the world to putting a North American headquarters in, they look at all the states. We all do compete with each other. To the advantage of the states that are right to work, is the fact that some are not. And there are certainly some companies, in fact, last time a study was done, a full-third of CFO’s and CEO’s of Fortune 500 companies, for example, said straight up they will not go to, relocate in, or expand in a state that is not right to work.” (Press Release, 05.15.17 )
On critical energy projects such as the construction of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and Mountain Valley Pipeline
Perriello flatly opposes the projects, confirming for voters his radical position that would lead to higher energy costs and less jobs for Virginians across the Commonwealth.
Northam, on the other hand, has been evasive on the issue, refusing to state his support for projects even Governor Terry McAuliffe strongly supports.
On Virginia’s energy policy
Both Northam and Perriello have spoken out in support of Governor McAuliffe’s Executive Directive that requires the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to develop regulations to abate, control, or limit carbon dioxide emissions from electric power facilities and to ensure that Virginia’s regulation is “trading-ready” by December 31, 2017. The Executive Directive has been called a cap-and-trade plan.
“Both Democratic candidates running to be the next governor of the commonwealth praised the action.
Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, in an emailed statement, said he was proud of McAuliffe’s bold action and said, “This is the right thing to do for Virginia’s economy and for our climate.”
Former Congressman Tom Perriello said the executive order shifts Virginia into the 21st century and “gives us a better shot at good-paying jobs and at protecting our coastline and climate.”
Republican candidate for governor Ed Gillespie, who was visiting Deep Mine 41 in Dickenson County, called the news discouraging in a video posted to Facebook. He said, “We all want cleaner air, we all want cleaner water and we can get those things without these excessive regulations that are job-killing.” (Kingsport Times News, 05.16.17)
They also oppose offshore drilling:
“That approach, Turner said, drives Northam’s ‘long-standing opposition to offshore drilling.’
Perriello has supported offshore drilling in the past but said Wednesday that he’s ‘always been very skeptical of offshore drilling’ and supports offshore wind.” (Richmond Times Dispatch, 02.08.17)
More domestic energy production in the Commonwealth will help us diversify our economy, create more good-paying jobs, and increase our nation’s energy independence. Now, with an Administration in Washington committed to achieving these goals, Virginia could benefit from development of our deep sea coast This would have positive impacts all across our Commonwealth, and lead to more good paying jobs being created in our state.
On Virginia charter schools
With only 9 public charter schools – and ranking 39th of the 44 states with a public charter law – Virginia is simply not meeting the needs of students and families across the Commonwealth. Neighboring states, meanwhile, have hundreds of charter schools — 50 in Maryland and more than 160 in North Carolina.
Moderator: “As we’ve seen right here in Richmond, while many elected school board members and school district administrators don’t like charter schools, many parents love them, and will actually take part in a lottery to get their child into them. Do you oppose or support the expansion of charter schools?”
Tom Perriello: “I do not support the expansion of that.”
Ralph Northam: “So when you talk about things like charter schools, which on a regional basis may be an option, but we’re not there yet.” (Democratic Primary Debate, 5/9/17)
Giving parents more options like public charter schools will improve all public schools, and help ensure that every child in Virginia has access to a quality education, yet Northam and Perriello have committed to denying those opportunities in the course of their nomination contest.
While Northam and Perriello make political calculations to win the Democratic primary, Ed will continue to put forward bold policies that will grow our economy.
“It’s time to make Virginia the best state in the nation again in which to live and to work, and we’re not going to divide our way to greater prosperity, to more jobs, to better schools, to new roads,” said Gillespie.“We’ve got to come together. I will continue to focus our campaign on promoting substantive solutions to create good paying jobs, grow our economy, ensure that our energy supply remains affordable and reliable, provide tax relief to all Virginians, and strengthen our Commonwealth for all Virginians.”
Gillespie has released four major policy proposals, including:
- The “Cutting Taxes for ALL Virginians” Plan cuts individual income tax rates by ten percent across-the-board, putting nearly $1,300 more in the pocket of a family of four and creating more than 50,000 new full-time private sector jobs.
- The “FAITH In Our Government for ALL Virginians” Plan will close loopholes and give Virginians a better opportunity to hold elected leaders accountable for their actions.
- The “Efficiency + Effectiveness: A Government that Works for ALL Virginians” Plan will reorient government to more successfully address Virginia’s problems, demand evidence-based solutions, right-size our government to better steward taxpayer dollars, and incentivize our state government workforce to be more responsive to the needs of all Virginians.
- The “Removing Barriers to Job Creation for ALL Virginians” Plan will bring meaningful reform to remove barriers to job creation, making it easier for businesses to grow and thrive in the Commonwealth. It focuses on standing up for Virginia’s job creators, reforming Virginia’s regulatory climate, reforming occupational licensing and streamlining business formation.