Northam Supports Status Quo; Not Serious About Economic Growth Opportunities for Virginia
2017 Republican gubernatorial nominee Ed Gillespie last week released a policy proposal to legalize consumer-grade fireworks in the Commonwealth that would generate new jobs, increase revenue, and provide for freedom to Virginians. Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam opposed the proposal, choosing instead to support the status quo of a stagnant economy held back by onerous regulations and government overreach – a clear indication that the Lieutenant Governor is not serious about economic growth opportunities in Virginia.
“I am putting forward policies big and small to create jobs here, and legalizing consumer-grade fireworks in the Commonwealth would mean more jobs, more revenue, and more freedom for Virginians. Lieutenant Governor Northam opposes that opportunity for growth. He doesn’t want the new jobs; He doesn’t want the increased revenue; And he doesn’t trust the people of Virginia with the same freedom our neighboring states entrust in their citizens,” said Ed Gillespie. “Virginia’s economy is stuck and we should be looking for every opportunity, big or small, to reverse the status quo, not preserve it.”
“Unlike Lieutenant Governor Northam, Ed will look for every opportunity to grow our economy and create jobs here in the Commonwealth,” said Senator Bryce Reeves. “I’m excited by his plan to bring fireworks to Virginia because I’ve carried similar legislation in the past. I look forward to working with him on legislation to make it a reality.”
Speaking about the plan, Senator David Suetterlein said, “Legalizing consumer grade fireworks in the Commonwealth will provide great new ways for adults to celebrate and more importantly, a new avenue for entrepreneurship. Ed Gillespie is dedicated to economic growth and understands legalizing consumer grade fireworks means new businesses and new jobs across Virginia. I am thrilled about the prospect of a Governor like Ed Gillespie that wants to make it easier to start and expand businesses and is willing to think outside of the box to make that happen.”
“As Ed Gillespie continues to put forward substantive policies that will jumpstart our economy, the Lieutenant Governor continues to support harmful, liberal policies that hold our Commonwealth back,” said Senator Bill Stanley. “I’m impressed by Ed’s plan, and I’m looking forward to shooting off real fireworks on the next Fourth of July.”
Lieutenant Governor Northam has supported reckless economic policies, including undoing Virginia’s longstanding right to work laws and has opposed the Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley Pipelines: two critical energy infrastructure projects that would create thousands of new, good-paying jobs and save Virginians millions of dollars on energy costs each year.
Over the weekend Virginians praised Gillespie’s plan:
“Ed Gillespie is gearing up for the Fourth of July holiday just like many other Virginians – by crossing the state line for more impressive fireworks. Gillespie, the Republican candidate for governor, announced in a video posted online Friday afternoon that he’d use a position in the governor’s mansion to push to let Virginians buy full-blown fireworks, the kind that shoot high into the air and explode.” (Virginian Pilot, 6/30/17)
“‘In Virginia we’re missing out on being able to create thousands of jobs and tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue, not to mention having some fun,’ Gillespie said. Gillespie then said that he would fight for adults to be allowed to purchase fireworks. In the end, Gillespie lit a fireworks container and ran. The result is beautiful.” (Washington Free Beacon, 6/30/17)
“One fan of the idea was George Allen, a former Republican governor who thinks the state’s restrictions are ‘nanny laws.’ ‘I just know Tennessee has really good fireworks, and so does South Carolina, and Virginia’s — they’re just pathetic,’ Allen said. ‘I remember we were in China maybe three years ago on a business-cultural thing, and it was during the Chinese New Year. And in middle of the night, you see fireworks shooting up just randomly. I said, ‘Look at that, they have more freedom. Here we are in a communist country.’” (Washington Post, 7/2/17)
“It is indicative of the difference in governing philosophies on display from the major candidates: on the one hand we have a candidate who defers to the people and to individual liberties, and on the other we have a nanny-state progressive whose first and only answer to every issue is more government coercion.” (The Bull Elephant, 6/30/17)
“Virginia’s Republican candidate for governor says ordinary citizens should be free to shoot off bottle rockets and Roman candles. The Washington Post reported Sunday that Ed Gillespie pledged to try to legalize higher-grade fireworks if elected. They’re allowed in neighboring West Virginia and Tennessee.” (AP, 7/2/17)
“In the ad, Ed Gillespie looks disappointingly at the tiny sparkler in his hand before cutting to a shot of him in front of a table loaded down with the kinds of fireworks you can buy in neighboring Tennessee and West Virginia.” (WVTF, 6/30/17)
“‘We need to be looking for every possible way we can grow our economy, create good jobs, and give Virginians more personal freedom along the way,’ Gillespie said. ‘I know we can trust Virginians with the same liberties millions of other Americans now enjoy.’ ‘As governor, I’ll work with our General Assembly to enact this commonsense legislation in time for next Fourth of July, so Virginians, living in the home of our nation’s Founders, can celebrate the holiday with the same freedom and liberty that millions of our fellow Americans already possess,’ Gillespie concluded.” (Daily Caller, 6/30/17)
“Currently, he said Virginians are limited to sparklers and relatively tame explosives such as ‘party poppers,’ which he displayed on a patio table. ‘They’re pretty rinky-dink in nature,’ Gillespie said, ‘as opposed to the kind that fly up in the air and make displays and colors that make people say ‘ooh and aah.’ We need to have a lot more of that here.’ He said the expanded sale and use of fireworks in Virginia would result in ‘millions of dollars’ of additional sales tax revenues and ‘thousands of jobs’ in the state. (Richmond Times Dispatch, 6/30/17)