Ministers Endorse McAuliffe

Gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe was joined at a press conference this morning by area ministers in Hampton as they discussed their support for his campaign. Citing his commitment to Virginia families and Virginia values, good jobs and a good salary for every hardworking Virginia, a quality education for every Virginia child, and protecting those who are vulnerable with policies, such as a proposed ban on predatory lending, that set him apart from every other candidate, the group offered their enthusiastic support of McAuliffe's candidacy.

"The job that Terry's involved in, he gives it all his heart, and that's what we need here in Virginia," said Bishop Rudolph Lewis. "That's why I've been supporting him because I feel the same way about reaching out and touching people. The people that I believe he helps most are the people that we are trying to help."

Over the course of his campaign, McAuliffe has outlined a comprehensive business plan for getting Virginia's economy back on track and helping families to build a better future. McAuliffe's Business Plan for Virginia addresses the growing number of individuals who find themselves out of work, unable to afford their mortgage, or worried about paying for their children's education. That Business Plan outlines proposals to attract new jobs to the Commonwealth through a series of incentives and increases to the Governor's Opportunity Fund. McAuliffe has also put forth plans to encourage small, women, and minority entrepreneurs to create their own businesses, and to help those businesses thrive. Through proposals like the Scholars for Service program, McAuliffe would work to ensure that every student has the opportunity to access a high-quality education.

In addition to supporting career and educational opportunities, McAuliffe is the only candidate in the race to have proposed a ban on predatory lenders. McAuliffe has also pledged to institute new programs to help make small loans affordable, and to assist families in improving their financial literacy. When disaster strikes, McAuliffe will ensure that families have access to low-interest loans to help pay for health care, and will create a Commonwealth-funded revolving loan program to assist low-income homebuyers.

The ministers' endorsement follows closely the formation of Small Business Owners for Terry and their endorsement on Monday. The full list of those in attendance follows below:

Rev. Joseph Garrett
Rev. Charles Pauling
Bishop Samuel Green, Jr.
Bishop Rudolph Lewis
Rev. Browlee Hailstock
Rev. Christopher Carter
Rev. Michael Silver
Rev. Simon Richardson
Rev. Kevin Swann
Rev. Dwight Riddick
Rev. Ronald Harris
Rev. S. L. Cutler
Iman Asadi Muhammed
Rev. Robert Nixon
Rev. Jose Florres
Rev. Charles Beard
Father Harold Cobb
Rev. Brenda McDonald
Rev. Robert Chandler
Rev. Purcell Roberts

Tags: business plan, economy, education, endorsement, endorsements, families, jobs, macker, mcauliffe, ministers, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia

Terry McAuliffe brings energy to Virginia race

Collegiate Times
May 27, 2009
by Mike Sage

2009 Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe has given the campaign a big name with considerable experience working at the highest levels of public affairs.

He has accomplished much in both the business and political world, and his most obvious characteristic is one that seems quite appropriate for a potential governor of the commonwealth during these tough economic times: energy.

One meeting with McAuliffe is all an observer needs to fully comprehend this contagious energy. I've had the chance to witness McAuliffe in action on two different occasions: first at the Collegiate Times' sponsored gubernatorial debate held in Blacksburg for this year's Democratic candidates, and a second time at a speech in Roanoke. In each instance, I left the experience thoroughly impressed with this very outgoing candidate.

At the debate, he displayed a highly sophisticated knowledge of the issues most important to Virginians, which helps to invalidate the outsider image that has been perpetrated by some of his detractors (since the other two Democratic candidates, Brian Moran and Creigh Deeds, have spent time in the state legislature). And, in true form, McAuliffe delivered his policies on these issues with the flair and energetic charisma that have become his trademark.

The speech in Roanoke was no different, with McAuliffe constantly multi-tasking by juggling the difficult duties of playfully joking to members of the crowd, and delivering intellectually significant and easy-to-comprehend messages on policy.

And this energy has also inspired some of the most powerful figures in American politics. McAuliffe has long been a close political ally and friend of Bill and Hillary Clinton, evidenced by the fact that he served as national co-chairman of the Clinton-Gore 1996 re-election campaign, and that he ran Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign. Prior to those roles, McAuliffe held a number of vital financial positions in Democratic politics, including Director of Finance at the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

McAuliffe also served as Chairman of the DNC from 2001 to 2005, a tenure which has sparked debate. Some point to Democratic losses in Congress and John Kerry's defeat in the 2004 Presidential campaign in assigning blame to McAuliffe. These criticisms couldn't be more off-base; McAuliffe spent his time as DNC Chair creating a new infrastructural outlook that has enabled the party to reach unprecedented levels of voters, and a more diverse and intricate network of voters.

Another example of McAuliffe's open and energetic style, and one that is most pertinent to the needs of the Virginia citizenry, is his 130-page 'Business Plan For Virginia'. The plan is broken down into five chapters: The major policy topics are energy, business development, education, economic security, and transportation. All of these issues are paramount in this time of economic turmoil and uncertainty.

Some of the highlights are his plans for the development of wind-turbine power off the Chesapeake Bay, specifically-defined changes in electricity law and smart incentives for businesses to relocate to Virginia, and his support for a passenger rail project that would connect Hampton Roads with Richmond and Washington.

However, perhaps as important as any of McAuliffe's plans for Virginia is his call for educational reform. If elected as Governor, McAuliffe proposes to make significant improvements in early childhood education, college affordability, and technical and vocational programs in the state's numerous community colleges, which would train young people for the 21st century jobs that he plans to help create.

At the end of the day, it seems to me that the current political environment is one of action and engagement. Those might be the best words to describe President Obama's time in office so far - from direct public outreach through videos explaining his decisions, to the actual measures he has taken, which have been designed to attack our biggest problems as quickly and aggressively as possible.

And, if energy and activity are the status quo in American politics at the moment, I doubt we will encounter any candidate more suited than Terry McAuliffe to be the commonwealth's next commander-in-chief.

Tags: business, debate, education, energy, macker, mcauliffe, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia

Great News

I've got some great news, and it's all thanks to your hard work. Some new polling shows we've got the lead, and today we're releasing a new TV ad to help keep our momentum going. But with just two weeks to go until Election Day, our opponents are ratcheting up the attacks, and we're counting on your help to pull us over the finish line.

Boots on the Ground

Turnout will be the deciding factor in this election, and we need your help. Since the beginning of this campaign, we've succeeded in bringing new people into our political process because people like you have been pounding the pavement -- knocking doors, making phone calls, and empowering voters to make their voices heard. Just yesterday the Associated Press noted that, "Political observers suggest a low primary turnout would benefit Moran or Deeds, while a larger turnout would help McAuliffe, who is trying to attract new voters as Obama did."

But the Moran campaign thinks our strategy is all for nothing. After going around for months claiming that the grassroots was the key to victory, the Washington Post reported this morning that Moran's strategists "view that kind of operation as a waste of resources on voters unlikely to come out for a June primary."

That's right -- the Moran campaign is taking a shot at you and all the hard work you've been doing for months. This is our chance to prove them wrong. We've got the infrastructure -- 14 field offices across the Commonwealth, and 50 of the best field organizers in politics. But we need your help to power the operation - making phone calls and knocking on doors so we can get our voters to the polls. And if you're one of the first 200 people to sign up and volunteer your time between now and the election, we'll give you a rally sign autographed by Terry McAuliffe.

The single most important thing you can do to help this effort is to come into one of our offices. But there are other opportunities to get involved too - even from your home.

Click Here to Volunteer and Get an Autographed Rally Sign.

Polls, Polls, Polls

Three new polls came out at the end of last week, and they all show us with a very solid lead. DailyKos founder and best-selling author Markos Moulitsas observed that "McAuliffe has managed to move his favorability numbers forward despite an increasingly negative primary." As voters take a tough look at each of the candidates, Terry's vision for growing the economy and creating jobs is clearly resonating.

But we've still got a lot of work to do. Public Policy Polling's Dean Debnam says, "This race is still really up for grabs…There are still lots of undecideds and lots of voters open to changing their minds."

That's why we need your help now more than ever. The attacks on Terry have already started, and you ain't seen nothing yet. VCU Professor Bob Holsworth noted that, "With McAuliffe ahead in all of the public polls, attempting to bring him down has become a matter of some urgency to the other campaigns." And Brian Moran's chief strategist has pledged to do precisely that.

Terry's taken a different approach. He's sticking to the issues, staying positive, and saving his criticism for Bob McDonnell. But in order for that strategy to work, we need your help.

New TV Ad

Today, we're also unveiling our newest television ad - a 30 second spot that focuses on the importance of investing in early childhood education. I wanted to make sure you see it first.

Thanks to you, I couldn't be more proud of the campaign we're running. But right now we're getting attacked from all sides. Both of our opponents are on the air, and we need the resources to respond to their attacks, communicate Terry's positive message of job creation, and bring our people to the polls.

Click here to make a contribution to fully fund our efforts to reach voters and respond to attacks. There are only two weeks left!

Let's keep the pedal to the metal until Election Day on June 9th.

P.S. If you're not going to able to make it to the polls on June 9th, make sure to cast an absentee ballot. Click here to get more information.

Tags: ads, brian moran, education, grassroots, macker, mcauliffe, moran, organization, polling, polls, supporters, t-mac, teachers, terry, terry mcauliffe, tv ad, va-gov, virginia

McAuliffe Campaign Releases New Ad Highlighting Education Plans

Today, gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe released a new television advertisement highlighting his ideas for getting all Virginia's children on a path to success.

"Did you know we use the failure rate of third graders to help predict how many prison spots Virginia will need in 15 years?" says McAuliffe in the ad. "As Governor I'll invest in early education, reduce class sizes and invest in teacher pay because the future of our children and our Commonwealth start right here."

The ad, "Right Here," will run on stations in the Richmond, Norfolk and Roanoke media markets. It can be viewed here.

Tags: ad, education, macker, mcauliffe, t-mac, teachers, terry, terry mcauliffe, tv ad, va-gov, virginia

Weekly Blog Roundup 5/1/09

Welcome to this week's installment of the Weekly Blog Roundup. Bloggers wrote about the wide variety of gubernatorial events this week, including multiple debates, Terry's support from Bill Clinton, and reflecting on Terry's Business Plan for Virginia.

At his blog The Daily Dogwood, Josh Chernila provided some afterthoughts on Thursday’s debate in Lyric, the first statewide debate sponsored by and for the netroots community.

Finally, McAuliffe is definitely the one to beat in this race. He is in the best position to take on McDonnell, has very strong and well-considered positions, and is really running by far the best campaign in Virginia politics this year. His common sense solutions will draw a stark contrast against McDonnell's radical ideology in the fall.

In a post at Virginia Tomorrow, Bob Holsworth commented on the two rallies held in Richmond and Roanoke on Monday at which President Bill Clinton came out to support Terry.

[Clinton] said that McAuliffe’s background as an entrepreneur and a businessman was precisely the right kind of experience that Virginia needs today… McAuliffe obviously possesses excellent candidate skills. He’s put a critically important issue- jobs and economic recovery- at the heart of his campaign. He exhibits the kind of energy and enthusiasm that convey a sense that he not only really wants the job, but that he’ll work 18 hours a day if he gets it. And, as one reporter told me, he has far more depth than a background as a fundraiser normally implies.

Lowell at Blue Virginia reported on the support for Terry at last week’s Virginia Education Association debate in Hampton.

From today's Washington Post, it looks like Terry McAuliffe's message is playing well with teachers -- at least ones who attended last Thursday's Virginia Education Association debate at the Hampton convention center: “But it was Terry McAuliffe who appeared to convert the hall, earning sustained applause and bringing some delegates to their feet by tying each education-related question to his campaign's central theme: As a successful businessman, he knows how to create jobs.”

On Blue Commonwealth, diarist Sora Dina associated speaking to children about college with Terry’s ideas for strengthening Virginia’s education in his business plan for Virginia.

Terry McAuliffe wants to encourage creativity and innovation in the classroom, expand the availability of online Advanced Placement courses, and continue to prioritize transitions between high schools and colleges, and between two-and four-year colleges, ad between returning college students and the workplace….After reading chapter four "Excellence in Virginia's Education from Early Childhood to Competitive Employment" in its entirety, it is clear that the third through fifth graders I spoke to will have a better opportunity to reach their educational and career goals and objectives under Terry McAuliffe's leadership as Virginia's next governor.

At Blue Virginia, Lowell also reported on the meet and greet event held at our Virginia Beach field office, where Congressman Bobby Scott came out to introduce Terry.

On a sunny afternoon, folks from all across South Hampton Road forfeited the beautiful weather for an opportunity to meet and talk with Terry McAuliffe when he stopped by his Virginia Beach Field Office for a Meet and Greet….The enthusiasm from Terry was equally matched by the enthusiasm from the voters. He couldn’t go more than a couple of minutes without applause breaking out from the listeners, cheering on his big ideas to keep moving Virginia Forward.

Tags: bloggers, blog roundup, blogs, business plan, clinton, debates, economy, education, macker, mcauliffe, scott, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, weekly blog roundup

McAuliffe Campaign Releases New Ad Highlighting Big Ideas

Today, gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe released a new television advertisement highlighting his ideas for investing in green energy, education, and quality health care.

"People across Virginia are asking – how do we create good paying jobs? What's the next big idea that helps middle class families?" says McAuliffe in the ad. "Here's three: Take wind energy off our cost to power homes. Invest more in Pre-K, so our children start school ready to learn. Create an emergency health insurance plan so people who've lost their jobs are covered."

The television ad will run on stations in the Roanoke media market. This is the campaign's fourth ad, and the first to run in the Roanoke media market. The ad can be viewed at http://www.terrymcauliffe.com/articles/terry-mcauliffe-launches-new-tv-ad.

Tags: ad, big ideas, education, energy, health care, macker, mcauliffe, roanoke, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, tv ad, va-gov, virginia

Weekly Blog Roundup 4/17/09

In this week’s installment of our Weekly Blog Roundup, we found several big events being reported on by local bloggers. Blogs discussed the annual Shad Planking event in Virginia, the fourth chapter of Terry’s Business Plan, Terry’s fundraising and position in the primary race, and Bob McDonnell’s rejection of $125 million in unemployment benefits for Virginians.

Not Larry Sabato has analyzed the gubernatorial race based on where each of the candidates are, including most recent campaign finance reports, and puts Terry ahead of his opponents.

…Terry's prospecting and spending has given him more small donors and more volunteers on the ground at recent events… Overall- the one clear message from these reports is Terry McAuliffe is the favorite for the nomination...

In a post at Blue Commonwealth, Dan Sullivan reported on the events at Shad Planking. Terry was at the annual Virginia event in Wakefield to meet supporters and give a short speech to the crowd.

Terry McAuliffe was the principle target of most of the jabs by McDonnell and Moran. He appeared to have come prepared and willingly poked fun at himself. The addition of a brightly costumed chicken suited purveyor of alternative energy and an airplane towing a "NEW ENERGY-NEW JOBS. VOTE TERRY" sign and an over the top cheering section were designed to draw even more notice.

At Blue Virginia, Lowell also gave a recap of the Shad Planking events, including Terry winning the sign war:

Lowell also wrote about Terry receiving the most attention from his opponents.

Terry McAuliffe handles hecklers very well. As he says, the more people argue with him, the more excited and energized he gets… Clearly, Bob McDonnell was most focused on Terry McAuliffe, spending nearly three times as much of his loooong remarks talking about Terry, not Brian or Creigh (who got about a 30-second mention).

At Daily Kos, diarist ‘Mark Warner Is A God’ had some positive things to say about Terry’s fundraising, passion, and ability to win the primary race.

He has passion for causes. He's bringing that passion in unexpected ways to the Virginia Governor's race. He's a hard guy not to like when you're up close to him... McAuliffe will continue the tradition of a heavily funded top-ticket Virginia Democrat bringing tons of resources to the state party and the lower tier candidates. He seems to have a smart team on board. I'm looking forward to McAuliffe vs McDonnell. The battle of the Mac's.

What Is Right For Virginia reported on Terry signing the grassroots petition protesting Bob McDonnell’s opposition to extending unemployment benefits for Virginia families.

Today, gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe signed the Virginia Democratic Party's grassroots petition to protest Bob McDonnell and Virginia Republicans for rejecting $125 million in federal economic recovery funds to extend unemployment benefits. McAuliffe released the following statement: "Bob McDonnell's opposition to accepting $125 million to extend unemployment benefits is a slap in the face to the thousands of Virginia families struggling under the current economic crisis. With unemployment reaching over 20% in communities like Martinsville, it is unconscionable that McDonnell would turn a cold shoulder to Virginia's unemployed workers.”

Lowell at Blue Virginia also praised the fourth part of Terry’s comprehensive Business Plan for Virginia. This next chapter focuses on improving Virginia’s education system.

I look forward to reading the entire chapter, and commend Terry McAuliffe for putting out the most detailed - by FAR - plan for Virginia of any gubernatorial candidate, Democratic or Republican… Among other things, it includes a "[s]trong commitment to Pre-K" and aims to "improve affordability through increased student aid programs and a new 'Scholars for Service' program."

Tags: bob mcdonnell, economy, education, energy, fundraising, grassroots, jobs, macker, mcauliffe, organization, shad planking, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, unemployment, va-gov, virginia

McAuliffe wants to give teachers a raise, help with loans

Richmond Times Dispatch
April 14, 2009
Jeff Schapiro

Terry McAuliffe wants to pay teachers more — and help them pay their bills.

Pitching for the important teachers vote in the June 9 primary, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate is going beyond an article of faith with educators: pushing their wages to the national average.

According to a Web site that tracks teacher-compensation issues, Virginia ranks 27th in classroom salaries at $43,823 — about $8,000 off the national average.

Announcing his education plan yesterday, McAuliffe said Virginia should consider assisting teachers with their mortgages and car loans.

McAuliffe says that could help curtail an exodus of teachers to other fields — a departure, he said, that is hastened by rising housing and transportation costs in regions where educators would like to make their careers.

McAuliffe said the program would not be a giveaway; rather, the state would establish a “competitive, results-driven bonus-fund” to provide loan guarantees for teachers — between their third and sixth years — for home and motor-vehicle purchases.

McAuliffe did not lay out guidelines for how the financial aid would be awarded.

“There will be a criteria for who would receive the loans,” press secretary Lis Smith said in an e-mail. “Terry would work with the Board of Education and the Department of Education to determine what the criteria should be.”

In a conference call with reporters, McAuliffe did not say how Virginia could finance such a program, though he suggested the state could do so by issuing bonds paid back to investors by taxpayers over time, with interest.

McAuliffe, one of three candidates for the nomination, also urged closer cooperation between corporations and public colleges; in particular to “commercialize” research that might generate millions in additional dollars for higher education.

McAuliffe said that up to half of those funds could be used to reduce tuition.

Further, McAuliffe pledged to expand pre-kindergarten for 4-year-olds, an initiative of the fellow Democrat he hopes to succeed as governor, Timothy M. Kaine.

Kaine was recently appointed to McAuliffe’s old job, chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Tags: 2009, college affordability, education, governor, mcauliffe, terry mcauliffe, virginia

McAuliffe, Deeds seek better teacher pay

Associated Press
April 14, 2009
Bob Lewis

RICHMOND | Two of the four candidates in this year’s gubernatorial sweepstakes called for improved teacher pay and incentives, expanded worker training and more affordable college tuition Monday.

Democrats Terry McAuliffe and state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds outlined detailed education platforms in separate news conferences as they and fellow Democrat Brian J. Moran head toward a June 9 primary.

Mr. Moran and the presumed Republican nominee, Bob McDonnell, have addressed some of the public education issues the two Democrats discussed Monday in a contest that is quickly gaining steam.

Mr. McAuliffe said Virginia has done a poor job attracting commercial research and capitalizing on revenue patents that result from those projects at state-supported universities.

“One of the biggest opportunities that I have continually talked about … is the hundreds of millions of dollars that I believe we are leaving yearly on the table for not commercializing the patents,” Mr. McAuliffe said in a telephone news conference.

The former Democratic National Committee chairman said Virginia makes it difficult to take a new concept out of its research universities and onto the market.

“There’s not a streamlined process,” he said. “I’ve spoken to many university presidents here in Virginia as I’ve traveled around, and they say, ‘Terry, if you don’t talk about anything else keep talking about this because it is just too difficult for us to bring private dollars in.’ “

He and Mr. Deeds both noted that Virginia’s nationally acclaimed state-supported colleges were among the least affordable. Both also noted that the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education had given Virginia a grade of F in college affordability.

“Cost should not be the barrier to a Virginian who wants to pursue their dreams of a higher education,” Mr. Deeds said at a Capitol Square news conference.
He proposed boosting the number of college degrees students receive over the next four years by 70,000 by expanding college access, particularly at community colleges and by boosting need-based tuition aid.

Mr. McAuliffe tossed in a pair of unconventional proposals.

He advocated a pool of capital, perhaps backed by state bonds, to provide cheap car and home loans for public school teachers. That would help retain teachers in areas where living costs have outstripped their salaries, he said.

“We want them to have a long-term income stream, and part of making sure they do that is if, through the state, we provide a fund,” he said. “It’s not going to cost you money, because these teachers will pay back the loans.”

Mr. McAuliffe tossed in some future-world curricular concepts, saying he would urge “a new emphasis on analysis, self-discipline, organizational skills and the adaption to team dynamics.”

Statewide, academic core curricula are defined in state law known as the Standards of Quality.

Mr. Deeds and Mr. McAuliffe proposed expanding former Gov. Mark R. Warner’s program to allow high school seniors to earn college credit hours, and applying the preschool learning initiative that was a priority of Gov. Tim Kaine to all students.

They also endorsed raising public school teachers’ salaries to the national average. For the 2007-08 school year, the U.S. average was $52,300 per year and $46,800 for Virginia, according to the National Education Association.

“How do you expect excellence in schools when you’re not even willing to pay for average?” Mr. Deeds said.

Tags: 2009, college affordability, education, governor, mcauliffe, terry mcauliffe, virginia

McAuliffe Unveils Fourth Chapter of His Business Plan for Virginia

Highlighting the need to attract the employers and jobs we want in the future, gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe released the fourth chapter of his Business Plan for Virginia, which focuses on improving Virginia's education system.

"To attract the employers and jobs we want in the future, we need to ensure that Virginia has the best-educated, best-trained, most skilled workforce in the world," McAuliffe said. "Over the past eight years, we've seen steady progress and better results in education. The challenge for the next governor will be to make better use of what we have. That means we have to build more flexibility, more innovation and more creativity into the system."

McAuliffe called for streamlining the process of commercializing research at Virginia's universities to provide extra funding for colleges and allow them to lower tuition costs. McAuliffe said he would ask the newly created Innovation and Entrepreneurship Investment Authority to identify all roadblocks to commercializing research breakthroughs and build partnerships, linking schools and the private sector from the outset of research. With the extra revenue from university research, McAuliffe would require that 50% of it go to lowering the costs of college tuition. McAuliffe also said he would support Virginia's community colleges, which provide a less expensive alternative for the first two years of college and will enable our workforce development initiatives.

"We have excellent two- and four-year institutions that educate our young people, train our workforce and serve as a base for economic spin-offs," McAuliffe said. "Today the issue is access. We have to do better when it comes to making higher education more affordable."

Emphasizing the importance of earning more than a high school degree, McAuliffe said he would ensure that students are prepared to go to college and adapt critical skills. He promoted measures including broadening dual enrollment and expanding the availability of the Early College High School Initiative to give Virginia students a head start. McAuliffe proposed implementing new voluntary assessments that would allow high school juniors who are ready to bypass their senior year and go straight to college.

Additionally, to improve outcomes in the classroom, McAuliffe underscored the importance of continuing Governor Kaine's pre-K expansion, as well as providing a state School Readiness Tax Credit for high-quality child care and preschool providers and the families and employers that use them.

Finally, McAuliffe called for offering incentives to attract the best teachers in the nation. McAuliffe said he would raise teacher salaries to the national average and work with teachers to find innovative ways to differentiate compensation. If teachers take on additional responsibilities, they should be rewarded for it.

"The most important component in our education system is the teacher," McAuliffe said. "If we're going to have the best schools, Virginia will have to compete for the best teachers."

Tags: business plan, colleges, economy, education, mcauliffe, school, t-mac, teachers, terry, terry mcauliffe, universities, va-gov, virginia

A swing through Salem, Roanoke and Lynchburg

We spent the past few days talking to folks in Salem, Roanoke and Lynchburg… Places where the unemployment rate is growing by the day. Folks down there are hurting. In all of my stops, I ask how many people have recently lost jobs—I see way too many raised hands. That’s why I’m running for Governor. We’ve got to get Virginia’s economy back on track by creating jobs. I’m tired of seeing the cuts—deep budget cuts that are hitting the bone. And we can’t raise taxes in a down economy. We can secure Virginia’s future by becoming a leader in Green Energy jobs. Virginia can’t afford to let these jobs continue to go to other states. We need a mandatory renewable energy standard. We need to be serious about Green jobs.

Last week I announced a COMPLETE BAN ON PAY DAY LENDING. Predatory loan practices are destroying Virginia families in the most at-risk communities. In Roanoke, I met several families who had lost cars and gotten deep into debt because of these loans that charge over 200% interest a year. I drove down Azalea Avenue in Richmond last week and saw 4 pay day lending shops on one block. It’s got to stop. I want these businesses gone – out of Virginia.

Everywhere I go, I’m so excited to see so many people engaged, asking questions about my plans. In Lynchburg, young people I talked to at Starlight Café had lots of questions about education. That’s another topic I’m passionate about. I want Virginia to have the most educated workforce in the country, and I want college to be affordable and within reach for all Virginia families. That’s why I’ve announced a student loan forgiveness plan for anyone in who’ll give service to the Commonwealth’s most high risk communities. I’m talking about big ideas. You want a governor waking up every day thinking about you and the Commonwealth, and that’s the kind of governor I’ll be.

Tags: college, economy, education, energy, ideas, jobs, lynchburg, macker, mcauliffe, pay day lending, renewable energy, roanoke, salem, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia

McAuliffe says ‘honest discussion’ needed

April 5, 2009
Lynchburg News & Advance
Ray Reed

Transportation is a key to new jobs and Virginia’s economic recovery, but state leaders must start talking about ways to pay for roads, Democrat Terry McAuliffe said Sunday during a gubernatorial campaign stop in Lynchburg.

“We’re going to have to have an honest discussion about revenue,” McAuliffe told about 30 people at the Star Light Café in downtown Lynchburg. “Not many people will tell you that,” he added.

Virginia faces being unable to provide state matching money in order to obtain federal grants to build roads in 2018 and thereafter, he said.

At that point, federal taxes Virginians pay at the pump would go to other states, he said.

Some Republican legislators have said Virginia’s projection that highway maintenance needs will use up all its transportation dollars by 2018 is a political ploy by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s Democratic administration.

“This is real,” said McAuliffe, one of three Democrats seeking the party’s nomination in a June 9 primary. He’s running against state Sen. Creigh Deeds of Bath County and former Del. Brian Moran, both of whom have campaigned in Lynchburg in the past week.

McAuliffe said early in his talk that job creation, and not a tax increase, was the solution to a recession that has forced Virginia to cut funding to education and other services.

“We are now cutting into the bone” when $400 million is removed from K-12 education programs, McAuliffe said.

Transportation must generate new revenues on its own, without help from the tax coffers that fund other state operations such as education and health care, McAuliffe said.

Whether new transportation money would come from higher fuel taxes, road tolls, or some other source would be among topics for an “honest discussion,” he said.

High-speed rail is another part of the transportation solution, McAuliffe said, adding that President Barack Obama has given it priority status.

McAuliffe said he had talked with Wick Moorman, chairman of Norfolk Southern Corp., about how Virginia could get the right of way to build a new track for faster passenger trains.

“He said, ‘I can get you the right of way,’” McAuliffe said. Norfolk Southern has 50 to 100 feet of space on either side of its tracks, McAuliffe said Moorman told him.

Applause-winning comments by McAuliffe included:

“Every child should be reading by the time they are out of third grade.”

For those who can’t read by then, Virginia can calculate the number of prison beds it will need in 15 years, he said.

“I want to shut down predatory lenders. These guys come in from out of state, prey on the weakest ones, and the money leaves Virginia.”

McAuliffe said college education can be more affordable through his scholars program. “If you will spend two years working in a hard-pressed area” in a job such as teaching, he said, “we will have a loan forgiveness program. I will pay off your college tuition.”

Tags: education, lynchburg, mcauliffe, pay day lending, t-mac, taxes, terry, terry mcauliffe, transportation, va-gov, virginia

McAuliffe takes on health care, college and retirement...

April 2, 2009
The Shad Plank
Kimball Payne

Terry McAuliffe trotted out the latest chapter in his expanding business playbook on Thursday, offering up ways to improve access to health care, make college more affordable and put folks on a path to happy retirement.

McAuliffe, running for governor against Democrats Sen. Creigh Deeds and Brian Moran, continues to put ideas on the table at a steady pace. Under the proposal put out on Thursday, McAuliffe suggests allowing unemployed workers access to low-income loans to pay for health insurance when companies go out of business and they have no option for COBRA insurance.

On higher education, McAuliffe wants to create a "Scholars for Service" program similar to the one that Barack Obama talked about on the campaign trail. College students willing to teaching in high-need areas or work in under-staffed professions for two years would be eligible for four-years of loan forgiveness.

The third leg of the proposal is aimed at helping Virginia workers save for retirement and also helping first-time homebuyers. McAuliffe said the state should set up a "Commonwealth IRA that would allow small employers to offer a voluntary retirement savings program to their employees."

McAuliffe is going to tour the state to promote the plan so you can probably expect an event in Hampton Roads. But if you want to read the whole thing Click here.

Tags: business, business plan, economy, education, health care, jobs, macker, mcauliffe, retirement, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia

McAuliffe Unveils Health, Education Plans

April 2, 2009
The Washington post
Anita Kumar

This morning, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe rolled out plans to make healthcare more affordable, increase access to higher education and secure retirement savings.

"Our economic struggles have not been evenly distributed around Virginia - some communities, some industries, have been hit much harder than others," McAuliffe said. "But Virginians everywhere can see what is happening, and they wonder how it may affect them. State government cannot solve all of our problems. But it should be an ally to the aspirations and goals of its citizens."

The three Democratic candidates for governor are feverishly campaigning across the state, releasing policy proposals several times a week. Yesterday, McAuliffe and rival Brian Moran unveiled proposals to lure Hollywood film crews to the state and boost the number of businesses owned by women and minorities.

Today, McAuliffe proposed offering unemployed workers low-interest loans to help buy health insurance or allowing them to buy into existing state health insurance programs or other health plans.

McAuliffe also proposed creating a "Scholars for Service" loan forgiveness program, increased marketing for the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program and guaranteeing help for any student based on need who successfully completes certain requirements.

He pledged to create a state IRA that would allow small employers to offer a voluntary reitrement savings program to their employees and allow workers in private companies to participate in the state's deferred compensation program.

Tags: economy, education, health insurance, mcauliffe, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia

Highlighting Need for Economic Security, McAuliffe Unveils Third Chapter of Business Plan for Virginia

Following up on chapters that focused on making Virginia a renewable energy leader and creating good jobs across the Commonwealth, gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe today unveiled the third chapter of his Business plan, which highlights his plans to strengthen the economic security of Virginia families. McAuliffe highlighted his support for making healthcare more affordable, increasing access to higher education, and ensuring that Virginians' retirement savings are secure.

"Our economic struggles have not been evenly distributed around Virginia – some communities, some industries, have been hit much harder than others," McAuliffe said. "But Virginians everywhere can see what is happening, and they wonder how it may affect them. State government cannot solve all of our problems. But it should be an ally to the aspirations and goals of its citizens."

Pointing to the one million Virginians without health insurance, McAuliffe emphasized his support for state level health care initiatives to improve the quality of care, reduce unnecessary spending, and begin to control the ever-increasing cost of health care. McAuliffe pledged to expand access to affordable health coverage by providing low-interest loans to help unemployed workers purchase health insurance when companies go out of business and they have no COBRA option. These loans can help individuals and families maintain coverage while unemployed and allow for a favorable repayment schedule when re-employed. McAuliffe said he would also allow the unemployed – as well as any individual or employer – to buy into FAMIS, FAMIS Plus or other health plans when such plans would be a more affordable option.

"As healthcare costs continue to rise, more and more families are unable to afford coverage, or opt to risk dropping coverage to afford other basic necessities," McAuliffe said. "While reform unfolds at the federal level, we must take actions on the state level to rein in health care costs and increase access to affordable health care for recently unemployed Virginians."

Discussing the need for a homegrown, well-educated workforce, McAuliffe pledged to make higher education more affordable for all Virginians. McAuliffe said he would create a "Scholars for Service" loan forgiveness program, whereby for two years of commitment to service, such as teaching in a high-need area or working in an under-represented profession, students would be eligible for four years of loan forgiveness. He also called for improving the the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (VGAP), by better marketing to high school students early in their school careers and, most importantly, guaranteeing a certain level of assistance for any student based on need and who successfully completes the requirements.

"We must do all we can to prepare our citizens for that future, including making sure they are educated and trained to take on the jobs of the future," McAuliffe said. "Achieving some level of post-secondary education is critical to our economic success collectively as a commonwealth, as well as individually as citizens and families who are striving to achieve the American dream."

Finally, McAuliffe pledged to increase retirement security by reducing barriers to pension participation and portability. Discussing the need for workers to save for retirement, McAuliffe said he would establish a Commonwealth IRA that would allow small employers to offer a voluntary reitrement savings program to their employees. McAuliffe also proposed allowing workers in private businesses to participate in the Commonwealth's Deferred Compensation Program, which is currently offered to state employees and would deduct money from a participating worker's paycheck and invest in options chosen by the employee like any typical deferred compensation plan.

McAuliffe plans to discuss these proposals, as well as to elaborate upon his ideas for assisting homeowners and first-time homebuyers with voters throughout the Commonwealth in the coming weeks. You can find the full chapter online at http://www.terrymcauliffe.com/file_download/6/chapter3.pdf.

Tags: business, business plan, economy, education, health insurance, jobs, macker, mcauliffe, retirement, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, unemployment, va-gov, virginia

Weekly Blog Roundup 3/23/09

Welcome to another installment of our weekly blog roundup, where we report on campaign-related news in the blogosphere. This week, bloggers discussed the need for positive campaigns like Terry's, a conference call with supporters, the Connolly straw poll, contribution pledges and an endorsement of Terry on education policies.

Alan Krishnan wrote a diary at Daily Kos about the positive campaign that McAuliffe has pledged to run. He talks about admiring Terry’s conduct on the campaign trail and setting the standards for clean campaigns.

…He is a very ordinary person of humble beginnings, who has achieved great heights - the true, living American Dream that hard work, integrity and a positive attitude can take one places. Since then, I have been watching McAuliffe as he developed his campaign for Virginia Governor and how he conducts himself. Until today, he has not criticized his opponents. This clean approach to politics appeals to me and I know there are many in the United States who follow this path.

Kyle Blankenship at Blue Commonwealth expressed his pride in being a Terry supporter, after discussing the gubernatorial race with a friend. He notes how Terry's positive campaign is making a difference and points out the attraction to Terry’s smarts and his ability to win the race.

He specifically pointed out his green energy policies and positive campaign style. I can say that I am proud to be a McAuliffe supporter for the same reasons, and many more.

Lowell at Blue Virginia reported on Terry’s conference call last week, in which over 6,000 supporters called in to hear what Terry had to say. Terry answered questions from callers on his campaign promises and the things he plans to get done as Governor.

He's determined to take back the House of Delegates. He will focus on jobs, jobs, jobs. He strongly supports pre-K education. He strongly supports biodiesel from...yeah, you guessed it, chicken waste! How can any fair-minded person possibly argue that Terry McAuliffe is not a progressive?

Bob Holsworth at Virginia Tomorrow details the results of the straw poll at Gerry Connolly’s St. Patrick’s Day event in Fairfax. He praised Terry's grassroots organization as a key factor in winning the greatest support.

But the nighttime was the right time for Terry McAuliffe. He easily won the straw poll at Gerry Connolly’s annual St. Paddy’s Day bash, beating Moran almost 2-1 with 58% to 30% and Deeds trailing both at 12%... McAuliffe’s performance at the straw poll illustrated the organizational skill of his campaign.

Josh at Blue Commonwealth reports on Terry’s two recent pledges on the campaign trail: to not accept corporate or corporate PAC contributions from companies receiving federal bailout money nor contributions from Dominion Power.

This week, in response to the AIG bonuses scandal Terry McAuliffe pledged not to take tainted campaign contributions: "I won't accept any corporate or corporate PAC campaign contributions from any companies receiving federal bailout money."

At Blue Virginia, Dan Sullivan explains why he supports Terry for Governor, saying he wants what is best for Virginia and believes Terry is just that.

I will support whomever is the Democratic nominee. However, I believe that Terry McAuliffe can best carry the case for Virginia. By the way, he has a plan that looks to be actionable. We will benefit from this fellow who doesn’t know how to take no for an answer.

Patrick R. Riccards guest-posted on the education policy blog The Edurati Review, where he explained why Terry is the only choice for improving Virginia’s education. He discusses Terry’s dedication to strong early education programs, and the positive effect that good school systems can have on a state’s economy.

The recognition, passion, and commitment for change in Virginia has never been stronger than it is today. We need a leader who will continue moving forward, strengthening our P-20 system and demonstrating return on investment for every education dollar spent across the Commonwealth. Terry is such a leader. Terry is the education governor we need at this time of both opportunity and challenge. Terry McAuliffe is our best hope for a stronger future, both in the schools and in our communities.

Tags: bloggers, blog roundup, blogs, education, macker, mcauliffe, straw poll, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, weekly blog roundup

Gov. Candidate McAuliffe Shares Vision for Virginia

March 11th, 2009
The Falls Church News-Press
By Nicholas F. Benton

Why does a man running for governor of Virginia want to talk about the Panama Canal? Terry McAuliffe does.

McAuliffe, who brings quasi-rock star status to the heated three-way race for the Democratic nomination to run for governor this year, likes the big picture, likes to look over the top of the backyard fence and to see what's coming, and to focus his considerable energies on making plans. He's running against Former Del. Brian Moran and State Sen. Creigh Deeds in the June Democratic primary.

The Panama Canal is a familiar theme in his discussions with prospective supporters and voters as this tireless 52 year old criss-crosses the vastness that is Virginia in his first-ever run for public office.

You see, there are two new flights of locks now under construction at the Panama Canal, a $5.6 billion project launched in the summer of 2007 and slated for completion in 2015.

When completed, the giant tankers and ships coming to America from the emerging Asian economic powerhouses on the Pacific Rim will not have to port and offload on the West Coast.

They will be able to negotiate the new locks at the Panama Canal and come to the U.S. eastern seaboard, offloading nearer the destinations where more of their cargo will go. The question becomes where they will port.

"Jacksonville is launching a big new port project in response to the new Panama locks," McAuliffe said, flashing his eyes with his usual sense of urgency, talking to the News-Press at his campaign headquarters in Tysons Corner earlier this month.

"Savannah has just moved past Tidewater into second place behind New York as the busiest port on the east coast," he added.

"In Virginia, we need to move fast to improve our port capacity in Tidewater to compete for this new flood of commerce that will come when the Panama project is completed," he concluded.

But there's more. McAuliffe wants Virginia to gain the competitive edge by a massive upgrade of Route 58, the highway that goes west from Tidewater the length of the state just north of the North Carolina border.

Making Route 58 the efficient four-lane conveyor belt that can move the cargo from the port to the nation's north-south interstates and to the Ohio Valley interior heartland will make Tidewater a preferred destination for the supertankers coming through the new Panama. He wants a major distribution center built in Southwest Virginia.

That's McAuliffe's vision, one of them.

He also wants to build high-speed rails linking Northern Virginia and the Washington-Boston corridor to Richmond and Tidewater by, among other things, double-stacking the rails.

"I was told it can't be done except at an exorbitant cost," McAuliffe said. "But I called the head of the railroad and asked him. He had a different story. He said, of course we can do it." The rights-of-way are already there; it's just a matter of laying the track, he said. "I am tired of people saying ‘no.'"

McAuliffe is a super-salesman, which served him well in growing his business fortune, a dynamo that burst out of high school in Syracuse, N.Y. to graduate from D.C.'s Catholic University, then Georgetown University's Law School, and become chairman of the Federal City Bank by age 30.

Mostly, though, he built his reputation as a super-fundraiser for the Democratic Party, including while serving as the chair of the Democratic National Committee from February 2001-2005, with a resume as long as your arm of party positions leading up to that high-profile role.

During his period as party chair, he raised $578 million, and the party came out of debt for the first time in its history.

Criticized by opponents Moran and Deeds for never being involved in Virginia politics the way they have, McAuliffe has resided in McLean for over 20 years, campaigned statewide for the Obama-Biden ticket last year, and earlier used his clout at the top of the Democratic Party to provide huge financial support for Gov. Tim Kaine's run for governor in 2005.

"I saw in the success of Governor (now U.S. Senator-ed.) Mark Warner the ability of Democrats to make big gains in the south and improve our national position," McAuliffe said. "In Tim Kaine, I saw the opportunity to move that agenda forward, so I allocated $5 million in DNC funds to Kaine's campaign," he said. It was the largest-ever disbursement of DNC funds for a non-presidential candidate.

Completing a stint as the manager of Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, McAuliffe, a long-time close friend of the Clintons, started seriously considering a run for governor of Virginia last summer.

He spoke to a packed meeting of the Fairfax Democratic Committee in July, and made national headlines when the News-Press broke the story that he endorsed Kaine as his best choice for vice-president on the Obama ticket.

"People thought I was dissing Hillary, but I wasn't," he explained this week. "I was saying what I thought was most possible, as well as desirable." The News-Press was the only newspaper present to report on his remarks.

"Actually, if the Russians hadn't invaded Georgia about that time I think Kaine would have been picked," McAuliffe mused. But the foreign policy challenge caused the Obama campaign to pick Sen. Joe Biden, with his extensive foreign policy experience, instead.

McAuliffe conceded that when he showed up for that July 22 meeting at Oakton High School, he had the idea of running for governor already in his mind. He handed out dozens of free copies of his national best selling book, "What a Party! My Life Among Democrats," at that meeting. He vowed that the Obama campaign would avoid the mistakes of the fated Sen. John Kerry presidential campaign in 2004, when the decision was to avoid direct political combat with George W. Bush.

In November, he filed to form an exploratory committee to run for governor, and officially announced just after the first of the year.

Asked if he decided to run for governor of Virginia because he was "bored and needed something to do," McAuliffe laughed and said, "I am never bored! I am very excited about it, about the ability to grow jobs."

He said his goal is to bring Virginia's standing forward as an economic dynamo providing first-rate jobs and educational opportunity and services for its citizens. He said if elected he'll be pitching the state and its economic potential worldwide, and will be pitching hard in Richmond, if elected, for more resources to offer incentives for business to come to the state.

"For me, it's all about issues, not persons. In Virginia, especially rural Virginia, it's about jobs, jobs, jobs, education and health care," he said. "I need to deliver the tools that government needs to bring new investment to Virginia."

Right now, he said, he's "scared to death" about the economy, which he said is in "the worst shape since the Great Depression."

Asked about Obama's first weeks in office, he was full of praise. "In two weeks, he got through the biggest stimulus package ever. He also got millions of children covered with health insurance. I pray it all works."

He's also focused on alternative fuels, recycling and the environment, and likes to talk about a technology he witnessed in the Shenandoah Valley that can convert 500,000 tons of chicken waste into gas, but can't now get OK'd by the Department of Environmental Quality.

On education, he noted that half of Virginia's prison population are high school dropouts, and the long-term solution is to focus on early education, such that every third grader can read. Incentives must also be found to keep good educators, noting that now 50 percent of teachers leave the profession within their first five years.

"We need a transportation infrastructure and educated workforce to move the state forward," he stressed.

He has five children, ages 6 to 17, and his wife Dorothy is also civically active, among other things serving on the board of the Potomac School.

Tags: business plan, economy, education, energy, environment, highways, macker, mcauliffe, ports, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia

Education

Virginia is not going to be able to attract and sustain jobs of the future if we don’t have a workforce that is ready for those jobs. Right now, we know those jobs are in the energy field. But in 50 years, it could be something different. In this fast-paced, global economy, teaching to the test is not enough. Our students need to learn how to innovate and think critically. This will serve them well in five years and in fifty years.

In recent years, other countries have made advances in education while our system has remained essentially the same. In this global economy, it is not enough for our students to just be able to take a test. Terry McAuliffe believes that while it’s important for our students to have basic knowledge, we need to look beyond multiple-choice questions and teach them how to think.

There are some steps we can take to get there.

One of the most important things we can do to help our children live their lives to their fullest potential is get off to the right start. Governor Tim Kaine has made significant investments in early childhood education, and Terry believes we need to continue this progress and invest even more in pre-k. Ultimately, if a child is ready for school, he or she is far more likely to be successful upon entering kindergarten and less likely to get into trouble down the road.

Terry also knows that Virginia has to do more for our teachers. There needs to be a focus on attracting and retaining bright individuals to teaching. The federal and state government continue to place demands on teachers but with little to no incentive to stay and do a good job. It’s no wonder nearly half of teachers these days leave the profession within the first five years. Virginia must pay teachers at least the national average.

And finally, in the area of higher education, any student who wants to go to college should have that opportunity. Virginia’s colleges and universities have a lot to offer – many are doing innovative research that could lead to great economic development opportunities. Terry believes we need to help our institutions of higher education capitalize on research. Ultimately, the result will be more dollars for colleges and universities and more opportunities to keep tuition low and offer scholarships.

Tags: 2009, business, classrooms, economic, economy, education, governor, jobs, macker, mcauliffe, plan, schools, t-mac, teachers, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia

Terry McAuliffe's Statement on Cuts to Higher Education Research Funding

For Immediate Release: February 13, 2009

Today, gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe released the following statement regarding the House of Delegates cuts to higher education research funding:

"Yesterday, the the House of Delegates voted to eliminate funding to the Commonwealth Technology Research Fund (item 254 #1h). These funds would support the commercialization of research at our higher education institutions, which can help stimulate our economy and keep college tuition costs down. In these tough economic times, we need to watch every penny, but we also need to focus on growing the economy. Finding ways to capitalize on the research conducted at our colleges and universities here in Virginia is critical to the commonwealth's economic vitality and growth.

"Governor Kaine's proposed budget took a fiscally responsible approach to balancing the budget, while taking steps -- like turning higher ed research into new companies and new jobs -- to help get our economy back on track. I urge the the House and Senate to restore this important funding during the budget conference, so we can start to get Virginia's economy moving again."

Tags: 2009, budget, economy, education, funding, governor, higher education, house of delegates, jobs, macker, mcauliffe, research, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, tim kaine, va-gov, virginia

Terry McAuliffe talks about Tim Kaine and Mark Warner

Tags: associated press, economy, education, jobs, mark warner, richmond, tim kaine, transportation