Democratic Party of Virginia: McDonnell Stumbles Out of the Gate
- No Budget, No Transportation Plan, No Discrimination Policy: Is Bob McDonnell Ready for Prime Time?

From the Office of the Democratic Party of Virginia

February 9, 2010

CONTACT: Leigh Anne Collier, 804-644-1966 x225

RICHMOND - Virginia Democrats released the following memo to press on Tuesday, highlighting Governor Bob McDonnell's repeated stumbles during his first month in office.

The memo is available below or at: http://www.vademocrats.org/page/-/MemoMcDonnellStumbles.htm

For a candidate who bragged about his 'leadership' in TV commercials, Bob McDonnell has shown little of it in Richmond.

In a transition full of stumbles, McDonnell has punted any transportation plan down the road, has avoided making tough decisions on non-discrimination policy, and has become the first incoming governor in at least four decades to fail to submit budget amendments.

And that's not to mention rolling out his signature economic proposals with job creation figures that seemed to be pulled out of thin air -- or, at least, a random selection of posterboard. (AP, 1/27/10).

"Virginia voters have to wonder: Is Bob McDonnell ready for prime time?" said C. Richard Cranwell, Chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia. "Virginia became the best state for business and the best state to raise a child because we had strong leaders who made tough choices to put our Commonwealth on the right path. So far, it seems like Bob McDonnell isn't ready to take the leadership role that Virginia needs in these tough times."

McDonnell's stumbles have been numerous - starting with his failure to submit any budget plan.

Budget: McDonnell fails to submit any plans

Facing a $4.2 billion budget shortfall, McDonnell has become the first incoming governor "since at least 1970" to not submit budget amendments (Times-Dispatch, 1/29/10). Although he campaigned on his leadership, McDonnell has been criticized repeatedly for failing to show any leadership on the key issue facing the commonwealth."

" Virginian Pilot editorial: McDonnell 'needs to wrap up the throat clearing' -- The Pilot wrote in a Jan. 23 editorial: "The new governor needs to wrap up the throat-clearing and show Virginians that he's ready to start making the painful decisions before others start making them for him."

" RT-D's Jeff Schapiro: 'It's time for McDonnell to show us where, where, where' - Times-Dispatch columnist Jeff Schapiro commented on McDonnell's failure to lead during the Jan. 20 edition of Jeff's Notes: "Bob McDonnell is talking about a lot of things, but he's almost silent on the biggest problem facing his young administration. That would be balancing the budget that's out of whack by $4.2 billion. ... So if Virginia has to cut, cut, cut, it's time for Bob McDonnell to show us where, where, where. Here's a hint in four words: 'schools, police, health care.'"

" Charlottesville Daily Progress: McDonnell may be keeping fingerprints off budget cuts -- The Charlottesville Daily Progress - which endorsed McDonnell in November - questioned his budget decisions in an editorial on Jan. 15: "It's worth noting that other incoming governors have found the time and thought to put their own stamps on the budgets bequeathed to them. ... It is tempting to wonder whether Mr. McDonnell simply does not want his fingerprints on the deep cuts that must be made."

" Roanoke Times: McDonnell is 'budget-shy': The Roanoke Times called McDonnell 'budget shy' in an editorial on Tuesday. "He has yet to send down budget amendments to the legislature, though, and it looks like he will not -- an extraordinary sloughing of responsibility in a state where much of the governor's considerable power is wielded with the budget pen," the Times wrote. "McDonnell needs to step up to the task of setting his priorities with amendments to the two-year budget plan written by former Gov. Tim Kaine."

" Both Republicans and Democrats blame McDonnell for lack of leadership:

o "Democrats, publicly, and some Republicans, privately, are blaming McDonnell for what they say is a lack of leadership." (Times-Dispatch, 2/7/10)

o Del. R. Steven Landes (R-Augusta)... said his panel is awaiting word from the governor's office on his budget priorities. "If we can't do all of the economic development programs, some of us would like to see what his priorities are," Landes said. (Times-Dispatch, 2/7/10)

o Del. Chris Jones (R-Suffolk): "This is a beginning, but we have a very long way to go. I look forward to the administration offering ideas on how we can close the shortfall." (Washington Post, 1/26/10)

o "[Sen. Tommy] Norment [R-Williamsburg], also a member of the finance committee, said he's knows as little about McDonnell's plans as Democrats," according to the Times-Dispatch on 1/27/10.

o DPVA Chairman C. Richard Cranwell: "Bob McDonnell ran as a governor who would provide leadership for Virginia's economy and transportation. But he has punted on transportation and become the first incoming governor in modern Virginia history to fail to put his stamp on the budget." (Statement, 1/27/10)

Redistricting Reform: Another broken promise?

During his campaign for governor, McDonnell clearly supported a "bipartisan commission" for redistricting.

Now faced with possible opposition in the Republican House, McDonnell has ducked the issue and avoided supporting any particular redistricting reform solutions.

House Democrats have called on McDonnell to honor his campaign promises.

"The governor weighed in as a candidate to say he supports this," said Del. Ken Plum. "What we have to say to Governor McDonnell, who's not here today, is that he needs to show up real soon. ... It really is very important that we have a signal from the governor, to say this bill or that bill is the one that meets what I was talking about when I was campaigning." (Washington Post, 1/25/10)

The Roanoke Times wrote in a January 28 editorial: "Yet this week [McDonnell] was less enthusiastic. Lawmakers asked for his leadership on the issue, but the best he could muster was support for 'more citizen input and making sure that citizens have a chance to look at the map and give input before lines are drawn.' If reform is to happen, it will take more than wishy-washy support from the governor."

Transportation: McDonnell breaks promises, punts on roads

After pledging in December to fix transportation "at some point during his first year," McDonnell quickly backtracked in January.

"Despite making transportation a top priority during last year's campaign, Gov.-elect Robert F. McDonnell (R) said Thursday that he will not propose a fix during this year's legislative session," the Washington Post reported on January 15.

In a Jan. 20 editorial, the Roanoke Times chided McDonnell for going back on his campaign promise to put forward a transportation plan.

"On the campaign trail last fall, Gov. Bob McDonnell promised Virginians he had a plan to fix the state's broken transportation system," the Times wrote. "Now, when it is time to put his plan into action, he punts."

Non-Discrimination: McDonnell ducks tough choice

Bob McDonnell has become the first governor in 36 years to not issue an executive order barring discrimination.

As the Washington Post noted, "The discrimination order poses a difficult choice for McDonnell, a social conservative who tried to play down controversial cultural politics during his campaign in favor of economic issues."

However, McDonnell has ducked any decision at all - even on passing a non-discrimination policy without language on sexual orientation. After weeks of pressure, McDonnell finally decided last week that Governor Kaine's executive order on discrimination from 2006 was still in effect.

During the campaign, McDonnell told the Lynchburg News & Advance's Editorial Board that the next governor could not automatically adopt Kaine's executive order. "I think it would be illegal to carry it forward," McDonnell said (News & Advance, 10/13/09).

McDonnell has yet to explain to Virginians whether his change of mind is based on a new legal interpretation or mere political convenience.

Job-Creation Estimates: Pulled out of thin air?

McDonnell was lauded for his announcement of bipartisan job-creation measures, such as increasing the Governor's Opportunity Fund and more tax credits for motion picture production in Virginia.

However, in his rollout, McDonnell's team raised doubts about the predicted job growth.

"Yet the administration had printed two different job-creation numbers -- the 29,300 figure and one at 34,300 -- on identical poster-sized boards for the news conference," the Associated Press wrote. "The board with the lower figure was presented on an easel flanking the governor; the other was discarded and found later Tuesday in the meeting room."

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