Democratic Party of Virginia: DPVA Launches New Website - BobMcDonnellsBudget.com
- 'Where is the Governor?' Virginia Democrats Ask in New Site, YouTube Video

From the Office of the Democratic Party of Virginia

February 11, 2010

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

RICHMOND - Virginia Democrats launched a new website (www.BobMcDonnellsBudget.com) and YouTube video Thursday to highlight Gov. Bob McDonnell's failure to provide any leadership on the $4 billion budget shortfall.

"In the middle of the worst economy since the Great Depression, Bob McDonnell has ordered $4 billion in cuts to balance Virginia's budget. Tens of thousands of jobs are at stake including teachers, cops, sheriff's deputies, nurses and others," BobMcDonnellsBudget.com states. "And where is the Governor?"

BobMcDonnellsBudget.com, launched Thursday morning, features a daily clock that tracks Governor McDonnell's delay on budget proposals. McDonnell originally promised to present a budget within 5 weeks of Governor Kaine's Dec. 18 proposal. The clock currently stands at 55 days -- nearly 8 weeks of avoiding tough decisions.

The website comes as pressure is building on McDonnell with editorial boards, Republicans and Democrats all calling on the Governor for budget leadership. In an editorial on Tuesday, the Roanoke Times called McDonnell's budget avoidance "an extraordinary sloughing of responsibility." The Virginian Pilot, meanwhile, has called on McDonnell 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." (Pilot, 1/23/10)

Even Republicans have called on McDonnell to come forward with a plan. "If we can't do all of the economic development programs, some of us would like to see what his priorities are," Del. Steve Landes (R-Augusta) said this weekend.

Virginia Democrats reiterated the call Wednesday for McDonnell to provide budget leadership.

"Governor McDonnell has been ducking and weaving for 54 days now, while Virginians await catastrophic cuts," said Democratic Party of Virginia Executive Director Leigh Anne Collier. "We're launching this website to call on Governor McDonnell to provide real leadership. He ran for Governor as a leader, and we intend to hold him to that promise."

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