Bolling Challenges Jody Wagner to Come Clean on Deeds Tax Hike

Wagner has answered transportation funding questions exactly the same as Creigh Deeds: Does she also support his plans to raise taxes on Virginia families and businesses?

RICHMOND - On July 21, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling stood with former Attorney General Bob McDonnell, Republican candidate for Governor, to jointly release a comprehensive, 19 page transportation plan that will pump more than $1 billion in additional funding into Virginia's transportation system.  This initiative includes 12 funding mechanisms, including $500 million from the privatization of the government controlled ABC stores.

During his tenure in the State Senate and as Lieutenant Governor, Bill Bolling has a consistent record of working to find solutions to our transportation problems that do not increase the tax burden on the working men and women of Virginia.  The McDonnell-Bolling transportation plan is a comprehensive solution that will address Virginia's transportation challenges without raising taxes.

Jody Wagner has a record of supporting higher taxes.  As Governor Kaine's Secretary of Finance, she led the effort on his many attempts to raise taxes on the families of Virginia, including a total of $3 billion in transportation tax increase schemes from 2006-2008, which she attacks Bill Bolling for opposing. 

In fact, during her 7 years as State Treasurer and Secretary of Finance, Jody Wagner has supported every attempt by Governors Warner and Kaine to raise taxes.  If Jody Wagner had her way, the Virginia's taxpayers would be paying billions more in taxes each year.

Her running mate, State Senator Creigh Deeds, also has a longstanding record of support for increased taxes.  He has voted for more than $3.5 billion in tax increases in just the last 5 years.  On one day in 2008, he voted for 19 separate transportation tax increases.

This year Creigh Deeds has made it clear that he supports additional taxes for transportation.  After the Fairfax Chamber debate he told reporters, "I'm willing to sign a bill that raises new money for transportation....in fact I intend to sign that bill next year"

On August 11, he made it clear that he would sign a bill that increased taxes for transportation.  Indeed, he is so proud of his support for higher taxes, he highlights it on his website under the headline "Deeds would sign tax increase bill" - following his admission to the Richmond Times-Dispatch that he will push for higher taxes to fund transportation.

"Today I am asking Jody Wagner to state in clear terms to the people of Virginia whether or not she supports Creigh Deeds' plan to raise taxes to pay for transportation.  The voters deserve a simple 'yes or no' to this fundamental question," said Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling.

During her campaign for Lieutenant Governor, Wagner has repeatedly refused to put forward a transportation plan or provide any specifics on how she would increase funding for transportation.

However, when forced to discuss transportation funding, Wagner has espoused a transportation plan identical to Creigh Deeds.  In fact, she gave a verbatim, identical answer to Creigh Deeds on the Virginia FREE candidate survey, stating "I believe we need to leave all options on the table, and find consensus solutions in the General Assembly."  One can only assume that she shares Deeds' desire to raise taxes as well.

Bill Bolling is opposed to increasing taxes on hard working Virginians. And Virginians have the right to know if Jody Wagner will join Creigh Deeds and continue her support of higher taxes. 

The Lieutenant Governor casts votes in the event of a tie in the Virginia Senate.  As job losses mount and families struggle to pay bills in a recession, the people have a right to know how Jody Wagner would vote on legislation that results in a tax increase on the people of Virginia.

Yes or No Jody?

Do you Support Creigh Deeds' Plan to Raise Taxes on the People of Virginia?

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