Wagner's New Ad Another Example of Not Getting It Right

Wagner ad cites editorial critical of her overly optimistic revenue projections as evidence of fiscal responsibility

RICHMOND - Following the release of Jody Wagner's first television ad today, the Bolling campaign released the following statement.

"It is remarkable that Ms. Wagner cites an editorial that was written more than a year after she left office and doesn't even mention her name as proof of her fiscal responsibility," said Matt Wells, Campaign Manager, Bolling for Lieutenant Governor.  "While the editorial compliments Governor Kaine for pruning the budget, it also highlights his administration's culpability for overly optimistic revenue projections that contributed to $7 billion in budget shortfalls.  Culpability that Wagner, as Secretary of Finance, cannot escape no matter how hard she tries."

From the News Virginian editorial cited in Wagner's ad: "This marks the fourth time that Kaine has been forced to cut his two-year budget, putting the total reductions at $7 billion. That's mostly the result of the national economy slipping into freefall, an event that produced fiscal calamity in some states, though not here. But Kaine cannot escape altogether culpability for a recurring predicament. He repeatedly has ignored the ring of alarms sounded by Republicans over his revenue projections only to wipe egg from his face later." ("Governor Gets it Right, Sorta," Waynesboro News Virginian, Sept 11, 2009*)

*Note: Ms. Wagner's ad references a September 14, 2009 News Virginian quote, which does not appear in either online or print versions of the paper.  The quote "Has balanced the budget without raising taxes," does however appear in a September 11, 2009 editorial, "Governor Gets it Right, Sorta."

"From revenue projections to simple citations, Jody Wagner has shown again and again that she just can't get it right.  No one should be surprised that she referenced an editorial that criticizes her revenue projections.  Wagner's record is so bad that even she can't avoid criticizing herself," said Wells.

The News Virginian was not the only paper to call attention to Wagner's overly optimistic revenue projections and fiscal mismanagement. 

"Where we truly take issue with the governor, as does Republican Lt.Gov. Bill Bolling ... is in his astoundingly roseate revenue projections...As Mr. Bolling said, 'A more prudent course would be to assume little or no revenue growth in the upcoming fiscal year and adjust state spending accordingly.' We wholeheartedly agree."  (Winchester Star Editorial, 12/19/08)

Despite the fact that her tenure as Secretary of Finance has been described as "marked by miscalculations and muff-ups," (Richmond Times-Dispatch 9/21/08), Wagner still attempted to lay claim to Virginia's economic good times, while conveniently ignoring the fact that Virginia's unemployment rate has more than doubled since 2006.

Concluded Wells, "It is amazing that Ms. Wagner would try and gloss over the budgetary train wreck she helped create and claim credit for creating jobs when 144,000 more Virginians are unemployed today than 3 years ago.  The truth is that the only plan Jody Wagner offers is one of higher taxes and bigger government spending.  She has supported every major, job-killing tax increase in the last 8 years, including higher sales taxes, car titling taxes and higher taxes on small businesses and seniors; and she has pledged to join Creigh Deeds in raising taxes again if elected Lieutenant Governor.  That's not the kind of leadership Virginians need.  Virginia can't afford Jody Wagner."