Deeds gets real about revenue

In an exclusive interview with the Annandale blog, Democratic candidate for governor Creigh Deeds indicated that addressing Virginia’s transportation problem is going to require a tax increase.

The needed revenue “is not going to fall like manna from heaven,” he said. Republican candidate Bob McDonnell’s “plan [to privatize the state-run liquor stores] doesn’t work. The numbers don’t add up. We’re going to have to have an honest discussion about revenue.”

Deeds addressed campaign supporters at a cold, rainy rally at the Mason District Park amphitheater Oct. 17, along with Democratic leaders Gov. Tim Kaine, State Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw, candidate for lieutenant governor Jody Wagner, and school board member and House of Delegates candidate Kaye Kory.

Saslaw told the Annandale blog that Deeds’ proposal for a statewide bipartisan commission to come up with a plan to raise revenue for transportation is the only way to get it done. He called McDonnell’s plan “silly,” noting that “you can say whatever you want.” McDonnell’s proposal has as much relevance as “saying you’re going to the moon.”

Despite Deed’s slip in the polls, Saslaw urged the crowd of supporters to stay focused on the campaign and make sure every Deeds supporter shows up on election day. “These are doable races,” he said, adding that Deeds won the Democratic primary even though he was nine points behind two weeks out.

Deeds told the crowd, “I’m going to be the governor that resolves this transportation mess” and promised to make Virginia a leader in renewable energy and medical research. He said politics is about “creating opportunities for people,” not about conflicts between Republicans and Democrats.

Referring to McDonnell’s thesis, Kaine said, “You can write a paper and say anything. That’s not the issue.” But McDonnell’s opinions outlined in the thesis guided his votes in the House, Kaine said, noting that he voted against equal pay for women and against a law to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Jody Wagner promised to take her role seriously if she succeeds in unseating current Lieutenant Gov. Bill Bolling. She said Bolling has a 6 percent attendance rate at state meetings, and “Virginia has full-time challenges. We need someone working every day.” She urged Bolling to stick with his full-time job as an executive of a health insurance company.