McDonnell outlines plans for ’09 gubernatorial bid

By BENNIE SCARTON Jr.
Published: November 6, 2008

Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell delivered the keynote address at a recent luncheon sponsored by the Prince William County-Greater Manassas Chamber of Commerce at the Stonewall Golf Club in Gainesville.

McDonnell has announced that he will run for governor in 2009. Addressing a group of about 100 business leaders, he outlined his goals for the future of the state.

McDonnell began by describing the advantages Virginia offers to businesses, including its handling of tort liability, medical malpractice caps, its public college system and the fact that it is a “right to work” state, meaning that most employees in the state have the right to resign from a union and cannot be forced to pay union dues.

While acknowledging that the state is facing huge challenges in the future, particularly economic challenges, he stressed the need to continue to promote free enterprise. As governor, he would take a close look at the more than 24,000 pages of state regulations in an effort to reduce regulatory impediments to business, he said.

In education, he would try to help steer students into the fields of math, technology and engineering and funnel more money directly into classrooms instead of funding middle-level managers.

To raise funds necessary to continue to improve Virginia’s transportation infrastructure, McDonnell favors a strategy that includes issuing bonds, developing public-private partnerships, continuing to divert two-thirds of all budget surpluses to transportation, increasing sales and gas taxes, encouraging more telecommuting through tax credits and giving incentives to encourage more public transportation.

He was impressed with the large turnout for his appearance and complimented the chamber for having such an active membership.

— Bennie Scarton Jr.