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VIRGINIA REPUBLICANS TO VIRGINIA'S UNEMPLOYED: FEND FOR YOURSELVES

(Arlington County Democratic Committee)

Report from the Chairman

Peter Rousselot

Nearly 300,000 Virginians are unemployed -- with unemployment rates in places like Martinsville as high as 20.2%.

Yet on Wednesday, April 8, Virginia's Republican-dominated House of Delegates followed the lead of Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell, and rejected $125 million in federal unemployment funds that were being offered to Virginia.

As news media reported, Bob McDonnell "favored rejecting the jobless money" and "McDonnell opposes unemployment stimulus." All but two Republicans in the Virginia House of Delegates voted to reject expanding unemployment benefits for struggling Virginians.

The $125 million is part of President Barack Obama’s federal stimulus package--paid for by Virginians' tax dollars. These funds would have gone to displaced workers in Virginia and helped to stimulate our economy.

Despite the highest unemployment rates our state has seen in decades, Bob McDonnell and the Republican-dominated Virginia House of Delegates chose to play political games instead of protecting our future.

In trying to justify killing Virginia's receipt of this federal money, Virginia Republicans pointed to the possibility that businesses might have to pay more in unemployment insurance two years from now when the federal dollars are exhausted. But, Governor Kaine stated that if Virginia were to assume the obligation of continuing to fund unemployment assistance after the federal dollars stop flowing, it would cost Virginia businesses only $4.50 per worker per year. A company with ten employees would pay a mere $40 extra in 2011 to help those now out of work get back on their feet.

In a state, like Virginia, in which businesses currently pay very little per worker per year for unemployment insurance ($98 versus the national average of $258), the Virginia Republicans have presented a lame and totally unconvincing argument for their heartless rejection of help for those who need it the most.

In these tough economic times, rejecting the $125 million offered by the federal government is a reckless and fiscally irresponsible act. That reckless act was masterminded by the right-wing-dominated Virginia Republican Party and their hand-picked gubernatorial candidate, Bob McDonnell. Their short-sightedness will hurt both businesses and families in Virginia. As the state unemployment trust fund approaches insolvency, the $125 million in federal funds could have delayed rate hikes for businesses. At the same time, these funds would have helped unemployed Virginians get the job retraining they need.

What should Arlington Democrats do?

First, you should sign now the Democratic Party of Virginia's petition or record a video expressing your outrage at what Bob McDonnell and the Virginia Republicans have done. You can do both at this URL: http://www.standupforva.com

Second, you should volunteer now to help the 2009 Arlington Joint Campaign develop strategies to drive up our Democratic turnout in the general election in Arlington so that we can defeat Bob McDonnell and the other Republican statewide candidates.

Third, you should make a financial contribution now to help key Democratic candidates running for the Virginia House of Delegates so we can gain a majority of the seats in the House. You can do that by going to the following URL: https://secure.dlccweb.com/o/5285/p/10021/donate