Who can Virginians trust?

Mark Warner's Lack of Straight Talk during the Homestead Debate

The Jim Gilmore for Senate Campaign issued the following statement today citing the lack of straight talk from Mark Warner during the first Virginia U.S. Senate campaign debate held this past weekend at The Homestead in Hot Springs.

"During the debate, Mark Warner told us that while he was governor he "'leveled with the people of Virginia' about why he raised their taxes $1.4 billion in 2004," said Gilmore for Senate Communications Director Ana Gamonal.

"Yet the facts show that after having pledged repeatedly during his campaign for Governor that he would not raise taxes, Mark Warner did just that despite having received letters earlier in 2004 from his Secretary of Finance, John M. Bennett that showed state revenues were on the increase prior to passage of the largest tax increase in Virginia's history."

"Mark Warner also claimed during the debate that the tax hike he obtained, despite growing evidence of a state surplus, helped set the 'course straight for Virginia's future', yet as recently as last week current Gov. Tim Kaine announced the need to re-set the current budget due to an imminent budget shortfall," Gamonal said.

"What this shows is what Virginia's working families know all too well, Mark Warner is a typical ’say anything to get elected politician' who hasn’t been truthful with the people of Virginia," Gamonal said."

-- From the Jim Gilmore for Senate campaign


Cross-posted at SWAC Girl
Jim Gilmore for Senate