Deeds announces economic plan in Roanoke

State Sen. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath County), the Democrat’s candidate for governor, arrived in Roanoke Monday morning with Sen. Mark Warner in tow.

Warner provided his stamp of approval, saying, “Let me present is future Excellency, soon to be governor, my friend Creigh Deeds.”

At the news conference, Deeds unveiled his economic plan for Virginia. His campaign picked Roanoke specifically: to underscore his rural roots.

It’s a theme we heard a lot on Monday, first from Sen. Warner.

“Creigh coming from Western Virginia knows what kind of challenges we face,” he said.

Then again, Warner said, “You need a governor that knows this part of the state. Creigh is from Western Virginia.”

Deeds underscored his hometown background as well.

“What drives me in large part is growing up in a rural area,” he said. “I know the mothers and fathers, and grandmothers and grandfathers that are tired of seeing their children and grandchildren leave home because there is no opportunity.”

So, Deeds plan focuses in large part on creating jobs, particularly green jobs. It also gives tax credits to small businesses, expands broadband, boosts tourism, pumps $20 million into the Governor’s Opportunity Fund, and most importantly fixes our roads.

But, how will he pay for all this? Neither man has that answer.

WARREN: “HOW DO YOU PAY FOR THIS... PARTICULARLY DURING THESE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES.”

DEEDS: “Well, number one, we lead with transportation. We lead with transportation because it's the best thing we can do to create jobs and economic recovery to pay for the other things I want to do.”

WARREN: “HOW DO WE PAY FOR TRANSPORTATION, UNLESS IT IS WITH A TAX INCREASE?”

DEEDS: “We're going to have to take an innovate approach to transportation. I'm running for governor not dictator. I'm not going to tie myself to any specific form of revenue enhancement to pay for transportation. I want to bring everyone together to come up with a solution to transportation.”

Deeds hopes to make some significant cuts in the budget, after an energy audit. He says other stats have saved up to $300 million from similar audits.

WARREN: “HOW DOES HE PAY FOR THIS?”

WARNER: “Well, I think you've got to assume that one the economy is going to turn around and two that one of the ways to get the economy to turn around is attracting more jobs to the state.”

Attracting jobs to the commonwealth is a common them from all politicians, no matter the year, the name or the party. So what’s new this time?

WARREN: “EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE. WE'VE HEARD POLITICIANS TALK ABOUT CREATING JOBS IN SWVA AND SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA, YET UNEMPLOYMENT IS STILL 20% IS SOME PARTS... DESPITE THE EFFOTS OF TIM KAINE AND MARK WARNER AND JIM WEBB AND OUR SENATORS. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO BE DIFFERENT? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO THAT IS BETTER THAN WHAT THEY ARE DOING?”

DEEDS: “You know Jay; I am looking for the pony. I don't believe that the horse manure I found in my stocking is all she wrote. I believe there is a pony out there somewhere. I'm going to continue to look for ideas and opportunities for every part of Virginia. And, I'm not prepared to say to any Virginian that it's not going to happen there.”