Republican U.S. Senate hopeful George Allen criticized the Obama administration and the Democrat-controlled Congress Wednesday for the U.S. losing its AAA bond rating.
“It is an example over the last three years of this explosion in spending in Washington and this enormous expansion of the federal government,” Allen said during a campaign stop downtown. “They knew that – with all this spending and this weak economy -- the credit ratings were in jeopardy. They still go along and come up with this very unsatisfactory punting for six months to a committee of 12 to get spending under control. What they’re doing in Washington is avoiding making the decisions that need to be made to reign in this overspending, overreaching federal government.”
In an unprecedented move last week, Standard & Poor’s reduced the nation’s credit rating following a prolonged Washington debate over raising the nation’s debt ceiling and an 11th-hour agreement that includes forming a special committee to review ways to reduce U.S. debt by $2 billion over the next 10 years. On Monday, President Barack Obama repeated his call for raising taxes on the wealthy and adjusting programs like Medicare.
Asked about the crisis prior to a visit inside the Burger Bar, Allen said U.S. leaders could have taken steps to avoid the downgrade.
The former Virginia governor and senator will face Democratic candidate Tim Kaine for the seat being vacated by Sen. Jim Webb, who defeated Allen five years ago.
Allen also repeated a familiar GOP theme, calling for reducing – not raising – taxes on business owners.
“Washington liberals want tax increases on entrepreneurs. The last thing small business owners need are more taxes. We already have the second highest tax [rate] in the world at 35 percent. We need to put Americans at an advantage and lower taxes on job creators,” Allen said to cheers from a group of about 35 gathered inside the downtown eatery.
One attendee took issue with Allen’s stance. Nicholas Atkinson-Brown, who said he was visiting the Twin City from New York, had a lengthy conversation with Allen just before his speech.
“Consumers aren’t buying and businesses aren’t hiring so how is reducing taxes going to stimulate the economy?” Atkinson-Brown asked, saying the government should follow the lead of former President Bill Clinton and increase taxes.
The candidate replied that the quickest way would be to expand U.S. energy exploration efforts.
“The way to stimulate the economy is to unleash our massive energy resources. That will put a ton of people to work using our coal and our natural gas. We would have more affordable energy supplies and not supporting governments that don’t like us,” Allen said.
He also said the federal government should lift its moratorium on offshore drilling so states like Virginia could tap into potential reserves of oil and natural gas.
“So we can have another disaster like they had off the Gulf Coast? It’s not regulated enough,” Atkinson-Brown said.
“Oh, it’s regulated. It’s regulated so much we can’t do anything,” Allen replied.
Allen’s visit, which included a walking tour downtown, was a joint campaign appearance with Israel O’Quinn, the Republican nominee for the 5th District House of Delegates seat being vacated by state Delegate Bill Carrico. As of yet, there is no Democratic opposition.
Allen plans to crisscross Western Virginia for the next few days, making more than a dozen campaign stops with GOP state candidates, including visits to Wytheville, Richlands, Bluefield, Smyth County and Galax.
dmcgee@bristolnews.com
(276) 645-2532
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