State Senator Frank Wagner is coming after putative frontrunner and former RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie from an unusual direction — the center. From a short blurb out of the Associated Press:
Sen. Frank Wagner says voters are flocking to his campaign in the final six weeks of the GOP primary for Virginia governor.
Wagner held a Richmond news conference Monday to tout his experience as a businessman, military veteran and long-time lawmaker, saying his record is winning over Republican voters.
Wagner repeatedly lambasted Ed Gillespie, a Washington insider early frontrunner in the GOP gubernatorial contest. Wagner accused Gillespie of trying to mislead voters with unrealistic promises to cut taxes as governor.
More directly, Wagner is taking aim at a Gillespie tax cut plan that to date, Wagner has deemed as both unaffordable and not the promised $1,300 average. From Travis Fain over at the Daily Press:
Gillespie’s campaign has said that once fully implemented, his plan would save a “typical” Virginia family nearly $1,300 per year, a figure based on average household income of $135,000. Using the median household income of $69,945, the savings would be $674, the campaign said.
Wagner said Virginia’s median household income is $65,015 and that under Gillespie’s plan, a family with such an income would realize savings of $390 — not nearly $1,300 per year.
“This statement that he’s made over and over and over again is totally misleading the public and quite frankly dishonest,” Wagner said.
…and yet there’s an inherent dishonesty in that claim as well. Prior to this week, Wagner had claimed that Gillespie’s tax cut plan would jeopardize Virginia’s AAA bond rating. It seems rather odd that this theme now shifts tacks, though on the back of the envelope, Wagner’s numbers seem accurate (8 mil Virginians, 2 mil households, $390 times 2 mil = ballpark of the $1.1 billion Gillespie tax cut).
Diehard conservatives might not be as enthusiastic about the Gillespie tax plan, if for no other reason than it is entirely dependent upon the economic lift of an improving economy. No lift? No tax cut…
Still, if you’re counting the coins in the Virginia exchequer, the Gillespie approach makes total sense — and in some ways is a brilliant move. Either the General Assembly delivers on serious tax reform and improves our business climate, or Virginians don’t get our promised ROI via tax cuts.
One of those things that can improve the business climate? Transportation funding reform… another item that Wagner addressed during a meeting with Fredericksburg business leaders, by way of theFree Lance-Star:
Paul Agnello of FAMPO presented Wagner with traffic data showing significant choke points in the Fredericksburg region and which projects, such as the remaining Rappahannock River Crossing bridge that is yet to be funded for the interstate, Virginia Railway Express needs, and the possibility of a regional transportation authority.
Wagner told those gathered—including Kim McClellan of the Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors; Mark Taylor, county administrator of Spotsylvania; and Angela Freeman of City of Fredericksburg Economic Development—that transportation is the key to making Virginia competitive and that he wants to support making VRE sustainable and doubling the gas tax to fund projects.
“It all starts with money. We need to be able to fund these projects first,” he said.
Doubling the gasoline tax is a non-starter, of course. But it does demonstrate the alternative visions of the two candidacies. Wagner seeks to squeeze more blood out of the current economy; Gillespie wants to create an economic climate that lifts all boats (including transportation).
One will have to thank Wagner on two fronts.
First, regardless as to whether you agree or disagree with his position, Wagner does make the argument from the center (much as Northam does having been a former state senator himself), even if it betrays a certain mentality within Richmond itself. Wagner’s position is, at least, an honorable and thoroughly contemplated one.
Second… Wagner’s tone and challenge on policy is such a refreshing change of course from the last four months of showboating from the other guy. If the campaign were between Gillespie and Wagner, Virginians just might learn a thing or two about how their state government works (or doesn’t) and what solutions are really on the table — advantages and pitfalls alike.
Many conservatives will probably agree that Gillespie’s position is the more orthodox and sound one — and in many ways, more stable than a bone-crushing gasoline tax increase in an era where car manufacturers are improving mileage and moving away from gasoline as an energy resource (thus making Gillespie’s objections “green” objections).
Wagner’s challenge — the “what do you actually do with the cards on the table?” approach — is the default position. Gillespie’s answer — add more cards — is instinctively the right answer… because we all know what Perriello’s answer will be in the end — simply have Richmond take all the cards.