Nearly Three Decades!

As you know, before the General Assembly came together in February to pass the transportation bill, it had been 27 years since the Commonwealth had seen the enactment of a sustainable, long-term transportation plan for Virginia. Nearly three decades! In that time the value of the gas tax had declined by 55%, the binder price for asphalt had gone up 350%, and Northern Virginia had become the most-congested region in America, Virginia Beach the 20^th, and Richmond the 60^th. Virginians were losing $1400 a year sitting in traffic in Fairfax; $850 a year idling on 264 in Virginia Beach. And CNBC dropped Virginia from 1^st to 3^rd in their rankings of best states for business, citing a failure to properly fund transportation as the main reason for the decline.

Finally, this session, Republicans and Democrats came together to get results and make history. They passed a long-overdue and critically needed transportation plan. Over the past few weeks many have weighed in on the bill, and here’s some of what they’re saying:

John O. “Dubby” Wynne, retired president and chief executive of Landmark Communications and Harry Lester, president of Eastern Virginia Medical School, Virginian-Pilot

“...a landmark decision. It will provide and maintain critical infrastructure for the state’s economy to thrive and improve the quality of life for current and prospective citizens…

...As we prepare to build the roads we so desperately need to improve our community, we believe it worth dwelling on the courage it took for our elected leaders to reach an agreement a generation in the making.”

Daily Press Editorial board:

“Thank you, Gov. Bob McDonnell, for having the guts to accept a transportation funding bill that requires something Virginians hadn’t seen in a while from their representatives in Richmond: compromise.”

Clayton Roberts, president of Virginia FREE, Free-Lance Star:

“The business community is overwhelmingly in support of the transportation package. In Virginia FREE’s 25-year history, you can’t find any issue in which that community is more united than in its support of the governor’s plan for real money for transportation funding in Virginia.”

Washington Post Editorial Board:

“...one of the most substantial achievements by a Virginia governor in years.”

Jeffrey C. Southard, Executive Vice President of the Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance, Richmond Times-Dispatch

“Governor McDonnell recognized that Virginia was at a critical point. He could be bold and address the issue, or kick the can down the road to the next governor and watch our transportation system fail. Fortunately, like Reagan, McDonnell chose the former…... The governor is to be commended for taking the initiative for solving one of Virginia’s most pressing problems now and not counting on someone else to do the right thing later ... even if he did steal the idea from Ronald Reagan’s playbook.”

Aubrey L. Layne Jr. , Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board, Wall Street Journal:

“I applaud Gov. McDonnell’s leadership and courage in finding a bipartisan solution to Virginia’s transportation funding crisis. This legislation will improve mobility, lessen congestion, increase safety and improve the quality of life for Virginians. The governor’s leadership is in stark contrast to what is occurring in Washington, D.C.”

Bill Hamlin, Boxley Materials Company, Roanoke Times:

“Virginia has made history by passing the first major, long-term transportation funding package in 27 years. To get us there, Gov. Bob McDonnell took the initiative to offer a bold plan to his colleagues in the Virginia General Assembly… This is exactly what we should expect from our elected officials. This is why we vote them into office - to do what is best for their constituents, to do what is best for Virginia.”

W. Sheppard Miller III , Commonwealth Transportation Board, Virginian-Pilot:

“Hampton Roads residents sent Gov. Bob McDonnell to Richmond with an overwhelming mandate that he fix this problem. He has done exactly that, by providing incredible leadership and exhibiting great courage to champion a historic step to fixing the problem that threatens us all…I would like to thank McDonnell for his leadership and courage and for doing what he promised. He is a man of his word.”

Moody’s US Public Finance Weekly Credit Outlook, “Virginia’s Robust New Transportation Funding Package Is Credit Positive”:

“...The new law could generate as much as $3.5 billion of net additional revenue for roads, rail and transit in the state over the next five years, a credit positive…..The legislation makes The Commonwealth of Virginia (Aaa negative) the first state to address stagnant gas tax collections that have been increasingly insufficient to meet transportation funding needs, a problem faced by many states as they, consumers and automakers embrace higher fuel efficiency standards…”

Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, Daily Progress:

“We applaud Gov. McDonnell’s leadership on this critically important issue…Our chamber has been a steadfast advocate for decades for a comprehensive transportation funding plan by which the commonwealth would meet its fundamental, core responsibility. This bill achieves that goal.’”

Philip A. Shucet, former VDOT Commissioner,  Virginian-Pilot

“...2013 became the year when a band of women and men knew that this was the time - for this generation - to put a mechanism in place to establish a sustainable source of transportation funding not only for statewide needs, but for the specific needs of Virginia’s most congested regions… We owe the Governor, Wagner and Jones our gratitude.”

Tom Farrell and Charles Moorman, Richmond Times-Dispatch

“McDonnell and lawmakers from both parties and both houses showed tremendous leadership and statesmanship by compromising, and providing funding mechanisms that could generate as much as $3.5 billion of net additional revenue for roads, rail and transit over the next five years… They got the job done. And their critical work will aid economic prosperity, help create and retain jobs and contribute to Virginians’ quality of life. The positive results of this bipartisan, bicameral compromise will be felt in the Old Dominion for decades to come.”

Virginians came together this year to get results. According to one review, this bill will mean 20,000 new jobs and $2.5 billion in additional economic activity in the state. It will mean Virginia will have the transportation system our economy needs to grow and private sector employers need to create more jobs and hire more Virginians. Please pass this email on to your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers and thank you so much for your support!

Did You Miss It?

Last night Governor McDonnell delivered his annual State of the Commonwealth Address. While addressing the members of the House and Senate, the Governor focused on his ideas on how we can improve transportation, education, and job creation, and continue to advance “The Virginia Way” during the 2013 Legislative Session.

He said:

“Our challenges this session are clear.
We need to reform and reinvest in transportation infrastructure. This session, let’s do it.
We need more innovation and accountability in our public school system to promote great teachers in great schools to prepare great citizens. This session, let’s make that happen.
We need further government and budget reforms to strengthen the Commonwealth’s fiscal standing in the face of unprecedented uncertainty in Washington. This session, let’s enact them.
We need more jobs and more access to the great American Dream. This session, let’s provide it.”

I know this is a busy time of the year, so if you missed it last night, we wanted to give you an opportunity to watch the speech, in its entirety HERE.

Governor McDonnell is continuing to producing a record of results in Richmond, and I encourage you to watch the Address, at your convenience, and then forward the link to your friends, family, neighbors and coworkers.

Thank you very much for your continued support!

No More Gas Tax

Today in Richmond I unveiled our plan to solve Virginia’s transportation funding challenges for the long term.

Right now Virginia is sending $364 million a year from our construction account to our maintenance account. Money meant for building new roads is being used just to patch up old ones up. That crossover amount is anticipated to grow to $500 million by 2019. So the task at hand is clear: We need at least $500 million in new, ongoing transportation funding to eliminate this structural deficit and get Virginia back on sound financial footing when it comes to our transportation system.

What’s at stake? Jobs, the future of Virginia’s economy, and our quality of life.

Our plan solves the problem.

It provides over half a billion more dollars in highway construction funding each year and eliminates the structural deficit by 2019. In fact, our plan puts $3.1 billion more into transportation in Virginia in just the next five years.

This is a sustainable, long-term solution that will fund our transportation network for decades to come.

Here’s how the plan works.

First, we will make Virginia the first state in the nation to eliminate the gas tax.

That’s right, no more gas tax at the pump. No sales tax at the pump either. When this plan passes the price of gas will go down, and Virginians will spend $3.5 billion LESS at the pump over the next five years.

We then propose increasing the sales tax from 5% to 5.8%, still below every neighboring state and the District of Columbia, and putting that increase into transportation from here forward. The advantage of that change? We’re ensuring that transportation receives the new funding it needs in the years ahead by tying it to a mechanism that moves in tandem with economic activity and inflation. That is how every other tax works. That is what will make transportation funding sustainable again.

The fact is, the gas tax is a declining revenue source. It is fixed at a flat 17.5 cents per gallon and does not fluctuate with inflation. Cars are getting better and better mileage. More Virginians are buying alternative fuel vehicles. Many have called for the gas tax to just be increased. But that’s not a long-term solution. All that would do is lead us back to the same revenue shortfall a few years down the road, and the same old debates. We need a complete change in how we fund transportation or else no new “solutions” will work. We can’t remain tied to an outdated model.

Third, we will increase the amount of money going to transportation from the current sales tax from 0.5 cents to 0.75 cents over five years. And we will fund transit and rail through new mechanisms to generate revenue for these important components of our transportation future. You can read our entire plan here.

All told, this plan, passed in its entirety, will be generating $844 million in additional ongoing new revenue for transportation by 2019. It ends our crossover problem. Over half a billion more will be going to construction, not maintenance, by 2019. And by passing this plan Virginia will be showing the nation what creative, conservative leadership looks like. We will get results by rethinking old problems and finding new solutions for them.

This plan has broad support. I was joined at today’s press conference by leaders from the House and Senate, The Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and many other business and transportation groups. They know that to grow Virginia’s economy and keep creating good new jobs here we need a sustainable, long-term transportation solution. This is it.

Now, we have to get this plan passed. For years, we’ve had debates, and we’ve heard excuses. This plan puts Virginia in the driver’s seat of our transportation future. This plan solves our problem.

I hope you’ll pass this email on to your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. And, most importantly, I hope you’ll click here and urge your delegate and senator to support this common sense plan. It’s time to get results.

Merry Christmas

Got Your Tickets Yet?

I wanted to share with you this great video of Governor McDonnell as he goes one on one on and off the court with Richmond Times-Dispatch Sports Columnist Paul Woody ahead of the inaugural Governor’s Holiday Hoops Classic.

I would also like to remind you tickets are still on sale for the Governor’ Holiday Hoops Classic double-header this Saturday, December 22nd here in Richmond at the Coliseum. The inaugural tournament features George Mason University matching up with the University of Richmond at 3pm, followed by The University of Virginia and Old Dominion University at 5:30pm. One ticket gets you in to both games. And you’ll be in the Coliseum as a national audience watches live on the NBC Sports Network.

Click here to order tickets now! With the special Groupon offer, you can get two tickets for $35 (an $87.50 value, including all fees) or four tickets for only $60 (a $175 value, including all fees). You can purchase individual tickets at ticketmaster.com and at university ticket offices. And don’t forget that a portion of the ticket sales goes to help Virginia’s food banks.

Thank you and hope to see you Saturday to support these talented student athletes and Virginia’s food banks!

Happy Thanksgiving

As we gather together with our families and friends, The McDonnell Family would like to wish you and your loved ones a very Happy Thanksgiving and encourage you to take a few minutes to remember some of the many blessings for which we are so grateful.

As I reflect on this past year, I am thankful for so many things: my family, friends, and our wonderful country. And I am especially thankful for the incredible ongoing opportunity to serve as your Governor. I am so blessed for the trust you have placed in me and I look forward to my final year in office as we continue to build a Commonwealth of Opportunity for all Virginians. Click here to read my 2012 Thanksgiving Proclamation.

A significant part of Thanksgiving is remembering our shared Virginia tradtions. Yesterday, Maureen and I welcomed Chief Carl Custalow of the Mattaponi Tribe, Chief Kevin Brown of the Pamunkey Tribe, and other tribal members to the Governor’s Mansion to observe the 335th tax tribute ceremony. The ceremony is the oldest continuing nation-to-nation ceremony in the United States. After Bacon’s Rebellion, the British Crown concluded a peace treaty with the Mattaponi and Pamunkey Indian tribes in 1677. In it, the British reserved certain lands for the tribes, “confirming to them their just Rights.” In return, the Native Americans and their posterity were to pay the royal governor a token every year in lieu of taxes. In the tribute ceremony, tribal members honor their ancestors who negotiated the Treaty of Middle Plantation to preserve Virginia Indian lands and the rich heritage they enjoy to this day. In this year’s ceremony, Chief Carl Custalow presented us with a piece of pottery decorated with fish and turtles, a beaded feathered medicine bag and an eight point buck deer. Chief Kevin Brown presented a drum made by a Pamunkey artisan, a beaded barrette, and a deer. Drumming and dancing followed the presentation of gifts, led by Assistant Chief Mark Custalow. We also celebrated this years tribute knowing that as soon as next year, there will be a new monument on Capitol grounds – a tribute to Virginia Indians. The Virginia Indian Commemorative Commission recently voted on a design submitted by a Canadian Indian artist and fundraising has begun for the new monument here on the capitol grounds.

Essential in the history of Thanksgiving was the sharing of the harvest by Native Americans, allowing the early settlers to carry on through those harsh first winters in the New World. Now, in 2012, let us also join together as a community, commemorating our shared traditions and continuing to lend a helping hand to our neighbors in need. With that goal in mind, Maureen and I joined yesterday with Congressmen Eric Cantor and Bobby Scott and volunteered at the Central Virginia Food Bank. This organization works hard every day to ensure Virginia families are able to put food on their tables and I am so thankful for all the work they do. To learn how you can help hunger relief in Virginia please visit: https://feedmore.org/ways-to-give/. Let’s all continue to do our part to bring blessings into the lives of those who need a little help during the holiday season.

Finally, this Thanksgiving I ask you to keep our country, and those who are fighting for our freedom abroad, in your thoughts and prayers. We owe these brave men and women, our veterans, and their families a deep appreciation that we will never be able to truly repay. It is because of their sacrifice that we here in Virginia can gather around the table in peace to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Today, Maureen and I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. God has been so good to our Commonwealth. May we continue to give thanks everyday for all our blessings, and help each other in every way that we are able.

Getting Results

Last week The Washington Post conducted a statewide poll here in Virginia. The results are clear: Virginians, across all regional, party and demographic lines, like Governor Bob McDonnell and the positive, results-oriented leadership he has brought to state government.

Virginians approve of the job the Governor is doing by a margin of 58%-27% among registered voters, and an even larger 60%-26% among those likely to vote in this November’s election.

Independent voters approve of the Governor by 63%-26%; women approve of the Governor by 55%-26%; young voters between the ages of 18-39 approve of the Governor by 51%-27%.

The Governor is a veteran. His father served our nation in World War II, and his daughter served our nation in Iraq. And Virginia’s veterans like the work being done by their fellow veteran, with veteran households approving of the Governor by the huge margin of 68%-23%.

And support for the Governor’s performance in office is strong in every region of the Commonwealth. In Northern Virginia the Governor’s approval rating is 57%; in Hampton Roads it’s 57%; in the Richmond area it’s 58%; and in Central and Western Virginia it’s 62%.

The full Washington Post poll results are all available HERE.

Since taking office in January 2010, Bob McDonnell has been hard at work. He closed $6 billion in budget shortfalls, without raising taxes. State unemployment has fallen from 7.2% to 5.9%, the lowest unemployment rate in the Southeast….by far…and far below our neighboring states. 118,000 net new jobs have been created in Virginia. At the same time, the Governor’s transportation plan put the most new funding into our roads, rail and bridges since 1986. And his higher education reforms have added new slots at Virginia’s colleges and universities for in-state students, while leading to the lowest average yearly tuition increase at Virginia’s schools in over a decade. Our colleges and universities are more affordable and accessible for Virginia students.

All of this success would not have been possible without Republicans and Democrats coming together to get things done for the people of Virginia. And it would not have been possible without all of you. Your support, prayers, and hard work are making all of this possible, and we can’t thank you enough for it.

Please forward this email on to your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers so they can see these great results, and we look forward to many more successful and innovative months ahead.

Statement of Governor Bob McDonnell on Alpha Natural Resources Mine Closures

RICHMOND- Governor Bob McDonnell issued the following statement this afternoon following the news that Virginia-based energy company Alpha Natural Resources will close eight mines, including three in Virginia, and eliminate 1200 positions.


“I was very saddened to learn that Alpha Natural Resources will have to close eight mines and eliminate nearly 10% of its workforce. The company’s corporate headquarters, as well as three of the mines slated to be shuttered, are in Virginia, and Virginians will lose their jobs when this happens. It is always a tragedy when someone loses their job. It is an even greater tragedy when that job loss occurs because of specific policies that hurt an industry. According to Alpha CEO Kevin Crutchfield, hostile energy policy at the federal level is one of the chief reasons for today’s announcement. He stated that one of the two major factors for this decision was the avalanche of regulations coming out of the current Administration in Washington D.C. These regulations are making it harder and harder for coal companies to operate and compete. And these regulations are eliminating good-paying jobs that Virginians need. That is unacceptable.


Unfortunately, today’s announcement is just one of many setbacks to job-creation, energy security and economic growth that can be attributed to the anti-business policies coming from the Obama Administration. The Administration has put in place rules that many believe will make it effectively impossible for new coal-powered plants to be opened in the years ahead. Virginia is a leading coal producing state. When demand for coal falls, or federal regulations make coal production unfeasible and too expensive and difficult, that will mean less jobs for Virginians. There is a direct and clear connection between the President’s negative energy policies and job losses in Virginia’s energy sector.


We are seeing the same thing when it comes to offshore energy. There is strong and broad bipartisan support for the development of oil and natural gas reserves off of Virginia’s coast. Democrats and Republicans alike support moving forward. The result of offshore energy exploration and development here in the Commonwealth would be thousands of new, good-paying jobs for Virginians. But this President has said no. He took Virginia out of the five-year plan in which we were formerly included. Virginia would have been the first state on the East Coast to produce oil and natural gas offshore, creating thousands of newjobs and hundreds of millions in new revenue for transportation. This President vetoed good jobs for Virginia citizens, and greater energy independence for our nation.

The fact is, policy matters. Some policies encourage and support job creation. Other policies do not. The President’s energy policies have led to lost job opportunities for Virginians. They have cost the Commonwealth hundreds of millions in revenue that could be used for transportation, education and economic development. And Virginia residents will be guaranteed to see higher electricity prices in the future with the continued implementation of the unbalanced and unfair energy policies of the Obama Administration. For all these reasons, we need to elect Mitt Romney this November. As President, Mitt Romney will put in place a smart and responsible energy policy that will create and support good-paying jobs for Virginia residents, while providing greater energy security for our nation.

Remembering September 11

On September 11^th, 2001 the quiet calm of a beautiful early September morning, a morning much like today’s, was shattered by the vicious violence of terrorists. Our nation and the world watched: stunned, shaken, saddened. Eleven years later, the sorrow and pain of that day is never far from our hearts.

Unimaginable evil struck Americans that day, but it never came close to breaking our spirit.  We grieved together. We prayed together. And then we gathered our strength together and stood up again, united as one nation. The result of one of the darkest days in American history was one of the greatest displays of unity, bravery and character our nation has ever shown. Our enemies expected us to hide in fear. Instead, we stepped forward with courage.

11 years later we continue to remember the 3,000 Americans taken from us in New York, Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon, and their families and friends. They are forever in our prayers. Their memories always present.

At the same time, we also keep in our thoughts and prayers the men and women who watched September 11^th unfold on their televisions in places like Harrisonburg, Lawrenceville, Tazewell and Falls Church, and then resolved to do something about it. In a time of crisis, Virginians stepped up. They joined with men and women from all across this country to face danger abroad in order to preserve our liberty and freedom here at home. They are heroes.

This morning Maureen and I had the opportunity to visit with some of those heroes. We went to Sandston to simply thank the men and women of the Virginia National Guard on behalf of all Virginians. Like all visits with our service members, it was inspiring. You can take a look at pictures from our visit HERE, and you can watch some coverage here.

As Virginians and Americans, we are all in this together. This September 11^th, let us remember yet again that freedom is not free. Let us thank those who serve. And let us never forget the mothers, fathers, husbands, brothers, sisters, wives, and friends lost on that tragic September day, eleven years ago.

God Bless Virginia and America

Tune in 8:30pm Tonight!

I wanted to make sure you saw these great new pieces from today highlighting Governor McDonnell’s participation in the Republican National Convention. Please make sure you tune into his primetime convention speech around 8:30pm this evening!

Governor McDonnell also participated in a newsmaker interview with Politico, in which he said the enthusiasm advantage will be on the Republicans’ side this Fall. A recent national poll showed Mitt Romney up 10 points among independent voters.

Governor McDonnell on “The Kudlow Report”: It’s all about jobs and the economy and embracing the… policies on taxation and regulation and litigation that are going to get our country back to work.”

The Governor spoke with NewsMax about why Mitt Romney will win in the swing state of Virginia, saying “They’re voting on who’s got the best ideas to get proven results, to get the greatest country on Earth out of debt and back to work. That’s this whole campaign.”

Governor McDonnell also sat down with Jennifer Rubin, who wrote,  “McDonnell will talk tonight to the Republican National Convention delegates in part about the success he has had in Virginia, while explaining that the better business climate and lower-than-national unemployment in his state shouldn’t be credited to the president. On the contrary, he says, ‘Voters are smart and can judge between federal and state policies.’ He points out that seven of the 10 states with the lowest unemployment have GOP governors, and 12 of the 15 best states for doing business have GOP governors as well.”

Saturday in Virginia

Saturday, Mitt Romney selected Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan as his running mate in the 2012 election. That evening National Review caught up with Governor McDonnell who was with the new team for the entire day, and was the first person to have the honor to introduce “the next President and Vice-President of the United States!” The article takes you inside this historic day in the Commonwealth and Governor McDonnell’s thoughts on the selection, and the campaign ahead. You can read it below, or by clicking here:  http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/313790/ticket-ride-robert-costa

Also, if you have a moment, watch Governor McDonnell’s Introduction of Mitt Romney at the Norfolk rally Saturday by clicking here:  http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/307550-1

Making College Affordable

Yesterday, Governor McDonnell and other higher education leaders announced that Virginia undergraduates at our public colleges and universities this fall will experience the lowest tuition and mandatory fee increases in a decade.

It’s a major step forward in the Governor’s ongoing effort to make college more affordable and accessible for Virginia students.

The Governor’s higher education initiatives are expanding slots at our universities, while the $230 million in new funding that he championed, and the General Assembly approved, is helping to put the brakes on the excessive yearly tuition increases that had unfortunately become the norm in the state.

As Governor McDonnell said yesterday, “Too many Virginia students graduate from college with significant debt, making the high cost of a college education both a deterrent and an ongoing financial burden. This year’s reduced tuition increases, however, will help make higher education more affordable and more accessible for Virginia students and their families.”

The Roanoke Times reported: “The General Assembly earlier this year passed a new two-year budget that includes $230 million in additional funding for higher education. McDonnell pushed for the additional finding and also urged the governing boards of the state’s public colleges earlier this year to limit tuition increases to the rate of inflation.”

WWBT in Richmond noted: “Following an infusion of taxpayer dollars this year in the higher ed budget, state schools were able to minimize their tuition rate increases – good news for parents, according to one who’s used to writing checks. (Governor McDonnell)”

WTOP Radio in Washington DC added: “Tuition at Virginia’s state-supported universities and colleges increased by 4.1 percent in 2012, the smallest rate in the past 10 years.”

As a father who has been writing tuition checks to Virginia schools for the last 11 years, Governor McDonnell understands the importance of making sure more Virginia students have affordable access to our world class colleges and universities. This progress is a bipartisan accomplishment, and you can read the full press release from yesterday’s announcement here.

Please pass on this great news to your friends, family and neighbors and thank you for your continued support.

New Video: Our Commonwealth of Opportunity

I wanted to share with you a new video we put together highlighting our Commonwealth of Opportunity.

We put together the video specifically for CNBC. They asked Governors to send in videos about how they’re growing their economies and strengthening the private sector. And you can help us win CNBC’s “Top States Twitter Battle.”  If you are on Twitter, vote for Virginia by using the hashtag #TopStatesVA or retweet the governor’s message here.

This video celebrates all we have done at the state level to help grow private sector jobs and create more opportunities for all Virginians.  We are seeing the results.  Since Governor McDonnell took office, over 120,000 new jobs have been created and the unemployment rate has dropped to the lowest level in over three years. Governor McDonnell has kept taxes low, regulations and litigation to a minimum, and freed the private sector to create jobs and opportunities for our citizens. None of this has been possible without your strong support and partnership.

Please pass this video on to  your  friends, family and  neighbors. And remember, as you watch this video, that the same conservative principles that have worked in Virginia can work all across this great country. And that’s why we all need to work so hard to elect Mitt Romney our next President. Mitt Romney will free states and job-creators to grow, innovate and create. He will unleash the dynamism and vigor of the American people. And that’s how we will truly get Americans back to work and our national economy back on track

Independence Day

As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day tomorrow, I wanted to share with you Governor McDonnell’s official statement on the holiday, released today by the Office of the Governor. It is pasted below. Have a wonderful and safe Fourth of July!

Statement of Governor Bob McDonnell on Independence Day Holiday in Virginia

“For 236 years, our nation has served as a beacon for the ideals of freedom and democracy, exemplifying the principles that have made us the greatest nation in the world and inspired countless other peoples to stand up against tyranny and oppression wherever it is found. Jefferson, Madison, Henry, Mason, Washington and others, great Virginians who gave birth to this country, drew inspiration from the Commonwealth’s beauty and its bounty to stand up and declare our own fledgling country’s freedom on July 4, 1776. America was born in Virginia. And the ideals personified and promulgated by our founder’s are alive and well today in our great state, which is now home to the largest naval base in the world, the Pentagon, more than 823,000 veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much to defend our freedom, and scores of other important national treasures and military installations. In Virginia you can see our nation’s founding, our nation’s journey, and our nation’s future, all side by side.

“Tomorrow, as Virginians stand over the grill, sit by the pool, or look to the heavens to view flashes of a fireworks display, I encourage them to also reflect upon the countless men and women who have risked their lives by standing up for our principles. These men and women have ensured that the United States of America would indeed prevail as a model for what Jefferson wrote are the self-evident truths of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And let us not forget the thousands of men and women who, on this joyous day, continue to remain in harm’s way to protect these ideals at home and for all people around the world who long to be free. The price of freedom remains eternal vigilance.

Statement of Governor Bob McDonnell on George Allen’s Victory in Virginia Senate Primary

WOLFSBURG, GERMANY - Governor Bob McDonnell issued the following statement regarding Governor George Allen’s primary win in Virginia.


“I want to congratulate my great friend George Allen for a very well-deserved victory tonight. This November, Virginians have a critically important decision to make. These are tough times in America. Our next Senator must be a proven leader.  Someone who is committed to growing our economy,  promoting American energy independence, and getting spending under control. George Allen is that leader, and he will be that Senator.


George Allen has a record in public office of making government work better, getting spending in check and ensuring that the private sector is free to create good jobs for our citizens. He has been a longtime supporter of a Balanced Budget Amendment, introducing it in the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. As Governor, he created a pro-growth environment that helped the private sector create jobs, and made government smarter and smaller. He was the most reform-minded and innovative Governor in modern-Virginia history. Now, we need George Allen’s vision and leadership in Washington. 


I look forward to traveling all across Virginia and working hard to ensure that George Allen is elected to the United States Senate this November.