Republican Governors Association Chairman Bob McDonnell issued the following statement regarding Pat McCrory’s decision to enter the North Carolina governor’s race:

“As Democrats scramble to find a candidate, Pat McCrory begins his campaign from a position of strength.  Beginning today, Pat will be bringing Republicans, Independents and Democrats together to focus on the state’s most pressing issues, and voters understand that Pat is the only potential governor prepared to help the private sector create jobs and fix a state government broken during the Easley-Perdue era. The RGA welcomes Pat McCrory to the governor’s race.”

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Republican Governors Association Executive Director Phil Cox issued the following statement regarding reports that Democratic North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue’s will not seek re-election:

“It’s now clear that the past four years of having a Democratic governor in North Carolina have been a failure.  North Carolina’s lost ground to its neighbors, and now has the worst unemployment rate in the region.  It’s never been more clear that North Carolina needs a Republican governor who will bring fresh ideas and a new perspective to the governor’s office.

As governor, Bev Perdue continues to set the Democrat agenda in Raleigh, which now includes a massive, job-crushing sales tax hike. No matter how hard they try, whoever emerges as the Democratic Party’s successor to Bev Perdue won’t be able to run from the Democrats’ record of higher taxes and disappointing job losses.”

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Republican Governors Association Executive Director Phil Cox issued the following statement regarding Bill Maloney’s decision to enter the West Virginia governor’s race:

“Bill Maloney’s decision gives Republicans an excellent opportunity to win the governor’s office this year. The more West Virginians got to know Bill last year, the more they liked his plans to revitalize West Virginia.

For Earl Ray Tomblin, the opposite is true. The more voters learned about his self-enriching, forty-year political career, the less they liked him. This year is the voters’ best chance to finally end the status quo, insider way of doing politics in West Virginia.

The RGA welcomes Bill Maloney to the governor’s race.”

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Republican Governors Association Chairman Bob McDonnell issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s decision to reject the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline:

“I am incredibly disappointed by President Obama’s decision. While I hope it is not the case, his action today appears to put ideology ahead of the most important issue facing America: job creation.  The Keystone XL pipeline has broad support and would have created thousands of well-paid, American jobs. Americans need those jobs and America needs the energy. This decision will have a negative impact on our nation’s economy, efforts to improve national energy security, and the job prospects of thousands of our fellow citizens.”

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Republican Governors Association executive director Phil Cox issued the following statement regarding Kathleen Falk’s announcement that she will run for governor:

“The labor union bosses who want to end the progress Wisconsin has made since the end of 2010 got their hand-picked candidate today in Kathleen Falk. Statewide voters have already twice rejected Falk’s out-of-touch, big-government ideas, and this year will be no different. Wisconsin will continue to move forward by rejecting Kathleen Falk and those who represent the failed policies of the past.”

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The Republican Governors Association today launched www.StandWithScott.com to promote the positive impact Governor Scott Walker’s reforms have made in Wisconsin.  The site will regularly be updated with videos highlighting the results of Walker’s time as governor.

“When Governor Walker took office, he recognized that the status quo in Wisconsin was unacceptable. It was failing Wisconsin’s taxpayers and families.” said RGA Chairman Bob McDonnell.  “The state’s debt was unsustainable, and the Governor immediately confronted a $3.6 billion deficit. To ensure a strong future, Scott knew that positive and bold action was needed immediately.”

“Governor Walker tackled Wisconsin’s challenges head on, and his plan to turn around Wisconsin is working,” McDonnell continued.  “Within the past year, Wisconsin paid off nearly $1 billion in debt, and Governor Walker’s reforms helped close a $3.6 billion deficit without raising taxes and improved the state’s business climate. Thanks to Governor Walker’s leadership, the future prospects of Wisconsin’s taxpayers, families and job-creating business owners are brighter than ever.”

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More Than Doubles DGA For Year; Cash on Hand Total Makes RGA Nation’s Largest Party Committee

The Republican Governors Association raised $44.1 million in 2011, more than doubling its fundraising total from 2007, the last comparable election year.  The RGA also carried forward into 2012 $26.6 million, giving the RGA more cash on hand than any other political party committee. The RGA’s fundraising haul far outpaced the Democratic Governors Association, which raised just $20 million in 2011.

“Thanks to the outstanding leadership of every Republican governor, the RGA laid the foundation in 2011 to strengthen our majority in 2012,” said RGA Chairman Bob McDonnell. “This year, the RGA will be on offense in eight of eleven states scheduled to hold governors’ races, and is in position to make game-changing investments in our races, including those in critical presidential and Senate battleground states.”

“The RGA’s strong fundraising is a reflection of our governors’ position as leaders of our Party,” McDonnell continued. “While President Obama racks up trillion dollar deficits and creates uncertainty for the nation’s job creators, Republican governors are making the tough choices to balance budgets and make their states more competitive.”

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Republican Governors Association Chairman Bob McDonnell and RGA Public Policy Chairman Mitch Daniels weighed in today on the introduction of the North American Energy Security Act in the United States Senate:

“America needs more energy and more jobs. The North American Energy Security Act will deliver both. It is long past time that we got serious as a nation about our need to act boldly and quickly to move towards greater energy security. For too long we have studied, waited and hedged while the global energy market has only gotten more uncertain, and the need for action in our country has only gotten more acute. By building the Keystone XL pipeline we will finally be taking decisive action to grow our economy and improve our energy situation. I urge Congress to pass this bill immediately,” said RGA Chairman Bob McDonnell.

“Republican Governors applaud Senators Lugar, Hoeven and Vitter for introducing the pro-jobs North American Energy Security Act.  President Obama once again acted against middle class jobs and again to protect foreign energy interests over the interests of Americans. With national unemployment over 8%, a project that will create over 20,000 jobs and secure our nation’s energy future should be Washington’s top priority,” added RGA Public Policy Chairman Mitch Daniels.

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The Republican Governors Association announced its leadership for the 2011-2012 election cycle.

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell was elected to continue serving as Chairman and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie will remain Vice Chairman.

“Thanks to the support of all 29 Republican governors, the RGA laid a strong foundation to expand our majority in 2012,” said RGA Chairman Bob McDonnell. “In 2011, the RGA won historic victories in Louisiana and Mississippi, and we are raising record sums. Next year, Democrats must defend 8 of 11 states scheduled to hold governors’ races, and the RGA is in position to make a major impact in battleground states as well as in states that will be holding both a governor’s and U.S. Senate race.”

Other members of the RGA Executive Committee include: Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker

In addition to naming members to the executive committee, the governors tapped Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels as Policy Chairman to lead the Republican Governors Public Policy Committee.

“After increasing the number of Republicans from 22 to 29 over the previous election cycle, Governor Barbour and RGA leadership set out to reflect this surge at the state level with a more prominent voice on national issues, and we look forward to extending the effectiveness with which they have done so,” Daniels said.

The RGPPC will also embark on a program of innovation matchmaking to enable GOP-led states to improve governmental service by learning from each other. “A more effective governor is a more electable governor,” Daniels said.

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Republican Governors Association Chairman Bob McDonnell issued the following statement regarding Mississippi Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant’s victory in the state’s gubernatorial election:

“For the first time in more than 125 years, Mississippi voters have elected back-to-back Republican governors. That’s a tremendous testament to Mississippi’s GOP leaders and elected officials as well as the type of campaign run by Phil Bryant.

Throughout the campaign, Phil made clear that as governor he will lead the state based on core conservative principles that promote job creation – low taxes, fair and predictable regulations, and a government that prioritizes its investments and lives within its means.

Phil Bryant is a proven leader who is ready to be governor from the moment he is sworn into office. I look forward to welcoming him to the ranks of Republican governors.”

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