Tom Perriello: Too Extreme For Virginia

WASHINGTON D.C. – The Republican Governors Association released the following statement regarding former Democratic Rep. Tom Perriello’s announcement that he will run for governor of Virginia:

“As a Washington politician who voted with Nancy Pelosi 90 percent of the time, Tom Perriello is too out-of-touch, too far-left and too radical for Virginia,” said RGA Communications Director Jon Thompson. “Perriello supported Cap-and-Trade, which would have cost Virginia tens of thousands of jobs and increased energy bills, voted for the Obamacare boondoggle which is now forcing unaffordable premium hikes in Virginia, voted in favor of the Stimulus package which gave tax breaks to foreign companies in China, and supported permanently extending the death tax, hurting Virginia families. Perriello also served as the President of the Center for American Progress, a radical left-wing, anti-gun group who fought to hide their secret donations from foreign governments. Tom Perriello’s failed record is too extreme for Virginia.”

Background:

As A Member Of Congress, Perriello Voted With Nancy Pelosi 90 Percent Of The Time. “Congressman Perriello voted in lockstep with Nancy Pelosi 90 percent of the time, 100 percent of the time on the signature issues that kill jobs, increase Washington’s reckless spending spree, and vastly expand the size and scope of the federal government.” (Wes Hester, “Robert Hurt Says Tom Perriello Voted In Lock Step With Nancy Pelosi 90 Percent Of The Time,” PolitiFact, 10/30/2010)

Perriello Voted For Cap-And-Trade, Which Would Have Cost Virginia Tens Of Thousands Of Jobs And Make Energy Bills More Expensive. “Perriello was an unapologetic supporter of the carbon cap-and-trade bill that narrowly passed in the House.” (Bryan Walsh, “How Much Did Cap-And-Trade Hurt The Democrats?” TIME Magazine, 11/3/2010)

Perriello Voted For Obamacare, Which Is Now Forcing Unaffordable Premium Hikes In Virginia. “Health insurance plans in the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace could cost an average of 16 percent more next year, according to preliminary filings submitted to Virginia’s Bureau of Insurance. Those increased costs for insurers are not only being passed on to consumers through premium increases, but they also are causing companies to reduce their overheads in other ways, such as merging.” (Katie Demeria, “ACA Health Insurance Premiums Expected To Go Up And Average 16 Percent Next Year,” Richmond Times-Dispatch, 6/15/2016)

Perriello Voted In Favor Of The $787 Billion Stimulus Package, Which Helped Create Foreign Jobs in China. “The long delays typical with environmentally friendly projects – combined with reports of green stimulus funds being used to create jobs in China and other countries, rather than in the U.S. – appear to have killed the administration’s appetite for pushing green projects as an economic cure.” (Patrice Hill, “Green Jobs No Longer Golden In Stimulus,” The Washington Times, 9/9/2010)

Perriello Supported Extending The Death Tax, Which Would Hurt Virginia Families and Destroy Jobs. “The death tax is a drag on America’s family-owned businesses, destroys jobs, and lowers wages while raising little revenue. As such, Congress should repeal the estate tax once and for all to remove an unfair burden from the backs of American family-owned businesses and their workers.” (Curtis Dubay, “Estate Tax A Killer For Family-Owned Businesses and Their Workers,” Heritage Foundation, 11/19/2009)

Perriello Worked For The President Of The Center For American Progress, A Left-Wing, Anti-Gun Group Who Hides Their Donors And Refuses To Disclose Contributions From Foreign Governments.  “CAP is also among the most secretive of all think tanks concerning its donors. Most major think tanks prepare an annual report containing at least some financial and donor information and make it available on their websites. According to CAP spokeswoman Andrea Purse, the center doesn’t even publish one. (Ken Silverstein, “The Secret Donors Behind The Center For American Progress,” The Nation, 5/22/2013)