The following media release was distributed to the press on Friday, June 18.
=============================================== OPINION & NEWS >From the Libertarian Party of Virginia PO Box 28263 · Richmond VA 23228-0263 www.LPVA.com · 703-715-6230 (voicemail) [email protected] =============================================== FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, June 18, 2010 The Libertarian Party of Virginia today condemned the proposal from Virginia's Republican Governor, Bob McDonnell, to withhold the Commonwealth's budget surplus from taxpayers. "The state has taken more money from its citizens than it required to satisfy its explosive budget," said Bill Wood, Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Virginia. "But instead of giving the money back to the rightful owners --the taxpayers -- the Governor is proposing to reward the state's government by feeding the surplus money into Virginia's ever-growing bureaucracy." According to Virginia Statehouse News, Governor McDonnell proposes giving most of the surplus, $82.2 million out of an estimated $140 million, as a one-time 3% bonus to state employees. "With the Commonwealth's private sector suffering and 43 counties in Virginia reporting unemployment rates over 10% (this according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics), we Libertarians want to see the surplus returned to the Virginians, especially those in the wealth-producing private sector, to whom it rightfully belongs," said Wood. "The government doesn't create wealth; it only confiscates it and then wastes it," said Wood. "With unemployment so high in the Commonwealth, it is a slap in the face for a governor from the so-called 'fiscally-responsible' party to keep taxpayer money away from those who actually earned it. We Libertarians say, 'Give it Back!'" The fiscal year for the Commonwealth's government ends June 30th, at which time state officials will decide what to do with the budget surplus. For more information, please contact Bill Wood, Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Virginia, at [email protected] or (540) 955-8086. =============================================== The Libertarian Party is a nationwide alternative political party that seeks the expansion of human liberty and truly limited government. For additional information, the below individuals are prepared to answer questions on the issues raised in this article: Matthew Simpson [email protected] Communications Committee, LPVA Karen Kwiatkowski [email protected] Communications Committee, LPVA Bill Wood [email protected] Chairman, Libertarian Party of Virginia (540) 955-8086 Jim Lark [email protected] Vice Chairman, Libertarian Party of Virginia (434) 973-5958 Marc Montoni [email protected] Secretary, Libertarian Party of Virginia (804) 288-2766 =============================================== Have an article idea? Submit it to [email protected] See the media release archive: http://www.LPVA.com/HTML/ForTheMedia.php Would you like to join the writing team? Write to us at [email protected] Questions, complaints, requests for interviews, etc? [email protected] =============================================== Please support our work! Go to: http://Contribute.LPVA.com =============================================== -- end -- ############################################################# Have an announcement you'd like to post? SCC members & many committee heads are all authorized to post; or you may send your announcements to the List Master: <[email protected]> <mailto:[email protected]?subject=announcement>. ############################################################# Unsubscribe: Send an email to [email protected] with no subject and "Unsubscribe Announce" as the text. ############################################################# Libertarian Party of Virginia http://www.LPVA.com Phone: 703-715-6230
