Tim Kaine on Budget & Economy Democratic Senate Challenger; previously Governor

Invest in infrastructure & invest in our workforce

• First thing we do is we invest in manufacturing, infrastructure, and research in the clean energy jobs of tomorrow.
• Second thing is we invest in our workforce, from pre-K education to great teachers to debt-free college and tuition-free college for families that make less than $125,000 a year.
• Third, we promote fairness by raising the minimum wage, so you can't work full-time and be under the poverty level, and by paying women equal pay for equal work.
• Fourth, we promote small business growth, just as we've done in Virginia, to make it easier to start and grow small businesses. Hillary and I each grew up in small-business families.
• And, fifth, we have a tax plan that targets tax relief to middle- class individuals and small businesses and asks those at the very top who've benefited as we've come out of recession to pay more.

We tried Trump tax plan in 2000s: it caused Great Recession

Tea Party's reckless economic policies create uncertainty

Kaine's campaign responded to the repeated criticism following the debate. "Virginia voters heard the Tea Party contenders push reckless economic policies that would damage Virginia's economy, create more uncertainty for our businesses, and make our nation less globally competitive," a Kaine spokeswoman said.

Reverse the sequester: harmful, across-the-board budget cuts

Tim supported the two-year bipartisan budget deals passed in 2013 and 2015 that provided relief from sequester cuts and restored certainty to the defense community, businesses, and families across the country. He continues to press Congress to permanently adopt two-year budgeting to give businesses and communities more flexibility to plan ahead. Tim supports policies that help America continue to grow the world's most talented workforce.

I cut state spending $5B while investing in infrastructure

Opposes "Cut, Cap and Balance" as all cuts & no balance

"I applaud the Senate's rejection of the Republicans 'All Cuts, No Balance' legislation. By targeting programs like Medicare and Social Security for the deepest cuts while making it harder to ask wealthy individuals and companies to pay their fair share, the Republicans' plan asks everyday Americans bear the entire burden of spending reductions while insulating billionaires and corporations from cuts.

"Instead, our country needs a truly balanced approach to fiscal responsibility that incorporates targeted spending cuts, increased revenue though closing tax loopholes on corporations who don't need them and allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire for the wealthiest individuals and investments in education and infrastructure that will grow our economy."

Cabinet Community Days: we see people worried but hopeful

I've seen these challenges firsthand. Four times each year, I take my entire cabinet on the road where we talk to citizens and learn. We call these visits "Cabinet Community Days." In December, people I talked to were worried about finding another job. Worried about how they'd provide Christmas for their children. Worried about how they'd pay their bills. But they were resolved. They were hopeful. And despite whatever worries they had, they were helping each other.

Now, more than ever before, it's time for all hands to be applied to the task of righting the national economy. President-elect Obama and the Congress are discussing a federal stimulus package to do just that--and I am moving forward on capital projects and business incentives designed to help create jobs

In 5 years, Bush took us from surplus to deficit

Now, no parent makes their child pay the mortgage bill. Why should we allow this administration to pass down the bill for its reckless spending to our children and grandchildren?

There’s a better way. Two years ago in Virginia, Democrats and Republicans worked together to reform our budget. By focusing on results, we were able to keep the budget balanced, preserve our strong credit rating and protect the essential services that families rely on: education, health care, law enforcement. States all across this country are doing this right now, as the federal government falls further and further into debt.

Fiscal discipline kept AAA bond rating

Progress economically via stable finances

Opposes a constitutional BBA.

Christian Coalition publishes a number of special voter educational materials including the Christian Coalition Voter Guides, which provide voters with critical information about where candidates stand on important faith and family issues. The Christian Coalition Voters Guide summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: "Passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution"