MASON CITY – Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell visited Mason City today.
Governor McDonnell met with Republican Party supporters at the Republican “Victory Office” located at 1314 4th Street Wednesday at about 3:3o PM. The event was free and open to the public.
Former Mason City Mayor Bill Schickel introduced Governor McDonnell, comparing his track record of lowering unemployment in Virgina to that of Iowa Governor Terry Branstad. Both states are now below 6% unemployment.
Governor McDonnell, who was running a little behind his 2:30 planned arrival, was met warmly by Republicans, some of which were busy making phone calls to undecided voters (they rang a bell every time they had a “successful” call.) He said America needs a new direction and that “help is on the way” in the form of the Mitt Romney – Paul Ryan presidential ticket.
“He tried, but it just didn’t work,” Governor McDonnell said of Barack Obama’s policies, and his “failed” budget that did not pass Congress.
Governor McDonnell is in Iowa at the same time as Mitt Romney and President Obama, who today are in Cedar Rapids and Davenport, respectively.
Watch Governor McDonnell’s speech and more in the following video:
httpv://youtu.be/q7_HNAjAiac
If Branstad is so great why is he cutting funding for education ? Also he may be paying a percent of his insurance if I am correct then why is he still getting a pension from his first time in office and know drawing a salery along with it. I think he is still getting his insurance paid for. Some state employees starting out don’t make that great of money like para educators and new teacher that are paying back student loans. They can hardly survive but then he can make cuts where ever he wants. He should live on what we make and try to keep his head above water. I bet thing would be different if he were in our shoes.
I don’t begrudge him his retirement pension. He probably left a job that paid a whole lot more than he’s getting paid to be governor. I believe there was a lot of pressure put on him to run again. That was probably part of the deal to get him back. The supreme court justices all make about $34,000 more than the governor. I don’t know where he’s cutting education. I don’t follow that issue closely. I know schools keep getting smaller, so fewer students should mean less expense.
Gov. Branstad is aware that public servants are getting too much in benefits. He is paying 20% of his own health insurance voluntarily and is encouraging other state employees to do the same. He is aware that most private sector employees have been doing this for years and I think he will eventually try to change the benefit package for public servants so they have to pay 20-50% of their own health insurance.
Gov. Branstad has also turned our state deficit to a surplus in 2 years. That’s better than a democratic governor would have done. We’d be farther in the red.
And our unemployment rate has dropped from 6.3% to 5.2% since he was elected.
I don’t understand why you think Gov. Branstad is so horrible when he has done for our State what Obama has not been able to accomplish for our nation.
“That’s better than a democratic governor would have done.”
Katie, please check your facts. Gov. Branstad is NOT paying 20% of his health insurance costs. He’s paying 20% of his PREMIUM. Huge difference. Wish I had a deal like that. Not only do I pay 20% of my insurance premium, I also pay a deductible AND 20% of ALL my medical expenses. I think most of us do. Please don’t praise someone who could easily afford to pay more but chooses not to. Also, his “volunteer” program that urges state employees to “offer” to pay part of their health insurance premiums is a sham. How many of those state employees have actually volunteered to do this? You may want to check those figures.
Obama! Obama! Obama! Obama! Obama!
Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!
Our governor is out of touch with the hard working private sector especially the small business owners – farmers-corporations-and Green weenie projects are sucking us dry along with pubic servants>
the man shaking his hand is Art Gracias(sp) former state representative
I am from Iowa, I don’t have to wait an hour to see a politician. The Gov. was an hour late, a man of character doesn’t do that. I left after waiting 45 minutes.