Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Timothy M. Kaine
Timothy M. Kaine
Thursday, September 15, 2005
10:45 AM
Democratic candidate Timothy M. Kaine was online Thursday, Sept. 15, at 10:45 a.m. ET to discuss his campaign for governor of Virginia.
Kaine engaged in debate with Republican candidate Jerry Kilgore Tuesday afternoon, later engaging in a debate session with H. Russell Potts Jr., a Republican senator from Winchester who is running as an independent, the same day.
Read Wednesday's article: Taxes and Transportation Top Va. Debate (Post, Sept. 14)
washingtonpost.com has extended an invitation for Kilgore to participate in a live online discussion about his campaign; As of today, Oct. 20, he has not accepted the invitation.
Potts will be live online Monday, Sept. 19, at a time to be determined. Please check the discussion schedule at Live Online for further details.
The transcript follows.
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Timothy M. Kaine (D): It is great to be on with Post folks today and I look forward to my first on-line chat.
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Arlington, Va.: Do you have plans to address the traffic problems in Northern Virginia and if so what are they?
Timothy M. Kaine (D): I was the Mayor of Richmond and have worked extensively on roads, rail, a port, and airport and our bus system. As Lieutenant Governor, I worked with the Guv to turn VDOT around, improve planning and financial management and reform our budget so we could put more funds into transportation solutions, in Northern Virginia and across the state. As Governor, I will build on our success using three main principle--urgency, accountability and balance. Urgency means making the case right away for transportation fixes across the Commonwealth. Accountability means using transportation dollars only for transportation, doing a much better job of coordinating land use and transportation projects and keeping VDOT moving in the right direction. Balance means promoting full solutions, not just roads, but rail to Dulles, Metro funding, etc.
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Alexandria, Va.: Lt. Governor Kaine -
Mr. Kilgore is currently running an ad in which he states he will widen I66 inside the Beltway - making it seem as if he was the first guy to think of this and he can snap his fingers and get it done. Irritating - but at least we know his position on the matter.
The transportation section of your Web site is lengthy - but (as best as I can tell) you do not address this specific issue. You mention widening 66 west of the beltway - but what is your position on widening it inside the beltway?
Timothy M. Kaine (D): Our VDOT has worked on a plan to widen I-66 inside the beltway traveling westbound within the existing right of way. I am a strong supporter of that plan.
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Arlington, Va.: Isn't the idea advanced by Mr. Kilgore of allowing regional referenda to determine if voters want to raise taxes to pay for roads, transit or schools a total cop-out and abrogation of leadership? That's why we have elections and select our representatives to make tough decisions.
I would bet that Kilgore would oppose passage of these referenda if they occurred.
Timothy M. Kaine (D): Jerry opposed the NoVa transportation referendum in 2002 so I was surprised that he would make it the centerpiece of his transportation proposal. I was even more surprised when he recently said he would continue to oppose any referendums that raised taxes, including regional transpo referendums. So, he would keep fighting against regional transportation solutions.
We need a Governor who has experience and isn't afraid to make a decision.
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Richmond, Va.: If elected, do you have plans to hire anything other than political hacks to run state agencies?
Timothy M. Kaine (D): We have gotten high marks in the Warner/Kaine administration for putting good people in leadership positions. For example, on our college boards, we abandoned the practice of putting people on to pad their resumes and instead use a bipartisan review council to forward ideas to the Governor. The approach has worked so well that we have now put it into law and it will be permanent. I will stay focused on putting the right people in place.
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Woodbridge, Va.: If you could describe your career in one word, what would it be?
Timothy M. Kaine (D): Bridgebuilder.
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Fairfax, Va.: You have been campaigning for many months now, and have met all sorts of people in small towns and big cities. Care to share with us about a particular moving experience on the campaign trail?
Timothy M. Kaine (D): I visited a Remote Medical Clinic in Wise County about one month ago and it was very moving. Once a year, a great team of volunteer medical professionals come to rural Southwest Virginia to set up a clinic for a weekend to treat people who don't have insurance. On the weekend, nearly 8,000 people come for medical or dental work. The need for health care is overwhelming and the spirit of the volunteers is inspiring.
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Arlington, Va.: What is your education plan?
Timothy M. Kaine (D): Move from competence to excellence. Begin by expanding our existing network of pre-k programs so that we can offer any 4 year-old a year of state-funded pre-k. Brain research shows that this would be the best way to invest dollars to make a huge difference in kids' educational abilities, especially for at-risk kids and those with special needs.
Second, do a better job in K/12 by coupling a rigorous focus on comprehensive teacher evaluations with a commitment to move teacher salaries to the national average. This will enable us to get and keep the best teachers and make sure that they continue to improve during their careers.
Finally, keep our higher ed system strong by meeting our funding obligations and expanding access to higher ed in the most underserved part of the state--the Southside of Virginia.
These ideas come from having 3 kids in the Richmond public schools, fighting for education in local government and as a state official, and visiting schools in 118 of Virginia's 134 cities and counties.
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Rockville, Md.: Your position on abortion and the death penalty -- personally oppose, but will uphold the law -- is, while admirable, probably a tough sell to both Democratic and Republican voters. What can a politician in your position do to lessen the ambiguity and confusion that comes with approaching these issues from your particular angle. Is there a snappy soundbite that sum where you stand?
Timothy M. Kaine (D): I am opposed to the death penalty and abortion because of my faith. I'll never change my religious belief to get elected, but I know what it is to take an oath and uphold the law.
On abortion, I am committed to a public policy of reducing abortions. I share this desire with virtually every person I know. The way to accomplish the goal is to enforce the existing restrictions in Virginia law, pass a ban on partial birth abortion (protecting the life and health of the mother), ensure women access to health care and contraception, promote adoption and educate our kids well.
I oppose, however, efforts to criminalize women and doctors for their health care decisions. This is a huge difference between me and my opponent Jerry Kilgore. He's trying to hide his position now by refusing to answer questions about Roe v. Wade, but his position is very clear. I will veto efforts to outlaw abortion if the legislature tries to do it.
On the death penalty, I do all I can to fight crime and have been part of many efforts that have cut the crime rate dramatically. While I have a faith-based objection to capital punishment, I believe deeply in our system of laws and will enforce the death penalty. I will not use clemency or other powers to impose my will over the laws of Virginia.
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Tyson's Corner, Va.: Is it true that you worked as a Missionary? How do your religious convictions inform your work now -- and mission to serve as governor?
Timothy M. Kaine (D): In the middle of law school, I took off a year and worked with Catholic missionaries in Honduras. I met a real life-hero there, Jim O'Leary, who worked for 40 years among the poorest of the poor. He put me in charge of a school that taught kids carpentry and welding. That experience really changed my life by teaching me that I should measure my own life by the difference I can make for others. Since returning from Honduras 25 years ago, I have worked hard to serve my church, family, community, city and state. I wouldn't be in public service today had I not had that experience as a young man.
I recently went back to Honduras with my wife to visit Jim's grave and see many of the missionaries I worked with so many years ago. It was a very powerful trip for both of us.
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Stafford, Va.: The budget reform you wanted last year was actually more substantial, and progressive, than what was approved. Are you disappointed we didn't do more to move Virginia forward when we had the chance?
Timothy M. Kaine (D): The 2004 budget reform saved our bond rating and helped us invest in critical services like education, public safety and transportation. It was also a big move toward a fairer tax code. For example, we eliminated the state sales tax on food, eliminated the marriage penalty on the income tax, and took over 140,000 Virginians off the tax rolls by adjusting the minimum reporting threshholds. We also created an earned income tax credit for low-income working people that will go into effect next year.
So, our budget reform was fiscally responsible and progressive. Those who opposed the bipartisan effort are backpedaling now that they see how strong the results have been.
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FairFax, Va.: Do you think that your plan to provide the state with state-funded preschool is possible in the next three years?
Timothy M. Kaine (D): We can phase the Start Strong program in during my term of office. We have already worked to nearly triple the number of students in state-funded pre-k, from 6,000 to nearly 17,000. If we include Head Start providers and high-quality private day care providers in the mix, we have a great network that we can build on. Strong economic studies have shown that a dollar invested in pre-k will save $17 in social service, remedial education and criminal justice costs down the line. 25,000 third graders flunked the reading SOL test this year! That number will continue to be too high if we don't do something different. Let's spend money early, make a difference with our kids, help them succeed and put less money in solving problems later. A friend of mine told me: "it's easier to build a child than repair a man."
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Ashburn, Va.: After seeing how the situation with Katrina was handled, people in Virginia need to know how prepared our leaders really are to deal with a catastrophy. We know we can't rely on the feds, so we need to know how our state and local government would deal with such a situation. Is anyone in the Warner/Kaine administration reviewing whatever plans are in place so that we are better prepared for disaster, whether it's weather-related, a terrorist attack or some other event?
Thank you.
Timothy M. Kaine (D): The response to Hurricane Katrina shows Virginians why it is so important that we are the Best Managed state in America. Management isn't boring; it can be life and death.
As Mayor, I worked on many local emergencies--snow storms, hurricanes, Y2K, etc. I've worked with Governor Warner and the administration on emergency situations and feel good about our planning, communication, evacuation plans and infrastructure. I will keep the Homeland Security cabinet position in place in Virginia.
My new initiative will be to create a Citizen Alert capacity so that the state can send instant messages to Virginians on their cell phones, pagers, etc. in the event of a weather emergency, Amber Alert notice, etc. The technology is available and it will help people know how to respond during emergency conditions.
I also will make sure that Virginia knows how to help people without their own transportation--the poor, seniors, people with disabilities.
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Timothy M. Kaine (D): Good questions--Every time I answered one, ten more popped up. I look forward to doing this again.
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