Terry McAuliffe's Statement on Cuts to Higher Education Research Funding

For Immediate Release: February 13, 2009

Terry McAuliffe's Statement on Cuts to Higher Education Research Funding

Today, gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe released the following statement regarding the House of Delegates cuts to higher education research funding:

"Yesterday, the the House of Delegates voted to eliminate funding to the Commonwealth Technology Research Fund (item 254 #1h). These funds would support the commercialization of research at our higher education institutions, which can help stimulate our economy and keep college tuition costs down. In these tough economic times, we need to watch every penny, but we also need to focus on growing the economy. Finding ways to capitalize on the research conducted at our colleges and universities here in Virginia is critical to the commonwealth's economic vitality and growth."

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Jeff Beck of Chesterfield County asks about transportation solutions beyond the road system

Jeff Beck of Chesterfield County asks: Mr. McAuliffe, There is a lot of talk in Virginia politics about transportation and the fight for road developments and improvements between Northern Virginia and Central and South Virginia. However, I am curious what you are planning to do for Virginia beyond fixing the logjam in the legislature over roads, what will you do to move Virginia to its next step forward to continue the path Gov. Warner and Kaine have set us upon?

Jeff, Gov. Kaine has made record investments in rail and public transit and he has better connected land use and transportation planning – in twenty years, we’re going to look back at the changes he’s made and truly understand their importance. We need to continue down this path, maintaining a solid emphasis on high-efficiency methods for moving people and goods. We need to see the Dulles rail project through – and then we need to think about what other communities we can connect to Metro. We need to improve transit in Hampton Roads, including transit that moves people across the water. We need passenger rail that connects more parts of Virginia together, and we need to get more freight off the highways and onto the rail system.

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Adam Balbus of Charlottesville asks about my qualifactions

Adam’s Question: You do not have any experience in any area of actual political office such as city mayor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, or state senator. How can you believe you can ascend to gubernatorial office only on the merits of your DNC chairmanship, adept political fundraising and networking? Shouldn’t you work your
way up first? I am asking you to explain what experience or personal insights would make you a great candidate for Virginia Governor.

Adam: I think I bring a fresh perspective to state government – one grounded in my experience of turning around failing businesses and rebuilding struggling organizations like the DNC, where I was Chair when we erased the debt, built the first national voter file, built a new headquarters, and left the incoming chair and his team with a clean balance sheet for the first time anyone can remember.

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