WYDaily sent an identical questionnaire to each candidate for governor. Ken Cuccinelli is the Republican nominee for governor, facing off against Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Libertarian Robert Sarivs. Cuccinelli’s answers are presented here. The election takes place Nov. 5.
View a completed questionnaire from McAuliffe here and from Sarvis here.
1. How does the Historic Triangle fit into your vision of a prosperous and fiscally healthy commonwealth?
Virginia’s Historic Triangle with all of the attractions and small businesses within the three points of Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown is one of Virginia’s top destinations for tourists and Virginians alike. As one learns about Virginia’s history at each of these historical places, it is easy to see the American spirit of entrepreneurship, the dignity of work and prosperity was a value of our Founding Fathers. Not only is it important to ensure that these values are taught today through the interpreters and docents of these colonial towns, but we must ensure that our economic policies today reflect the same principles of limited government and individual freedom. To that end I will work to lower taxes, create jobs, and boost economic activity to the benefit of the Historic Triangle and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
2. Tourism is an increasingly important industry in the Historic Triangle: How do you plan on encouraging the continued development of an industry that’s a vital lifeline to this area? Please be specific.
Tourism is one of the strongest economic drivers of Virginia’s economy. I will support funding to promote tourism and market the Historic Triangle and Virginia as one of the best places in the country to have a family vacation. I will also revise the SOL’s to provide flexibility for testing dates to ease the pressure on those localities that are considering pre-Labor Day school start dates.
3. How will you make Virginia competitive for out-of-state businesses looking for a place to set up shop? Will Hampton Roads benefit from those proposals?
The most important thing we can do is lower the corporate tax from 6 percent to 4 percent to attract out of state corporations and international businesses that are looking for an economically friendly port to transport their goods on the east coast. With the expansion of the Panama Canal, we have the deep-water port and the capacity to transport cargo to the south, west, and northern destinations. I will support the expansion of roads and freight rail to ease congestion and quickly move commerce through our area. Furthermore, we have a professional domain of veterans and information assurance specialists in the area that would benefit by having Hampton University and Old Dominion University serve as part of a research quadrangle to draw down research funding from the private sector as well as the public sector to commercialize products that are on the drawing board.
4. Do you support an expansion of Medicaid in Virginia? Why or why not?
It’s no secret I oppose expanding Medicaid for a number of reasons. If the federal government cannot live up to its promises, it will cost Virginia hundreds of millions of dollars per year, and it will be disastrous to the state’s fiscal health. However, we must ensure Medicaid’s core mission of offering a health care safety net for our most vulnerable citizens is preserved, while continuing to rid the program of waste, fraud and abuse. I support the 19 reforms under consideration to ensure quality of care and flexibility for Medicaid recipients to use the health care provider of their choice.
5. Do you think the Virginia Retirement System is effective as it is currently set up? What, if anything, would you change? Do you believe Gov. McDonnell’s changes to the system have been a net positive or negative?
At this point, I am concerned about the significant liability that we have in the Virginia Retirement System. I don’t think we should borrow from the fund to pay for other budget items when revenues are down. As Governor I will work to fund the remaining liability as a significant portion of state employees are nearing retirement age now.
6. It appears funding may soon be on the table to widen Interstate 64 from Jefferson Avenue in Newport News to Upper York County, near Water Country USA. Does your vision for transportation in Virginia include this project?
I intend to have a transportation system that uses a congestion matrix to identify the top 100 areas of congestion around the Commonwealth of Virginia. Those areas will be the top areas for funding transportation solutions and I would expect that Interstate 64 will be one of those roads as it is critical for tourists and trucks moving through the area.
