Webb vs. Allen: Budget
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In the 5 years since George Allen and George Bush took office the $5.8 trillion surplus of the Clinton years has turned into a projected debt of $5.6 trillion. This failure of foresight will result in higher taxes for our children. Jim thinks we need to take a common sense approach to budgeting and require that new spending or tax cuts be offset by reductions in other areas. Jim knows that we are spending hundreds of millions of dollars per day on an optional war in Iraq, much of it wasted on no-bid contracts and overpriced private security forces. Thats why Jim has proposed establishing a commission to investigate wasteful spending in Iraq. Our nations debt is growing by millions of dollars everyday and wasteful spending is unacceptable.
| Jim Webb supports pay as you go rules. Everyday Virginias families are forced to make tough spending choices. If you want to spend more money in one area you have to spend less in another. Jim believes that if Virginias families can do it, the government can too. | George Allen refuses to support pay as you go proposals that require the Senate to pay for any new spending with offsets. The Virginian Pilot said Allen is part of a new breed of borrow-and-spend Republicans. |
| Jim Webb supports the creation of a committee to oversee waste in reconstruction spending from the war in Iraq. Jim knows we need a new set of eyes on the problem. | George Allen voted against making war-profiteering a federal crime. George Allen also twice voted against establishing a commission to oversee contracting practices. |
| A balanced budget amendment will make it impossible for America to recover from future recessions. During times of recession government revenue declines and the governments ability to maintain crucial programs is essential to economic recovery. | George Allen supports an unwise balanced budget amendment. Yet in 2006 Allen voted to increase Americas debt ceiling to $8.6 trillion. The Washington Times called his action disingenuous. |
Webb vs. Allen: Economy
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We need to reexamine our tax and trade policies and reinstitute notions of fairness. Our nation is splitting into three pieces. The people at the top have never had it so good. The middle class is continuing to get squeezed by stagnant wages and rising cost of living, and we are in danger of creating a permanent underclass. Jim believes we must enforce existing trade laws, stop giving tax breaks to companies who outsource U.S. jobs, and raise the minimum wage. George Allen has voted against raising the minimum wage 4 times, voted in favor of tax breaks for outsourcing twice and has voted for every trade agreement since he became a Senator.
| Jim Webb supports economic fairness for all Americans. America is splitting into three pieces and we are in danger of creating a permanent underclass. | George Allen only cares about the super-wealthy. Allen has consistently voted to extend tax breaks for the super wealthy, while allowing middle class tax cuts to expire. He has received $800,000 ill-gotten campaign contributions from Big Oil and energy companies |
| Jim Webb wants to repeal perverse tax loopholes that reward companies for shipping jobs overseas. Jim will fight to cut corporate tax breaks, which cost Americans jobs. | George Allen supports tax loopholes which reward companies for outsourcing American jobs. George Allen twice voted against legislation that would have prevented American tax dollars from supporting outsourcing. |
| Jim Webb wants to raise the minimum wage. Over 153,000 Virginians earn an embarrassingly low $5.15 an hour. | George Allen does not support raising the minimum wage. Allen voted against raising the minimum wage 4 times. Meanwhile, he voted to raise his own salary 4 times, which has increased $31,600 since the last minimum wage hike. |
Webb vs. Allen: Education
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Education is the silver bullet and Virginia has developed one of the nations best public education systems. A quality education guarantees that the students of today can take advantage of the job opportunities of tomorrow. Thats why Jim supports fully funding federal education programs like No Child Left Behind. George Allen preaches support for education while simultaneously refusing to fund the mandates he votes for. Jim thinks we ought to prioritize the extension of tax credits that help make college affordable for all Americans. George Allen pays lip service to education tax credits, but he makes sure tax credits for the rich get extended.
| Jim Webb supports fully funding the No Child Left Behind Act. If the federal government is going to create education mandates, it needs to give our teachers sufficient tools to meet those federal standards. | George Allen voted against fully funding the No Child Left Behind Act. Allen voted against an amendment that would have fully funded the No Child Left Behind Act. Allen thought that money was better spent on corporate tax breaks. |
| Jim Webb supports making college tuition tax deductible. The Federal Government needs to make college education more affordable for working families as the cost of education skyrockets. | George Allen voted to extend tax credits for the rich, but letthe college tuition tax credit, which benefited 104,000 Virginia students expire. The Tax Relief Extension Act of 2005 extended tax breaks for oil and energy companies, but did not extend tuition tax credits. |
| Jim Webb supports lowering class sizes and providing teachers more resources. Jim supports restoration of the teacher expense tax deduction that helped 90,000 Virginia teachers provide for their students. | As Governor, George Allen vetoed legislation that would have reduced class sizes and proposed cutting state education spending by $100 million. As Senator, George Allen let the teacher expense tax deduction expire without fighting for its extension. |
Webb vs. Allen: Environment and Energy
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Jim Webb is a strong advocate for environmental protection. Jim knows that nature is much too valuable of a resource to be ignored or even willfully destroyed. That is why Jim believes we need to make a strong commitment to developing and deploying alternative energy sources; he opposes drilling in ANWR, and supports laws which guarantee protection of our forests, land, air, and waterways. George Allen consistently puts big business ahead of environmental protection; he supports drilling in ANWR, votes against funding for environmental clean up and opposed EPA efforts to enforce the CAA.
| Jim Webb supports the development of alternative energy sources. Jim supports a windfall profit tax on oil companies, and believes we should use the proceeds to develop and deploy renewable energy sources. Jim supports rolling back tax breaks for oil companies. | George Allen is in the pocket of big oil. Allen has voted for a total of $44 billion in tax breaks for oil companies while in the Senate, and opposed a windfall profit tax. Allen has also consistently voted against alternative fuel sources. |
| Jim Webb opposes drilling in ANWR. Jim knows that what little oil ANWR produces cannot make a major difference in our foreign oil demand, and the environmental costs associated with drilling there far outweigh the benefits. | George Allen favors drilling in ANWR. Allen voted to open up ANWR to drilling 8 times. |
| Jim supports enforcing environmental regulations. Jim is a conservationist; he grew up hunting and fishing, and developed a love for nature. He believes these traditions should be passed on from parents to children. Without adequate protection for our public lands that cannot happen. | Allen is on the side of big business. Allen has consistently voted against enforcing environmental laws and in favor of lax enforcement of regulations. As Governor, Allen fought against EPA enforcement of Clean Air Act regulations, going so far that he sued the EPA to prevent enforcement. |
Webb vs. Allen: Health Care
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In the wealthiest, most powerful nation on earth, no one should have to choose between taking their child to a doctor and paying the rent. Yet, in the past year, Virginias uninsured population has increased by 11 percent and since George Allen took office, health insurance premiums have increased 73%. All Americans should have access to the same quality health care as Senator Allen, thats why Jim Webb supports insurance pooling modeled on the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. George Allen wants to place a bigger burden on individuals using Health Savings Accounts, which are nothing more then a tax break for the healthy and the wealthy. The Medicare Part D benefit is confusing and costs more than it needs to because George Allen consistently opposed efforts to allow cost saving negotiations.
| Jim Webb supports pooling health care collectively. These programs should be modeled after the successful Federal Employees Health Benefits Program that provides health care for Senators and their families. | George Allen supports private health care accounts. These programs only benefit the healthy and the wealthy and do nothing to lower the cost of prescription drugs. |
| Jim Webb thinks Medicare and Medicaid should bargain for lower prescription drug prices. Currently the Veterans Administration negotiates lower prices and achieves reductions of up to 40%. | George Allen does not support reducing drug prices through using the collective bargaining power of the American people. Allen voted four times against allowing the government to negotiate for lower drug prices through Medicare. |
| Jim Webb supports making drug re-importation legal. American consumers can save as much as 60% on prescription drugs. Americans now pay on average $220 more for prescription drugs than Canadians. | George Allen voted to arrest and prosecute seniors who purchase cheaper drugs from Canada. George Allen voted against drug re-importation from Canada on three separate occasions. |
Webb vs. Allen: Iraq
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America is fighting the wrong war in Iraq and the decision to go to war has made America less secure. While we fight in Iraq other threats like Iran, North Korea and China grow in strength. While the decision to got to war was made recklessly we must leave responsibly. Jim believes the first step is for President Bush to declare that America has no intention of being a permanent occupying force in Iraq. Unfortunately George Allen and George Bush are preparing a long-term occupation by constructing four permanent military bases in Iraq. Jim Webb opposes the construction of permanent military bases. Unfortunately, George Allen has supported George Bush 100% of the time on issues related to his handling of the war in Iraq.
| Jim Webb opposed the war before it began in Iraq and urged George Allen to vote against it. Jim Webbs Washington Post editorial in September 2002 warned that an Iraq invasion would hurt the overall War on Terror. | George Allen supports George Bush 100% of the time in Iraq. George Allen ignored Jim Webbs personal warnings and voted for the occupation of Iraq. In a private meeting in 2002 George Allen told Jim Webb he couldnt oppose the war in Iraq because to oppose the war would be to oppose the President. |
| Jim Webb does not support constructing permanent military bases in Iraq. Jim believes ceasing construction of these bases would begin to restore our credibility in the region and spur progress in our efforts to build a stable, democratic Iraqi government. | George Allen wants U.S. troops in Iraq forever. George Allen supports the construction of permanent military bases. When questioned about the possibility of bases in Iraq permanently George Allen compared Iraq to Cuba, where America has had bases since the 19th century. George Allens campaign manager said George Allen was willing to occupy Iraq for as long it takes. |
| Jim Webb believes that the war in Iraq detracts from the War on Terror. Jim Webb knows that resources we are using to fight the war in Iraq are valuable resources that could be used in the fight against international terrorism. | George Allen thinks fighting in Iraq makes America safer. Allen supports President Bushs position that the invasion of Iraq was an important part of our strategy to combat international terrorism. |
