Aug

17

Immigration is a Top Concern for GOP Voters in 10th District

Filed Under Immigration, Press Release, Republicans | Leave a Comment

Contact: Lisa Bell

703-470-5042

vern@mckinleyforcongress.com

Ashburn, VA—The McKinley for Congress campaign in the 10th District of Virginia launched its website in June 2007 and the number one issue for potential voters contacting the campaign was immigration. Their primary concerns focused on illegal immigration, gangs and border security. Vern McKinley is challenging long-time incumbent Congressman Wolf for the GOP nomination in the 10th District.

Supervisors in both Loudoun and Prince William Counties, two counties within the 10th District, have recently passed resolutions to address illegal immigration. In statements released at the time of passage of these resolutions, supervisors have expressed their frustration with the breakdown in border security by the federal government and the resulting 10 to 20 million illegal immigrants in the country. A primary focus in both resolutions has been the services that are granted to illegal immigrants and the cost to county government of these services.

“I think the focus by the Boards in Loudoun and Prince William on incentives to enter the country, including services offered by county and local governments, is a good approach,” noted Vern McKinley, who is the GOP challenger against incumbent Congressman Frank Wolf. “Additionally, we should look at modifying the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which provides an additional incentive to cross the border illegally to attain citizenship for children born here. However, another key issue is the government’s failure to patrol the border despite increased spending in this area. According to the Economic Report of the President released earlier this year, funding for border security has exploded the last half dozen years from $4.6 billion in 2001 to $10.4 billion in 2007 and the number of border patrol agents has gone from 9,000 to 15,000. Are we getting our money’s worth and why has the government failed to effectively manage this process?” McKinley asked.

Congressman Frank Wolf has issued press releases during 2007 regarding immigration reform legislation. In these press releases he noted that he is opposed to amnesty in the current Senate bill, as he was similarly opposed to amnesty in the last major immigration overhaul in 1986, and that we need tougher border security measures today. “Congressman Wolf has chosen to focus on his vote twenty years ago and his stance against the Senate immigration bill today, but he ignores the twenty years in between. He was a senior member of the Appropriations Committee for much of the last twenty years. Were appropriations well spent and was there effective oversight of that spending? This situation did not happen overnight. I hope to meet soon to discuss these and other issues with members of grass-roots organizations, Help Save Loudoun and Help Save Manassas, that have contacted our campaign,” McKinley noted.

Aug

15

GOP Rank-and-File Discontent and the 2008 Election

Filed Under 2008 Election, Press Release, Republicans | Leave a Comment

Contact: Lisa Bell

703-470-5042

vern@mckinleyforcongress.com

 

ASHBURN, VA—Long-time political commentator Robert Novak said it “terrified those incumbent Republican House members who had thought themselves safe for re-election in 2008.” Wall Street Journal political reporter John Fund quoted a local reporter who said it “should be taken as a ‘wake up call’ by the party’s establishment.” These two well-known observers of Washington were both talking about the surprise election of Dr. Paul Broun in Georgia.

Last month’s special election in the 10th District of Georgia between two Republicans was called to fill the seat vacated after the death of Congressman Norwood.  Dr. Paul Broun, a relative unknown who was not well funded, but carried a limited government message, defeated former State Senator Whitehead, who had the backing of the party establishment and was heavily favored to win the special election. Dr. Broun had pledged that he would apply a four-way test before voting on any bill: Is it constitutional and a proper function of the government? Is it morally correct? Is it something we really need? Is it something we can afford?

“It is difficult to say what 2008 will bring, but this is a good indicator that those who challenge the party establishment in the Republican Party with a limited government message can be successful,” notes Vern McKinley, who is carrying a similar message in challenging incumbent Congressman Wolf for the 2008 GOP nomination in the 10th District of Virginia. “A trend against ‘Big Government Republicans’ really started with the 2006 Republican congressional losses. Very few of the electoral losers in 2006 were limited government incumbents. In fact, many of the incumbent Republicans that lost, such as Johnson in Connecticut, Leach in Iowa, Kelly in New York, Weldon in Pennsylvania, Pombo in California, had lost their way on issues of spending discipline or limited government. Now the question is will Republican on Republican challenges work. Dr. Broun’s race may have answered that question,” McKinley added.

Next door to Virginia in Maryland, GOP State Senator Andy Harris is challenging long-time incumbent Republican Congressman Gilchrest in the 1st District based on similar fiscal discipline and limited government themes.  On his website Harris criticizes Gilchrest on issues of spending and limited government and notes his desire to “return to Reagan values.”