May

23

Vern McKinley Debates Barr, Gravel, Root

Filed Under 2008 Election, Debate, Foreign Policy, Immigration, Press Release, big government | Leave a Comment

Vern McKinley Debates Others Because Frank Wolf Won’t

Ashburn, VA – Reason Magazine held a debate on Libertarian and Republican principles on May 20th. In attendance were Vern McKinley, Mike Gravel, Bob Barr, and Wayne Allen Root. Each of them answered a variety of questions from Reason Magazine’s reporter David Weigel and took questions from the audience.

McKinley talked about immigration, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, limiting the role of government, and drug policies. He said that he would have voted for a more targeted attack of Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, but would oppose any type of nation building. As for Iraq, he would have voted “no” to go in.

Each of the candidates got to express their opinion on getting rid of a department and Vern chose Commerce, Energy, and Education. He said that Republicans talked about it in the 80s and 90s, but “this time around, we need to get serious and get rid of them all,” McKinley stated.

On the topic of drug prohibition, McKinley stated that the Constitution leaves that issue up to the states.

For those who weren’t there and would like to watch it online, can do so at http://www.reason.tv/video/show/431.html

For further information please contact Michael Parrish at 540-539-7733 or mparrish03@gmail.com.

McKinley is a financial expert who advises foreign countries, has worked for the FDIC, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, Treasury Department, and has done policy analysis for the Cato Institute and the American Enterprise Institute. He is running for the Republican nomination in the 10th District of Virginia for the House of Representatives. The primary is scheduled to be held on June 10, 2008.

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.