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AT 100TH ROUNDTABLE, KAINE DISCUSSES THE ECONOMY & ELECTION WITH NOVA WOMEN

Richmond, VA – Today, former governor and U.S. Senate candidate Tim Kaine shared his economic agenda with more than 80 Northern Virginia women and discussed issues of importance to them and their families. During the forum, which was his 100th roundtable-style meeting of 2012, Kaine shared his strategies to strengthen the economy and create jobs, and took questions on topics ranging from education to small business support, to ending partisan gridlock in Congress.
 
“If I have the privilege of representing Virginia in the United States Senate, I want to specialize in talent, which is key to our long-term success. Virginia’s economic transformation shows that investments in talent can spur economic growth. I also think that identifying, developing, and attracting talent is a place we can find some common ground in the Senate,” said Kaine. “Right now, Congress is holding our economy back. We need to put more people in office with a track record of bringing people together and working to find common ground.”
 
During the hour-long discussion, Kaine contrasted his approach to economic and fiscal issues with the record of his opponent, George Allen. He also highlighted some of the many differences between his positions and Allen’s on women's health care and economic equality. Kaine rejected divisive issues like “personhood” legislation that could criminalize all abortions and jeopardize access to contraception, and the Blunt Amendment that would allow employers to deny coverage for preventive services like birth control.  Allen has voiced support for the Blunt Amendment and promised to introduce “personhood” legislation at the federal level. 
 
“During one of our debates, my opponent tried to demean questions about his own positions on these issues as just social issues,” said Kaine. “I told him the success of women is critically tied our economic success. Women are more than half of the economy. The success of women, the choices and opportunities they have, are critically tied to our economy. It is impossible to have a strong economy while taking choices away from women.”
 
Kaine also expressed his support for measures to help close the pay gap for women including the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act. Allen has refused to endorse either bill. Kaine also reminded women of Allen’s votes against the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) while in Congress. 
 
“If you vote against the Family and Medical Leave Act as my opponent has, that’s bad for the economy and bad for women. If you will not support paycheck equity or the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, that’s bad for the economy and bad for women. If you think employers should have the right to deny coverage for contraception, it’s bad for women and it’s bad for the economy,” said Kaine. “These are not little social issues we can brush aside. They are fundamental issues about fairness and the economic success of women.”
 
Today’s event was the 100th roundtable, forum, or town hall Kaine has held in 2012. Since the first of the year, Kaine has met with more than 1000 Virginians, including small business owners, veterans, Latino community leaders, defense contractors, women business owners, faith leaders, and others who have shared their thoughts on ways to strengthen the economy and create jobs. It was also the latest in a series of events and advertisements to inform Virginia women about the issues at stake and the choice in this year’s U.S. Senate race.