Call me a party pooper, but I was not as excited to hear the news that Governor Bob McDonnell is paying the Washington Redskins, a private enterprise, to remain in Virginia. Mind you, the team is not moving. They are just trying to improve or relocate their corporate headquarters and training facility.
Republicans really enjoyed criticizing Barack Obama for his plans to “create and save jobs” by asking how one quantifies “saving” jobs. Well, now it looks like Governor McDonnell and all Virginia Republicans can turn around and say that they just “saved” thousands of jobs too. They did that by paying a private enterprise $4 million to help pay for improvements.
Virginia Republicans have been on a media war against Maryland Democrats over the issue of job creation and job retention. It is obvious that Martin O’Malley’s draconian tax policies and onerous regulations have benefited Virginia greatly by sending jobs south of the Potomac River.
Since the Redskins were exploring the market and accepting bids for a new home, I can see how McDonnell did everything he could to keep the Redskins and all the jobs and economic impact here in Virginia. Losing the Redskins to DC or PG County would ruin the narrative that Virginia Republicans have been touting all along about being better than Maryland at job creation. Conservative principles were violated in order to score political points.
I am a fiscal conservative of the libertarian tradition (Go Ron Paul!). I don’t believe government should be in the business of picking winners and losers. Hey, you know, I don’t generate tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue, but I do pay my “fair share”, whatever that means. I’m thinking about moving to Maryland because I’d like to be closer to the Bay. All of my tax dollars and disposable income will be taken out of state. Can I get $400,000 from the Commonwealth to stay?
You see what I mean? It is a slippery slope. First you give corporate welfare to the sports team. Next you give corporate welfare to the oil companies. You fight an unnecessary war to give corporate welfare to the military industrial complex. You give corporate welfare to the tech companies. Then you give welfare to the masses. Oh, wait. We’re already doing ALL of that!
What makes this situation even more ridiculous is that Redskins owner Dan Snyder could have paid for all the improvements he needed without resorting to the state for help if he never signed Albert Haynesworth.
Ouch!
About Big Gipper
Could not agree more! How can taxpayers in this economic environment be more outraged about the Redskins relocating to Richmond, and not how there tax money is being spent????