Tim Kaine's Economic Record

Tim Kaine

Here is a quick look at the economic record of Hillary Clinton's VP pick, Tim Kaine.

He's pretty much bad across the board.

He has very heavy big spending leanings:

• He said Tea Party's reckless economic policies create uncertainty. (May 2012)
• Opposed a constitutional Balanced Budget Amendment. (Oct 2012)

He's an energy planner:

• Called for cut subsidies to big oil companies. (Oct 2012) Not clear what he means here, reducing tax breaks or real subsidies
• In favor of setting goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025. (Jan 2007)

He's a protectionist:

• Sponsored sugar quotas & import tariffs to stabilize prices. (May 2013)

He wants more government financing of elections:

• In favor of public financing of federal campaigns by voter vouchers. (Feb 2015)

He is a supporter of Obamacare, but goon on religious exemption:

• 
  
• Opposed repealing ObamaCare. (Oct 2012)
• Supported religious exemption from ObamaCare individual mandate. (Feb 2015)

On citizenship:

• Seeks defined path to earned citizenship, plus DREAM Act. (Apr 2012)

He wants Social Security controlled by government:

• Called for fight against any privatization proposals. (Oct 2012)
• Lift the payroll tax cap. (Jun 2012)
• No dangerous privatization schemes for Social Security. (Apr 2012)
• Adamantly opposes privatization of Social Security. (Apr 2012

He's terrible on taxes, just hating tax cuts:

• Keep Bush tax cuts except for the wealthy. (Oct 2012)
• Open to some minimum income tax level for everyone. (Sep 2012)
• No budget-busting tax cuts; we can't afford to try it again!. (Sep 2012)
• No need for millionaire's tax: just let Bush cuts expire. (Dec 2011)
• Supports increasing tax rates. (Oct 2012)

He is a supporter of more government infrastructure projects:

• Invest in communities--infrastructure makes us competitive. (Sep 2012)

He supported laws forcing retailers to collect taxes online:

• Force online retailers to collect sales taxes. (Jun 2012)
• Voted YES on authorizing states to collect Internet sales taxes. (May 2013)

And then we have this confusion:

He strongly supports the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which expands workers' rights to sue in cases of gender pay discrimination.

-RW

(via OnTheIssues.org)