■ 26 September 2011 | 8:07 PM
McDonnell family effort misguided, Va. Dems say
Ever ready to criticize Gov. Bob McDonnell, Virginia Democrats may have delivered the unkindest cut of all Monday when they labeled a new social service effort of his administration a "big government" initiative.
The program targeted by Democrats, Virginia's Strengthening Families Initiative, was the subject of a story in Monday's Virginian-Pilot and is the focus of a joint state-federal conference in Richmond this week.
Its overarching goal is to reduce out-of-wedlock births, reunite fathers with their children and encourage marriage as a way to reduce dependence on costly public welfare services.
Officials have said shrinking the roster of benefit recipients could ultimately save the state money and reduce the scope of government, concepts McDonnell favors.
And Virginia's still evolving program has parallels to federal marriage and fatherhood efforts supported by the Obama administration, said McDonnell spokeswoman Taylor Thornley.
"We're guessing the Party's officials may not be speaking for all their members," she said, scoffing at the irony of Democrats' critique.
But Democrats argue McDonnell is focusing on an ideology that "distracts from real anti-poverty initiatives like education, workforce training and creating more jobs that pay a living wage."
"No amount of big government social engineering will pull working families (of any type) out of poverty as long as there are not enough good jobs to go around," said party spokesman Brian Coy. "The Governor ran on a promise to create those jobs, but those families are still waiting.”
COMMENTS ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here; comments do not reflect the views of The Virginian-Pilot or its websites. Users must follow agreed-upon rules: Be civil, be clean, be on topic; don't attack private individuals, other users or classes of people. Read the full rules here.
- Comments are automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules, click the report violation link below it.
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
Where's the substance?
This piece focuses on process when it should be focusing on the substance of the Governor's proposals.
Does anyone not get that single-parent households are more likely to need taxpayer assistance than two-parent households?
Frankly, I don't see government as the primary tool for getting people to commit to one another before they start impregnating all over the place, but this is a great start. But Julian would rather tell you about how upset Democrats are about all this. Forest for the trees, my man.
P.S. Where's the coverage of the Fast and Furious scandal bombshell? We've got memos proving Attny. Gen. Holder lied under oath, and not a peep from The Pilot.
Julian Walker
I am more than willing to praise our Governor when his actions call for it. As an Independent, I am always looking for solutions that will add to the growing goodness in the world. Please stop adding to the heat and flames that destroy good progress. We desperately need reporters who relay facts and honest context. McDonnell's record on strengthening families with education and access to health care and good jobs is reprehensible. He is an ideologue and it is pretty clear you are too.
Big government social engineering?
The Republicans, Tea Party, and Libertarians tend to label as "social engineering" any effort by “Big Government” leaders to make people act in a particular way unless they are doing it themselves. These social problems are serious but have been made worse by Republicans. The recent Republican social engineering bill to crush women's health service clinics will make things worse for the women who cannot afford "Republican" health care. Republican cuts in public education, anemic efforts at job creation, suppression of pay rates and employee rights, and promotion of expensive privately-held toll roads will hurt lower and middle class Virginians.
Huh?
Anonymous, do you dispute that single parent households utilize social services at a higher rate than two parent households?
Why should I have to subsidize someone's inability to wait for kids until they have settled down with a life partner (of whatever variety)? You guys create the problem by destroying social institutions and then act like the problem is permanent.
Also, your talking points at the end of your comment aren't really very coherent. If Republican policies are so bad for middle class and lower income Virginians, then wouldn't it make sense for those folks to be encouraged to foster more dependable social structures like marriage, instead of a bunch of single parents dependant upon the taxpayers?