Jobs and the Economy

Contrary to all the government takeovers, bailouts and failed "stimulus" plans coming out of our nation's capital, Todd believes that the free enterprise system is the key to the American dream. He has been part of the Republican leadership in Richmond that has helped ensure that Virginia has been ranked the #1 state in which to do business for four years running. Oppressive taxes and regulations and anti-business laws in other states like Michigan have caused businesses to flee there in droves. Low tax burdens and limited regulations on business are essential in order to guarantee that new and existing businesses can thrive and provide good paying jobs. Todd has voted to uphold Virginia's "right to work" law to ensure that membership in a union is not a requirement in order to get a job. Because of his pro-business beliefs, Todd has been endorsed by the National Federation of Independent Businesses, America's largest organization representing small businesses. Delegate Gilbert has also introduced legislation to make certain that businesses are not hiring illegal aliens to fill American jobs. Virginia was one of the last states to feel the effects of the recession, and because of the pro-business, pro-job growth policies that Todd has advocated, we will be among the first states to emerge from these tough economic times.

Government Spending Reform

With all the budget woes in Richmond and dangerous levels of borrowing and spending going on in Washington, Delegate Gilbert has turned his focus to reforming the way your state government spends your precious tax dollars. This past year, Virginia was faced with a budget shortfall. Legislators needed to make the hard budget choices that folks have to make every day when faced with changes in their income. Instead, most legislators chose the easy route of accepting so-called federal stimulus money borrowed from countries that don't have America's best interest at heart--places like communist China and Saudi Arabia. Todd was one of only a handful of legislators with the nerve to say no to borrowing money from our adversaries only to burden future generations with a mountain of debt. Virginia's government continues to find itself in financial peril because the budget has grown far beyond our true needs in recent years. As a result, when tax revenue stops rolling in to the state treasury as it has now, the cuts to state services are that much more difficult. Delegate Gilbert has introduced a constitutional amendment to limit the growth of our state budget by requiring reasonable benchmarks such as the rate of inflation and population growth. He has also introduced legislation to impose zero-based budgeting on state agencies and require them to justify their budgets each year rather than simply asking for more tax dollars year after year.

Public Safety

As a career prosecutor for more than twelve years, Todd has a unique understanding of public safety issues in the General Assembly. Delegate Gilbert serves on the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission and the Commission on VASAP that supervises all DUI offenders in the Commonwealth of Virginia. During his two terms, Delegate Gilbert has been able to put his expertise to good use in helping to make our communities a safer place. He has sponsored and passed legislation to require mandatory sentences on drug dealers who sell deadly methamphetamine in our schools and communities. He repealed the last remaining parole loophole that was leading to the early release of some criminals. He passed a law requiring judges to presume illegal alien criminals to be ineligible for bail and remain behind bars prior to trial. Just this past session, he helped stop Governor Kaine's plan for the early release of drug dealers, child molesters, burglars and repeat drunk drivers in his effort to avoid making cuts to other parts of the budget.

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