Richmond, VA - Today, former governor and U.S. Senate candidate Tim Kaine joined State Senator Chap Petersen for a small business tour in Fairfax City, making stops at Main Street Royal Gas & Auto, Joy Unlimited, Courtside Thai, Paint Your Own Pottery, The Factory tees and vintage apparel, and other local businesses. During the event, Kaine spoke with small business owners and shared his Virginia-based strategies to create jobs, level the playing field for small businesses, and strengthen the economy for the long-term.
"I grew up in a small business household and my first experience in elected office was as a city councilmember and mayor in Richmond," said Kaine. "Those experiences really taught me to value our small businesses and find ways to invest in their success. That's what I did as mayor and governor and it is what I'll do as Virginia's senator."
Throughout the afternoon, Kaine highlighted his record of supporting Virginia small businesses when he was governor. While in office, Kaine worked to eliminate red tape to help small businesses compete for government contracts and dramatically expanded state contracts with small, women, and minority-owned businesses. As senator, he will work to simplify the federal corporate tax code, encourage small business growth by increasing access to capital, and work to foster a talent economy.
"We need to level the playing field for our small businesses," said Kaine. "Lots of small businesses pay federal corporate income taxes and some big businesses don't. It is still too difficult for many small and start-up businesses to get the capital they need to grow and hire. And many of our procurement and export policies are geared toward big businesses. By leveling the playing field for our small and start-up businesses we can support our most powerful job creators and put people back to work quickly."
As governor during the worst recession since the Great Depression, Kaine worked across the aisle to move Virginia forward—cutting more than $5 billion in state spending and investing in key priorities like education, infrastructure, and health care. During his term, Kaine worked with the Bush administration to secure $900 million in funding for Rail to Dulles and partnered with members of both parties in the General Assembly to pass a record higher education bond package.
Since the beginning of the year, Kaine has traveled throughout the state to hear concerns from Virginia businesses and families and share his strategies for economic growth.
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