Richmond, VA - Today, former governor and U.S. Senate candidate Tim Kaine campaigned in Southwest Virginia with U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV). During a tour and employee town hall at Pyott-Boone Electronics in North Tazewell, a leading manufacturer of electronics for the coal and defense industries, Kaine shared his comprehensive energy strategy that utilizes all domestic energy sources, including coal, domestic oil and gas, and alternatives like wind and solar, in the cleanest way possible.
"I come here today because I need help in the United States Senate," said Sen. Manchin. "I need a friend that understands the coal industry. That understands there has to be an 'all in' energy policy. That understands this country is strong when we're energy independent."
As governor, Kaine implemented Virginia’s first-ever statewide energy plan that called for the use of all domestic sources including Virginia coal. Kaine also supported the permitting of the recently opened Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center, one of the cleanest coal-fired power plants in the country located in Wise County and a model for the innovative future of coal.
"Not only is the coal industry important to Virginia, but like Joe, I believe it's important to the country and the world," said Kaine. "Just like Pyott-Boone is innovating, coming up with new ideas and products to make mining safer, we ought to be innovating and doing things to make coal more competitive, including competitive with natural gas. When the price of natural gas has gone down so much, we need to be innovative on the coal side to stay competitive."
Kaine and Manchin also discussed the critical need for more senators in Washington who are willing to find compromise and work together to get results.
"For us to bring this country back we've got to put America first," said Manchin. "It's not about our politics, it's about what we are doing for our country. We need people with that kind of a temperament and that kind of demeanor. That's why I believe so strongly in Tim Kaine. I've known him. I've worked with him. He will always put Virginia first and he will always put this country first."
Earlier in the day, Kaine laid out his economic vision during an address to the Virginia Economic Developers Association. Throughout this campaign, Kaine has shared his Virginia-based strategies to strengthen the economy and create jobs. His approach includes short-term strategies like leveling the playing field for small and startup businesses and investing in infrastructure, as well as long-term strategies to develop the world’s most talented workforce and maintain the United States’ global competitiveness.
"My economic vision for the nation is based on my experiences in Virginia," said Kaine. "To accelerate our economy we need to focus on three things: growth, talent, and balance. We need strategies to immediately grow the economy, win the long term talent race, and balance our budget in the right way, not the wrong way."
Kaine also outlined his plan to avoid the looming sequestration cuts by allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire over $500,000, reducing prescription prices in Medicare Part D by allowing price negotiation, and ending subsidies to the big five oil companies.
Under Kaine’s leadership, Virginia won accolades as the best state in America to do business from Forbes, CNBC, and the Pollina Corporation. During Kaine's term, he worked to recruit millions in investment to Virginia, creating thousands of jobs in every region in the state. Fortune 500 companies such as VW of North America, Hilton Hotels, MeadWestvaco and others decided to relocate to Virginia in the worst recession since the 1930s because of the pro-business climate Kaine helped maintain.
Since the beginning of the campaign, Kaine has spent more than 30 days in Southwest Virginia and attended or hosted nearly 80 events.
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