On this Labor Day weekend, politicians across Virginia are talking jobs. With disappointing economic reports out this week, Democrats and Republicans are offering very different plans on how to get the economy going again.
In the Republicans' weekly address, Virginia Congressman Bob Goodlatte pushed for lower government spending and lower taxes to spur economic growth.
"While our workers are being held back by Washington, there's nothing in place to stop the federal government from bankrolling further big government spending ... The kind that leads to government expansion into private-sector jobs, burdensome mandates on job creators and skyrocketing national debt," said Goodlatte.
But at a stop in Charlottesville Saturday, U.S. Senate candidate Tim Kaine (D) said Americans need to practice patience as the economy continues its slow recovery.
"The economy still has a long, long way to go, but we're not on the elevator ride to the basement that we were on two or three years ago," assured Kaine.
During a breakfast with the University of Virginia's Young Democrats, he told them that there is no "magic bullet" to create jobs, stating, "It's education that's ultimately the best economic development strategy. The more skills you have, the better your opportunity."
But while Kaine is pushing for more education funding, Goodlatte insists they need more across the board cuts.
"This won't be easy," continued Goodlatte, "We need bipartisan support to get the balanced budget amendment across the finish line."
Earlier this summer, a similar balanced budget proposal failed to gain traction among Senate Democrats. President Obama plans to address the issue in a speech scheduled for Thursday night.
