Campaigns spar over gun rights

The Rob Wittman and Krystal Ball campaigns are in a tussle over whether Ball would support an individual’s right to bear arms.

Ball, whose father and grandfather before her were members of the National Rifle Association, has called for Rep. Rob Wittman, R-1st, to apologize for his campaign’s efforts to portray her as a candidate that would take away those rights.

“The attacks on my position on the Second Amendment are disgusting and unacceptable,” Ball stated in a campaign press release. “Elections are about educating the voters on the choice between two candidates. When Mr. Wittman’s campaign lies about my record, it is beneath the dignity of the office he holds. I call on Congressman Wittman to apologize for these lies.”

Wittman campaign spokesman, Casey Werderman, said being a member of the NRA didn’t necessarily translate into support for gun rights.

“Anybody can be a member of the NRA,” Werderman said. “That doesn’t mean they’re supporters of the Second Amendment.”

Ball campaign spokesman Michael Ford said Ball is 100 percent behind the Second Amendment.

“Krystal Ball is a third generation NRA member. The Second Amendment isn’t just an individual liberty to Krystal, it’s a family value. The Wittman campaign's dismissal of the importance of the National Rifle Association is bizarre and out of step with the First District of Virginia,” Ford said.

Werderman accused the Ball campaign as being in attack mode and said the Wittman campaign is more interested in talking about other issues.

“What’s on people’s minds right now are jobs and the economy,” Werderman said. “We’re not looking to do the political back-and-forth that her campaign has done from the start.”

 “The important part is what she is going to do to bring jobs to the First District?” Werderman said. “Not once has she said what she would do.”

Werderman said Ball has yet to take a stance on any of the issues including how she would have voted on the stimulus package and the Toxic Assets Relief Program.

On jobs, said Ball would follow the business men and women of the district to get the economy moving. 

“Krystal Ball knows great ideas don't come out of Washington.  They come from business owners and independent-minded community leaders,” Ford said. “Krystal would fight to provide a 50 percent cut in pay roll taxes for the first two years a small business starts up. This system encourages investment in our local economy. Additionally, she would allow small businesses to expense 100 percent of new equipment to help cut costs now and set ourselves up for job growth in the future.”

Ball would also work to expand credit to “responsible business owners,” Ford said.

Wittman too has plans for job growth, Werderman said.

Wittman supports lower capital gains taxes and would cut the payroll and self-employed tax rate, Werderman said.

The candidates agree on one point.

Wittman would also raise the small business start-up deduction.

Additionally, he would extend the Research Development Tax Credit, which Werderman said would provide incentives for innovation.

Wittman would work to repeal at least part of the health care bill to reduce Internal Revenue Service filings, Werderman said  

“Under the new health care bill, businesses will be forced to issue paper-filed ‘1099-MISC’ IRS information reporting forms to any person or company from whom they purchase at least $600 in services or goods. Representative Wittman is a cosponsor of a bill that would repeal this requirement,” Werderman said.

Wittman would also continue work to clean up the Chesapeake Bay, Werderman said

“We've already seen that when the water quality of the Bay improves, seafood flourishes,” Werderman said “Just this year the blue crab populations increased.  By further restoring the Chesapeake Bay, we can help watermen and the seafood industries in Virginia create more jobs.”