Bob-O-Meter

Tracking the promises of Gov. Bob McDonnell

McDonnell's plan for higher education includes "100,000 additional Associates and Bachelors' Degrees over the next 15 years."

McDonnell will elevate sexual battery, when the crime is committed by force or where the offender is an adult and the victim is three years younger, to a Class 6 felony.

Will require intensive lifetime monitoring of violent sexual predators not eligible for civil commitment.

McDonnell will propose tougher mandatory minimum sentences for repeat drug dealers who deal controlled substances...Second-time offenders would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison. Third-time offenders will face a more significant mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Governor McDonnell will propose an increase to the mandatory statutory fee for conviction of crimes. The fee for a misdemeanor will increase from $5 to $15, and the fee for a felony will increase from $15 to $40.

McDonnell will implement a standard for programs that teach students how drugs can negatively impact physical and mental health, as well as the social consequences of substance abuse that reach children at a variety of ages.

McDonnell will propose expanding the juvenile transfer statute to require juveniles charged with repeat violent felonies to be tried as adults in circuit court.

McDonnell will propose legislation to create a greater deterrent for, and to punish more harshly, those crimes where the victims are ruthlessly selected due to their age and perceived vulnerability.

McDonnell will propose legislation to toughen Virginia’s identity theft laws. Individuals who obtain identities with the intent to sell or distribute them will be subject to a Class 4 felony. Further, in addition to any other offenses (grand larceny, for example), thieves who use stolen identities to buy merchandise, to impersonate a law enforcement officer, or to impede a criminal investigation, will be subject to a Class 5 felony.

Will propose amendments to asset forfeiture laws in 2011 General Assembly session.

Bob McDonnell will propose the expansion of “gang-free school zones,” into “gang-free zones,” similar to the “drug-free zones,” currently in our state laws.

To adequately punish those engaged in recruiting members into gangs, McDonnell will propose that this offense be increased to a Class 6 felony. Additionally, while the current holds that an adult who solicits, invites, recruits or encourages a juvenile to actively participate or become a member of a gang is guilty of a Class 6 felony, McDonnell will propose that the General Assembly elevate this offense to a Class 5 felony.

We will double the number of Governor's Career and Technical Academies that focus on science, technology, engineering, and math and career technical skills.

We will consolidate the 23 different workforce training programs we have that are currently spread across nine state agencies and make our community colleges the hub of our workforce training efforts.

Over the course of the McDonnell administration, we will increase the amount of funding available for the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Program and set aside a portion of the funds specifically for STEM and career technical education shortage areas.

As governor, Bob McDonnell will propose alternative methods of establishing charter schools in Virginia, such as allowing the state Board of Education to approve applications.

As governor, Bob McDonnell will appoint a public school turnaround leader, at the Department of Education, whose sole mission will be to focus on the underperforming schools and set in motion urgent plans to eliminate obstacles to success.

The McDonnell/Bolling administration will increase the state average for spending in the classroom by 4 percent over the course of their administration.

Virginia has four different types of publications to help create and expand a business...As governor, Bob McDonnell will combine all resources into one updated manual.

While the General Assembly authorized $3 billion in bonds in 2007, not a single dollar of that money has been issued as of today. McDonnell will assure these bonds are issued beginning in 2010...As the economy recovers, Bob McDonnell will further seek the issuance of new bonds for highly congested areas, with a goal of issuing at least another $1 billion for priority state projects.