RICHMOND -- The national free-market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity today announced the launch of a new state chapter in Virginia. Standing on the grounds of the Virginia State Capitol building, AFP representatives Paul Harris, Herman Cain and Rob Whitney said that recent tax hikes and explosive spending growth demonstrate why Americans for Prosperity needs to be mobilized in Virginia.

"During my two terms in the Virginia House of Delegates, I saw first-hand how government has grown out of control," said former Virginia delegate Paul Harris, who is serving as chairman of the state chapter's Board of Advisors. "Just over the past 10 years, the budget in Virginia has increased by 81 percent, coupled with unnecessary tax increases. This is why we need Americans for Prosperity in Virginia. Together we will form the first true grassroots organization dedicated to ensuring that the leaders of our state are held responsible for the lack of fiscal discipline in Richmond. We'll establish at least six local chapters across the state by November 1 and 10 by the time the General Assembly convenes in January."

Americans for Prosperity is a national organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual's right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and believes that reducing the size and scope of government is the best way to ensure individual prosperity for all Americans.

"Out-of-control spending by government requires a different kind of taxpayer group. AFP is that difference because we organize, educate and mobilize real grassroots citizens and help them make sure their elected officials are held accountable and understand free-market policies," said Herman Cain, former U.S. Senate candidate and former Godfather's Pizza CEO, who is heading AFP's Prosperity Expansion Project. "We're hitting the ground running, with two grassroots training schools set for citizens in Charlottesville and Roanoke in the next week, and we'll have at least half a dozen grassroots schools completed by November 1. This new grassroots presence will lead to a stronger economy, which means new and better-paying jobs and more prosperity across Virginia."

"We're going to build the best grassroots organization our Commonwealth has ever seen, and our grassroots members will call for the kind of job-creating, quality-of-life-enhancing reforms that families and businesses want,” said State Director Rob Whitney. "AFP Virginia is going to be a strong voice for fiscal responsibility, and that means reasonable spending on programs that really work and looking for ways to ease the tax burden."