Cline kicks off re-election bid with manufacturing tour
Del. Ben Cline (R-24) today officially kicked off his campaign for re-election to the House of Delegates this November with a focus on creating jobs and accelerating Virginia’s economic recovery. Del. Cline was joined by Congressman Bob Goodlatte as he toured three local manufacturers in the 24th House District.
“It has been an honor for me to represent the citizens of the 24th House District in the General Assembly,” said Cline. “I am proud of the successes that we have been able to achieve, including the passage of tax relief for families and businesses across Virginia and the establishment of community college branch campuses in Amherst and Buena Vista. But there is more to do, especially when Virginia families are hurting due to the economic downturn. Providing additional workforce training and economic incentives that help businesses like S&S Machines in Amherst, Advanced Drainage Systems in Buena Vista, and McKee Foods in Stuarts Draft create jobs will lead to a brighter future for families across our part of Virginia.”
Cline’s legislative accomplishments during his nine years in office focus mainly on improving the economy in three areas: Infrastructure, Instruction, and Incentives. Locally, Cline’s major infrastructure focus has been on securing funding to open and operate the aforementioned CVCC Amherst and DSLCC Rockbridge branches, fighting against the closure of the Central Virginia Training Center (Amherst County’s largest employer), and passing several bills that encourage safety, reduce congestion, and promote intermodal rail to improve the long-term viability of Interstate-81.
Cline’s focus on workforce instruction and job training resulted in the creation of the Community College Transfer Grant scholarship that enables students to transfer from community college to four-year state schools more easily (HB2168 – 2007). Cline also sponsored legislation in 2006 to save students and their families money by creating a school supply sales tax holiday (HB1125 – 2006), as well as legislation to provide instate tuition benefits to children of military personnel stationed in Virginia (HB 1135 – 2006). Cline has also focused as a member of the House Finance Committee on providing tax and regulatory incentives for employers and working families to locate and create jobs in Virginia.
“It has been an honor to represent the hardworking citizens of Amherst, Augusta and Rockbridge in Richmond, and I look forward to a positive campaign and asking for their votes this fall,” Cline said. “In addition, I look forward to getting to know folks across Bath County as I introduce myself to the newest parts of the 24th House district.”
The 24th House District includes the Cities of Lexington and Buena Vista, Bath and Rockbridge Counties, and parts of Amherst and Augusta Counties. Delegate Cline was elected in 2002 and re-elected to his fifth term in 2009. Cline is Chairman of the Joint Health Care Commission and a member of the House Commerce Committee, Public Safety Committee, Finance Committee, and Courts of Justice Committee. He lives with his wife, Elizabeth, near Lexington and is an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for Rockingham County.
Campaign finance: GOP incumbents report cash totals
A look at campaign-finance numbers for the upcoming 2011 Virginia General Assembly elections shows long-time Republican State Sen. Emmett Hanger in the best money position among local incumbents.
Hanger reported $98,448 in cash on hand as of March 31, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. Hanger, R-Mount Solon, has a proven ability to raise money. The Mount Solon resident spent $286,217 on his 2007 re-election in the 24th Senate District, most of it – $259,619 – in a tightly contested May GOP primary, in which he defeated challenger Scott Sayre by less than 600 votes.
Rockbridge Republican State Del. Ben Cline reported $29,173 cash on hand as of March 31. The 24th House District representative spent $148,109 on his 2009 re-election campaign, in which he defeated Democrat Jeff Price, receiving 71.2 percent of the vote.
Weyers Cave Republican Steve Landes reported $5,706 cash on hand on March 31. Landes spent $140,472 on his 2009 re-election campaign in the 25th House District, in which he defeated Democrat Greg Marrow, receiving 73.2 percent of the vote.
Staunton Republican Dickie Bell reported $5,204 cash on hand on March 31. Bell spent $55,020 on his 2009 election in the 20th House District, in which he defeated Democrat Erik Curren, receiving 71.2 percent of the vote.
McDonnell backs local delegate on balanced-budget amendment
A resolution proposed by Rockbridge Republican Del. Ben Cline that calls on Congress to pass an amendment to the United States Constitution requiring it to adopt a balanced budget has the support of Gov. Bob McDonnell.
“Over the last two years, the federal government has added approximately $3.37 trillion to the national debt, making the total national debt an unsustainable $14 trillion. It is critical that Washington gets its fiscal house in order and reduces spending to ensure the future prosperity and security of our great nation,” McDonnell said in a statement on the resolution, which also calls for a constitutional convention for adoption of a balanced-budget amendment.
McDonnell has been under fire of late from Democrats and the Tea Party for his $4 billion transportation-improvements plan that relies heavily on the assumption of public debt for financing. Cline voted against the McDonnell plan in the House earlier this week, though it passed with largely Republican support by a 65-33 vote.
“Families must make tough decisions every day to balance their checkbooks, and states like Virginia have balanced budgets every year — the federal government should be no different,” Cline said. “The resolution I am introducing today requesting a constitutional convention on a balanced budget amendment is a step in the right direction toward reining in federal government spending and tackling the federal debt. A balanced budget amendment in the U.S. Constitution will set us on a path toward fiscal responsibility in Washington.”
Story by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at freepress2@ntelos.net.
Cline: ‘Skins suite seats misused by Lottery staff
State Del. Ben Cline, R-24th District, announced today that he had received confirmation of recent actions by Virginia Lottery employees in which luxury skybox suite seats reserved for winners of the Redskins Legacy game were misused by Lottery staff. Cline also announced that he would be asking for an independent audit of the Virginia Lottery at the next General Assembly session.
“For years, the Virginia Lottery has been playing fast and loose with millions of dollars that should go toward education but instead are spent on layers of administrative bureaucracy and private licensing agreements,” Cline said. “Now we learn that these agreements, one of which includes luxury skybox seats at Washington Redskins games as prizes, are being abused by Lottery employees. Lottery revenues should be going to fund education, not to line the pockets of advertising executives or to provide perks for Lottery employees. Virginia’s school children deserve better.”
The issue regarding the Redskins suite tickets was first raised on the Not Larry Sabato politics blog in September with a report about the use of a luxury suite at the Redskins’ season opener this year by Virginia Lottery officials. Cline wrote to the Lottery to request details about the Redskins Legacy game, and said he was informed in an e-mail response from Lottery Director Paula Otto that one of the prizes was in fact the use of a luxury skybox for a Redskins home game. When questioned in more detail about the use of the luxury skybox, Otto also confirmed that the suite was not occupied during the Redskins home opener by a Redskins Legacy game winner, but instead by Lottery staff.
“At a time when we are being forced to make difficult decisions about funding for education in Virginia, it is disheartening to learn that Lottery revenues intended for our schools are being misused by the staff of the Lottery Department,” Cline said. “I plan to file a budget amendment in the upcoming General Assembly session for a full and independent audit of the Virginia Lottery, and I hope it will receive bipartisan support as we strive to fully fund our public schools in Virginia.”
Virginia Lottery spokesman John Hagerty disputes Cline’s characterization of Otto’s e-mail to Cline. Hagerty said today that Otto informed Cline in her e-mail that the box was indeed used by Lottery staff, but the use was as a staging area for an on-field presentation at halftime of the football game that highlighted the $4.8 billion the Lottery has generated for K-12 public education since 1999.
“We believe that was a logical use of the box, which would otherwise have been empty,” Hagerty said in an e-mail to AugustaFreePress.com.
Scratcher games using licensed properties, such as Redskins Legacy, routinely perform an average of 17 percent better than other games, Hagerty said. Redskins Legacy has generated $14.6 million in sales this year to date, Hagerty said.
“The Lottery is audited each year by the independent Auditor of Public Accounts, as required by statute, as well as by its internal audit department. We would welcome a further audit if the General Assembly deems it appropriate,” Hagerty said.
Story by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at freepress2@ntelos.net.
Legislative breakfast
The Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce invites you and your guests to attend the Legislative Breakfast on Wednesday, Dec. 15, from 8-9 a.m. at Bentley Commons of Staunton.
Our area legislators, State Sen. Emmett Hanger and State Dels. Steve Landes, Ben Cline and Dickie Bell, will be briefing members on hot issues and bills coming before the 2011 General Assembly session in Richmond.
The floor will then be opened up for a question and answer period following their remarks.
Enjoy a delicious breakfast at a cost of $15 per person.
RSVP to chamber@ntelos.net or call 540.324.1133.
Cline gives thumbs-up on rail news
State Del. Ben Cline, R-24th, today applauded the elimination of a critical choke point with a reconfigured rail junction on Norfolk Southern’s Crescent Corridor near Front Royal.
This was the final of six capacity improvement projects in Northern Virginia that will help more trains travel at higher speeds and ease traffic congestion on I-81.
“Ensuring safety along the I-81 corridor is critical to our economic success here in Western Virginia, and by moving thousands of trucks onto rail, this project will help ensure that businesses, residents and visitors are able to travel more efficiently and safely within our region,” said Cline. “I was proud to offer the budget amendment in 2005 that funded this and other Rail Enhancement Fund projects, and I will continue working with my colleagues from other states as a member of the I-81 Corridor Coalition to improve intermodal freight transport and make our highways safer for Virginia families and businesses.”
Funded by $43 million from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation and nearly $20 million from Norfolk Southern, the projects lengthened or build new passing tracks between Manassas and Front Royal, installed five miles of double track near the Virginia Inland Port, improved signal and traffic control systems, and increased train speeds through Riverton Junction near Front Royal.
Edited by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at freepress2@ntelos.net.
The AFP on WREL: McDonnell for president?
Posted by afp on December 3, 2010 · 1 Comment
The segment begins with a discussion of an interview done by the Washington Post of Gov. Bob McDonnell in which McDonnell sidestepped a question on whatever interest he might have in a spot on the Republican national ticket in 2012. Chris speculates that McDonnell would be a solid pick for the #2 slot on the ticket with his political and policy successes in Virginia to date.
The segment wraps with a review of the investigation of the Virginia Lottery’s use of a luxury box at a Washington Redskins game initiated by Rockbridge State Del. Ben Cline. Was the use of the box an abuse of state funds? Chris breaks down the story from the perspective of Cline and the response of Lottery officials.
Filed under Blogs · Tagged with ben cline, bob mcdonnell, redskins legacy, virginia lottery