News for today's 2018

Bill Bolling and Virginia Mainstream Project ... good ideas for good government

8:36 AM Tukiyooo 0

From Lieutenant Governor <a href="http://www.billbolling.com/">Bill Bolling </a>and his Virginia Mainstream Project.... <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 600px;"> <tbody><tr> <td bgcolor="transparent" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px transparent; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="height: 100%px; width: 100%px;"> <tbody><tr> <td style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11px; padding: 10px;" valign="top"> <div style="border-color: rgb(194,217,231);"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"> <tbody><tr> <td style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11px;"> <div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"> <img src="https://staticapp.icpsc.com/icp/loadimage.php/mogile/859440/caa139ca3d728c68d4b94fe872b21e32/image/jpeg" style="width: 580px;" width="580" /></div></td> </tr></tbody> </table></div></td> </tr></tbody> </table></td> </tr></tbody> </table><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> Friends – </div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> Last week, through Virginia Mainstream Project, I released a series of proposals designed to improve the structure and operation of Virginia’s state government.  Full details of these recommendations can be found <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=15593061&msgid=394782&act=VAD2&c=859440&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.billbolling.com%2F2013%2F09%2F30%2Fvirginia-mainstream-project-releases-government-reform-proposals%2F" target="_blank">here</a>. </div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> The proposed changes would impact the election and role of the Lieutenant Governor, approve gubernatorial succession, create a bipartisan redistricting process, implement the merit-based selection of judges, establish a Government Performance Review Commission, change Virginia’s two-year budget cycle and mandate a review of all current exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act to improve governmental transparency.</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> I called on all candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General to support these proposals because they will make state government more efficient, more effective, and more accountable to the people of Virginia.</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> I’m pleased to report that these proposals have received enthusiastic support from opinion leaders all over the Commonwealth:</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=15593061&msgid=394782&act=VAD2&c=859440&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesdispatch.com%2Fopinion%2Four-opinion%2Ftoday-s-top-opinion-mainstream%2Farticle_18c740b4-2e18-11e3-a66b-001a4bcf6878.html%3FTNNoMobile" target="_blank">Today’s top opinion: Mainstream</a> (Richmond Times-Dispatch)</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> “We issue a full-throated huzzah to Bolling’s proposal for bipartisan redistricting. He would take the process out of the hands of the legislature by empowering a citizen panel to draw the electoral maps.”</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=15593061&msgid=394782&act=VAD2&c=859440&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roanoke.com%2Fopinion%2Feditorial%2F2268686-12%2Fimagine-ideas-not-ick.html" target="_blank">Imagine: ideas, not ick</a> (The Roanoke Times)</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> “He [Bolling] has done all Virginians a service by injecting meaningful policy proposals into a campaign otherwise mired in slime.”</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=15593061&msgid=394782&act=VAD2&c=859440&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fhamptonroads.com%2F2013%2F09%2Fideas-man-who-isnt-running" target="_blank">Ideas from the man who isn’t running</a> (The Virginian-Pilot)</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> “Free of political constraints, Bolling on Monday proposed a long slate of ideas to make Virginia a better state, a more democratic state and a more open state.”</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=15593061&msgid=394782&act=VAD2&c=859440&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newsleader.com%2Farticle%2F20131001%2FOPINION%2F310010025%3Fnclick_check%3D1" target="_blank">Bill Bolling’s good ideas</a> (Staunton News Leader)</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> “Many of these proposals are common sense. We used to employ that in government. Bolling reminds us we still can and indeed should.”</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> Many thanks to all those who have voiced support for these proposals.  The Virginia Mainstream Project will continue to promote responsible, common-sense solutions to the important challenges facing our state and make certain that we keep our focus on the thing that matters most … BUILDING A BETTER VIRGINIA.</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> Sincerely,</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <img height="38" src="https://staticapp.icpsc.com/icp/loadimage.php/mogile/859440/fb02dff03010101301fd274a00f6bc02/image/jpeg" style="min-height: 38px; width: 188px;" width="228" /></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling</div>

Bill Bolling and Virginia Mainstream Project ... good ideas for good government

From Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling and his Virginia Mainstream Project.... ...

News Leader: 'Bill Bolling's good ideas'

8:26 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEbBwqW45YkoCtMP1avcXjGT1b0IUvyQpQsAJI9GED-PC1n7MkzNlQE2gc3cx43NJ2b8Gt7_wC_juhOtGUQpZvzUctG97HDQdsBBXlvOZE9RA67Ay9ns-ZZNPNFLK44E8TgFhRNNG_6tx/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEbBwqW45YkoCtMP1avcXjGT1b0IUvyQpQsAJI9GED-PC1n7MkzNlQE2gc3cx43NJ2b8Gt7_wC_juhOtGUQpZvzUctG97HDQdsBBXlvOZE9RA67Ay9ns-ZZNPNFLK44E8TgFhRNNG_6tx/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Jean Ann Bolling, Dr. Kurt Michael, Lt. Governor Bill Bolling Overlooking downtown Staunton, Virginia / August 17, 2013 </div> Yesterday the <a href="http://hamptonroads.com/2013/09/ideas-man-who-isnt-running#">Virginian-Pilot</a> applauded Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling's ideas presented by his <a href="http://www.billbolling.com/2013/09/30/virginia-mainstream-project-releases-government-reform-proposals/">Virginia Mainstream Project PAC</a>. Today, the <a href="http://www.newsleader.com/article/20131001/OPINION/310010025/Bill-Bolling-s-good-ideas">Staunton News Leader</a> agreed: <blockquote>Monday, as the federal government stumbled toward shutdown and Virginia’s lamentable gubernatorial campaign dragged toward November, we received a much-needed reminder that some elected officials are still serious about governing. Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, the man who would be our next governor had Republicans had the sense to nominate him, released some excellent government reform proposals.</blockquote>The <a href="http://hamptonroads.com/2013/09/ideas-man-who-isnt-running#">Pilot</a> noted the LG is not up for reelection, commenting: <blockquote>In each case, Bolling's propositions settle right in the mainstream of Virginia politics. They are proposals that serve voters rather than political parties. They are neither obviously Democratic ideas nor clearly Republican. They are, quite simply, legislative initiatives that should be - and no doubt would be - welcomed by the vast middle of the commonwealth's voters. Unfortunately for all those voters, the man who proposed them will soon be out of state government, a victim of the same forces that kept those legislative ideas in a desk until Monday.</blockquote>The Roanoke Times opined, <a href="http://www.roanoke.com/opinion/editorial/2268686-12/imagine-ideas-not-ick.html">Imagine: ideas, not ick</a>. The first paragraph probably echoes what many are thinking in these final weeks of the 2013 Virginia gubernatorial race: <blockquote>Another week. Another palm slap to the forehead. Another “Gee, we could have had Bill Bolling” moment for Virginia voters.</blockquote>For those who will point fingers and again accuse of sour grapes (I'd like to see how they would handle how many in the Republican Party have been treated by the current crop), the editorial continued: <blockquote>Cynics will say that Bolling found his moral high ground only after losing the GOP gubernatorial nomination to Cuccinelli. While we wish the lieutenant governor had shown more verve in his response to partisan machinations that thrust him aside in favor of his flashier opponent, it would be unfair to suggest Bolling’s motives are so shallow. He has a genuine heart for good government, as demonstrated by his long-time support for bipartisan redistricting reform despite its unpopularity within his own party.</blockquote>Read all the <a href="http://www.billbolling.com/2013/09/30/virginia-mainstream-project-releases-government-reform-proposals/">proposals presented by the LG's Virginia Mainstream Project</a>. Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell

News Leader: 'Bill Bolling's good ideas'

Bill Bolling Jean Ann Bolling Kurt Michael Roaonke Times Staunton News Leader Virginia Mainstream Project Virginia politics Virginian-Pilot News Leader: 'Bill Bolling's good ideas'

Jean Ann Bolling, Dr. Kurt Michael, Lt. Governor Bill Bolling Overlooking downtown Staunton, Virginia / August 17, 2013 Yesterday the Virgin...

Bolling's Va Mainstream Project PAC taps 6 candidates for HoD support

10:19 AM Tukiyooo 0

In the second wave of flexing his political muscle, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling's <a href="http://www.billbolling.com/2013/05/15/bolling-announces-formation-of-the-virginia-mainstream-project/">"Virginia Mainstream Project"</a> (VMP) has made six more political endorsements backed with financial support and radio campaign ads leading into contested primaries on June 11. With the goal of electing mainstream, conservative Republicans to public office, VMP announced it had endorsed the following candidates for their Virginia House of Delegates races, some who are being challenged by tea party or Ron Paul candidates and are in particularly contentious contests: <blockquote>- House District 15 – <a href="http://www.delegatetoddgilbert.com/">Delegate Todd Gilbert</a> - House District 28 – <a href="http://www.williamjhowell.org/">Speaker Bill Howell</a> - House District 29 – <a href="http://www.beverlysherwood.com/">Delegate Beverly Sherwood</a> - House District 33 – <a href="http://www.joetmay.com/">Delegate Joe May</a> - House District 54 – <a href="http://bobbyorrock.net/">Delegate Bobby Orrock</a> - House District 85 – <a href="http://www.scotttaylorva.com/">Mr. Scott Taylor</a></blockquote>In addition to financial support, 60-second radio ads have been purchased and are airing for <a href="http://www.billbolling.com/2013/06/05/radio-ad-for-delegate-bobby-orrock/">Orrock</a> and <a href="http://www.billbolling.com/2013/06/05/radio-ad-for-delegate-beverly-sherwood/">Sherwood</a>. This is on the heels of VMP's endorsement and financial support to <a href="http://johncosgrove.org/">Delegate John Cosgrove</a> who was successful in his May 9 firehouse primary seeking the Republican nomination for the 14th Senate District. Bolling has stepped to the plate with his PAC, his experience, his reputation, and his willingness to endorse candidates interested in effective, common sense governing. That includes a pro-business attitude, fiscal responsibility, and a willingness to work toward searching for bi-partisan, pragmatic solutions. Reinforcing that commitment, Bolling noted: <blockquote>"If we are going to win elections in Virginia, we must nominate candidates who will appeal to Republicans and Independents and attract new people to our party.  I believe these candidates will help us accomplish that goal, but they need your help to win."</blockquote>The two-term lieutenant governor, who had been very involved and inviting with the grassroots of the party and conservative bloggers during his years in Richmond, unexpectedly found himself in his new leadership role as senior statesman after stepping away from the 2013 gubernatorial race. A series of maneuverings within RPV led to the takeover of the state central committee by the tea party and Libertarian activists who then reversed an earlier vote for a 2013 primary to a much more controlled convention, the one that recently took place in Richmond. Because of that change, Bolling briefly flirted with the idea of running as an independent but decided against it in March, prompting the <a href="http://www.newsadvance.com/opinion/editorials/article_39056fa4-8ce7-11e2-af11-001a4bcf6878.html">Lynchburg News and Advance</a> to editorialize: <blockquote>Bill Bolling is no tax-and-spend liberal, no R(epublican) I(n) N(ame) O(nly) as uber-conservative activists have tried to portray him. He’s a traditional Virginia conservative, a public servant who labored for his constituents as a Hanover County supervisor, then state senator and finally lieutenant governor for almost eight years. But the type of public servant Bolling is just isn’t what’s in fashion with the Republicans right today. An elected official who actually believes government has a role in society but who wants it to operate efficiently, leanly and unobtrusively is not the politician the tea party loves who sees government as a beast to be starved.</blockquote>In May, Bolling reflected on his new role in Virginia Republican politics with reporter Errin Whack at the <a href="http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-05-15/local/39270093_1_bill-bolling-pac-bob-holsworth">Washington Post</a>: <blockquote>“I found myself in a position of being the voice of a lot of mainstream Republicans across the state who were trying to call our party back to a more mainstream approach to politics and policy,” Bolling said in an interview. “It’s not a role I envisioned playing, but it’s a role I was thrust into because of the way things have evolved, and it’s a role I’m comfortable playing.”</blockquote>It all led to the <a href="http://www.billbolling.com/2013/05/30/virginia-mainstream-project-seeks-a-wider-gop-current-which-would-benefit-us-all/">Virginia Mainstream Project</a>. As the News and Advance wrote in the conclusion of their editorial: <blockquote>In announcing his decision earlier this week, Bolling lamented what he — and we — see as the “Washingtonization” of Virginia politics. Political battles, achieving the label of most ideologically pure, hyper-partisanship and just plain meanspiritedness seem to be oozing their way into the halls of the state Capitol. That’s not Bill Bolling’s way of leading. That’s not “The Virginia Way” of governing, or at least it hasn’t been.</blockquote>

Bolling's Va Mainstream Project PAC taps 6 candidates for HoD support

Bill Bolling House of Delegates Lieutenant Governor Lynchburg News and Advance radio campaign ads Ron Paul Libertarians tea party Virginia Mainstream Project Washington Post Bolling's Va Mainstream Project PAC taps 6 candidates for HoD support

In the second wave of flexing his political muscle, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling's "Virginia Mainstream Project" (VMP) ha...

Editorial: 'Virginia Mainstream Project Seeks a Wider GOP Current, Which Would Benefit Us All'

6:28 PM Tukiyooo 0

<blockquote>If Republican Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling hadn’t announced formation of the Virginia Mainstream Project prior to the GOP’s convention, he certainly would have done so afterwards.</blockquote>So begins Thursday's <a href="http://www.billbolling.com/2013/05/30/virginia-mainstream-project-seeks-a-wider-gop-current-which-would-benefit-us-all/">Farmville Herald</a> editorial by Ken Woodley as he noted the lack of transparency and lack of inclusiveness currently in the Republican Party of Virginia. Mr. Woodley continued: <blockquote>There is nothing mainstream about the trio of Republican candidates emerging from the convention, which was held for the specific purpose of deep-sixing the gubernatorial aspirations of Bolling and handing the party nomination to Ken Cuccinelli. The attorney general is joined by E. W. Jackson as the party’s nominee for lieutenant governor and Mark D. Obenshain, who’ll run for attorney general. Jackson made the most headlines following his nomination, with reports he has called the Democratic Party “anti-God” and labeled gays and lesbians as “sick” and “perverted.” Writing an opinion piece last fall for The Washington Times, Jackson, a minister, wondered how Democrats have “managed to hold on to black Christians in spite of an agenda worthy of the Anti-christ.</blockquote>As the dust settles from the Republican convention held two weeks ago in Richmond, more are beginning to understand what Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling said after the convention: <blockquote>Bolling issued a post-convention statement rightly saying that “some of the things he (Jackson) has said are simply indefensible. These kinds of comments are simply not appropriate, especially not from someone who wants to be a standard-bearer for our party and hold the second-highest elected office in our state. They feed the image of extremism, and that’s not where the Republican Party needs to be.” </blockquote>The entire editorial can be read here.