Delegate Ben Cline Elected House Chairman of Conservative Caucas

Richmond -- Delegate Ben Cline, (R-24), announced this week that he has been elected by his colleagues in the House of Delegates to serve as House Chairman of the Joint Conservative Caucus. The Conservative Caucus is made up of self-identified conservative members of the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate. The Senate Chairman is Mark Obenshain (R-26th) of Harrisonburg.

"I am honored to be asked by my colleagues to serve as House Chairman of the Conservative Caucus," said Cline. "The Caucus has an aggressive agenda ranging from fighting for lower taxes and smaller government to advancing legislation that protects life, promotes family, and defends our constitutional rights. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate to advance a positive conservative agenda for the Commonwealth."

In his first new act as Chairman, Delegate Cline along with Senator Obenshain unveiled a new website for the caucus, VA Conservative Caucus. The website will serve as a resource for Caucus members and help inform the public about the work of conservatives in the General Assembly during the 2008 Session. The Conservative Caucus 2008 legislative priorities include, but are not limited to, balancing the state budget without increasing taxes, adopting sound fiscal policies that encourage job creation and foster economic growth, defending the right to life and the sanctity of marriage, and upholding the original intent of the Constitution regarding private property rights and second amendment rights.

"There are many critical issues that the Assembly will confront during the 2008 Session, and conservatives must work together to ensure successful enactment of our agenda," said Obenshain. "I am looking forward to working with Delegate Cline and other conservative members, organizations and individuals from across the Commonwealth on behalf of our agenda this Session."

The immediate past House Chairman, Sam Nixon, stepped down when he assumed the Chairmanship of the House Republican Caucus. Delegate Cline was elected to the House of Delegates in 2002. He represents Rockbridge County, portions of Amherst and Augusta Counties, and the Cities of Buena Vista and Lexington. Cline is a member of the House Finance Committee, the Commerce Committee, the Courts of Justice Committee, and the Militia, Police, and Public Safety Committee.

Since his election in 2002, Cline has authored several conservative pieces of legislation that have been enacted into law. These laws include stronger penalties for multiple DUI convictions (HB 1204 from 04 Session), improved privatization of state services (HB 2557 05), establishment of the Back-to-School sales tax holiday (HB 1125 06), a prohibition on the sale of state lottery tickets on the Internet (HB 1129 06), increased penalties for identity theft (HB 1141 06), stronger concealed handgun laws (HB 1577 06), increased penalties for elder abuse (HB 2459 07), and lower taxes for low-income Virginians (HB 3022 07). Delegate Cline has an A+ rating from the NRA and 100 percent rating from the Family Foundation.