Lt. Gov. Bolling speaks at Boys State

Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling didn’t shy away from politically charged questions when speaking before about 800 high school students attending Boys State on Wednesday in Lynchburg.

In an election year when he is seeking a second term in office, Bolling took questions from the group that centered around fiscal responsibility, standing up for values and balancing partisan issues with bi-partisan collaboration.

“You need to know what you believe in,” he said, answering one student’s question about what characteristics make a good lieutenant governor. “And you need to be willing to stand up for what you believe in — when it’s easy, when it’s hard.”

Other characteristics he listed as essential for getting into politics?

A good education, a thorough understanding of complex issues and a willingness to work hard.

“Make sure you’re involved for the right reasons,” he said. “… This is not about power. It’s not about prominence. It’s not about prestige.”

In the final year of his four-year term, Bolling is seeking re-election in November alongside Republican candidate for governor Bob McDonnell.

One student asked why Bolling would not seek the office of governor.

“Every lieutenant governor wants to be governor someday. That includes me,” he responded. “It just wasn’t the right time for me.”

He focused on “fiscal integrity” when answering several questions.

“We all know that there is no fiscal responsibility in Washington, D.C.,” he said. “… There’s not a heck of a lot of fiscal responsibility in Richmond, either.”

“Government cannot and should not try to be everything to everybody. There is a word for that — It’s socialism,” he said.

For Virginia to get out of the economic slump, he said, the state needs to implement “more favorable taxation” for businesses while also supporting the energy business — including becoming the first East Coast state to explore offshore energy resources, among other measures.

While answering questions, Bolling was quizzed on his stance on the death penalty — “It is an appropriate punishment for those who commit the most heinous crimes.”

Asked whether he would raise taxes to promote fiscal balance — “Absolutely not.”

And queried on his thoughts of the “cap-and-trade” legislation under consideration by Congress — “well-intentioned, but misguided.”

Several questions at the session, held in Liberty University’s Vines Center, centered on the dynamic between Bolling, a Republican, and Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, a Democrat.

Bolling said he and Kaine collaborate on issues for which they share similar views and “disagree without being disagreeable” on other issues. But, he said, “it would be a lot more fun” to work in his position with a governor of the same political affiliation.

Kaine is scheduled to speak before the crowd at 11:30 a.m. today; McDonnell and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds will appear at the event Friday.

Bolling told the group that more than 30 years ago, he was in their seat, listening to speakers talk about their jobs in politics.

“The interest that you have in government and politics at your age can be something that stays with you the rest of your lives,” he said. “And I hope it does.”