RICHMOND — Some of Gov. Bob McDonnell’s campaign promises to stimulate Virginia’s economy, including a tax credit for movie makers, are now in the hands of Del. Ben Cline, R-Rockbridge County.
During his campaign, McDonnell often talked of the benefits Virginia could realize from revenues that film production companies from other states could generate in Virginia.
“We like that out-of-state money, don’t we?” candidate McDonnell often said.
Cline’s Lexington-centered district has been a location for several major films, including “Sommersby,” starring Richard Gere and Jodie Foster, and “War of the Worlds,” which featured Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning.
Cline's bills
HB858
HB859
HB860
“Whatever we can do to stimulate the economy and get businesses going and create jobs again” is the second-greatest challenge facing the General Assembly, said Cline, who represents part of Amherst County.
The No. 1 challenge is a state budget that now demands at least $4 billion in cuts, Cline said. McDonnell plans to announce his recommendations for those cuts this week.
“You are going to see a focus by this governor and General Assembly on prioritizing the core functions of government,” including education, transportation and health care for low-income people, Cline said.
The economic-stimulation bills Cline is carrying are not budget-cutters.
One of them, in fact, would reduce taxes collected from corporations. HB860 would drop the corporate income tax rate from 6 percent to 5.75 percent. The bill is pending in the House Finance committee.
Cline also is carrying a McDonnell bill, HB859, that would require the state to issue certificates of incorporation within 48 hours after limited-liability businesses apply for them.
The fourth bill that Cline calls an economic stimulator is a perennial that has attracted the nickname “the Yellow Pages bill.” HB858 would require state agencies to purchase nonprofessional services from the private sector instead of performing those services within the agency.
The measure has passed the House of Delegates several times but failed in the Senate.
Cline said he’s going to push it harder this year.
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