Dickie Bell for Delegate blog

Area lawmakers say economy still needs work

Posted by · July 15, 2015 12:00 PM

A record $553.3 million state revenue surplus for Virginia in 2015 is good news, but area state legislators caution there is still much work to do on the commonwealth economy.

They say the state economy is still growing at a slower rate than other states, and are concerned about the impact of the looming second round of federal sequestration. Legislators agree with Gov. Terry McAuliffe that investment in different kinds of jobs are needed.

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Area Delegate Displeased With Virtual High School Pilot

Posted by · June 15, 2015 4:28 PM

WAYNESBORO — The Virginia Department of Education last week announced a pilot program for a full-time online high school for 2015-16, but at least one area lawmaker is not happy with the plan.

The virtual high school program will be available to 100 students, and those students will register through their local public schools’ guidance department.

Del. Dickie Bell, R-Staunton, has been a proponent of virtual education since he was elected to the General Assembly. He sponsored successful General Assembly legislation in 2010 that established guidelines for virtual education programs to be followed by Virginia school boards. The ultimate goal of Bell’s legislation was to provide a K-12 program and school choice for all Virginia students.

Read More - Area Delegate Displeased With Virtual High School Pilot - The News Virginian

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Virginia to Lauch Online High School in Fall

Posted by · June 14, 2015 4:22 PM

CHARLOTTESVILLE – The Virginia Department of Education is launching a pilot program in the fall that will allow students to earn a high school diploma without stepping inside a classroom.

One hundred students will be accepted on a first-come basis. If the pilot is successful, it could be opened to more students and could become permanent, the department said in a news release.

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Few legislators take stance on Atlantic Coast Pipeline

Posted by · April 16, 2015 5:29 PM

Although recent concerns with the Atlantic Coast Pipeline’s public comment process have spurred local legislators to urge transparency, few of those decision makers have taken an official stance in support or opposition to the project.

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Making Changes in Richmond

Posted by · March 14, 2015 5:10 PM

On February 27, the 2015 General Assembly Session adjourned, one day earlier than scheduled. Since I’ve returned home from Richmond, many of my constituents have asked me exactly what the 2015 legislative session was all about. The 2015 session was one of the most productive and successful sessions in recent memory. We worked across the aisle to help create jobs and improve Virginia’s economy, improve K-12 education, make college more affordable, and protect our most vulnerable.

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Bell Certified as Republican Nominee

Posted by · March 06, 2015 3:12 PM

Half of the field is set for one of the local races involving a seat in Virginia’s General Assembly.

Dickie Bell was certified Saturday as the Republican candidate for House District 20 in the November election. That was done in a meeting Saturday of the Republican Legislative District Committee for House 20, according the legislative district committee chair, Anne Fitzgerald.

The committee met at the Staunton Public Library. The committee is composed of Republican unit chairs from Augusta, Nelson and Highland counties, and the cities of Waynesboro and Staunton.

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2015 Legislative Survey Results

Posted by · February 27, 2015 2:40 PM

1. Virginia continues to face budget constraints due to sequestration and federal tax increases. How do you believe the General Assembly should address such budgetary constraints?

	1	2	3	4
Raise general or statewide taxes (sales, income, gas, and/or personal property)	5.58%	5.58%	7.11%	81.73%
Increase specific fees to cover the actual cost of providing certain government services	18.23%	19.70%	31.53%	30.54%
Cut government spending	67.41%	16.96%	7.59%	8.04%
Streamline government programs and services	45.45%	40.00%	10.00%	4.55%
Eliminate or reduce tax credits and other tax preferences currently in the code	14.29%	22.17%	38.92%	24.63%

2. There have been discussions about reforming Virginia’s tax system to eliminate all or some tax credits, deductions, incentives and preferences. Which of the following best describes how you feel?

Answer	Percent
Virginia should eliminate all or most tax credits, deductions, incentives and preferences	13.19%
Virginia should eliminate some tax credits, deductions, incentives and preferences, depending on their effectiveness and value	68.94%
Virginia should not eliminate tax credits, deductions, incentives and preferences	17.87%

3. Virginia is a “right to work” state which means that no employee can be forced to join a union or pay union dues in order to get or keep a job. Do you support or oppose “right to work” laws?

Answer	Percent
Support	93.59%
Oppose	6.41%

4. Last year, the General Assembly adopted significant reforms to Virginia’s Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, reducing the number of SOL tests that students in grades 3-8 must take from 22 to 17 tests and creating a pathway for additional reforms that will promote problem-solving and critical thinking. Do you think the SOLs need additional reform?

Answer	Percent
Yes, students are still required to take too many tests	27.23%
Yes, the tests still encourage rote memorization, not enough problem solving or critical thinking	31.81%
Yes, teachers are still required to “teach to the test.”	31.33%
No, last year’s reforms will work for now	9.64%

5. High school students are required to take 12 SOL tests in order to graduate. Do you think the General Assembly should reduce the number of SOL tests for high school students, similar to the reduction applied to grades 3-8?

Answer	Percent
Yes	67.42%
No	32.58%

6. School choice refers to the idea that parents and children should have a variety of traditional and non-traditional educational options available to ensure that each student’s learning experience helps them meet their full potential. Which of the following school choice options do you support?

Answer	Percent
Full-time virtual schools	11.11%
Virtual classrooms, integrated into traditional school setting	25.93%
Home-schooling	29.82%
Charter schools	33.14%

7. Other states have adopted legislation creating “Parental Education Savings Accounts.” These optional accounts allow parents to use a portion of their child’s share of state funding for educational purposes, including tuition at a private or charter school, hire a tutor, enroll their child in online classes or save for college. Would you support or oppose the creation of Parental Education Savings Accounts in Virginia?

Answer	Percent
Support	75.44%
Oppose	24.56%

8. Do you support or oppose efforts to allow home-school children to participate in public school sports programs?

Answer	Percent
Support	77.25%
Oppose	22.75%

9. Of the following options, how do you think the General Assembly should address the rising cost of higher education?

Answer	Percent
Increase state funding for colleges and universities	4.26%
Limit or restrict student auxiliary and athletic fees	17.35%
Prioritize building construction projects	20.44%
Reform and prioritize financial aid distribution to serve more middle- and low- income students	13.97%
Encourage colleges and universities to offer “barebones” college degrees and charge just tuition, but not room, board or other fees	21.91%
Encourage colleges and universities to offer “three year” degree programs in certain fields	19.26%
Other	2.79%

10. A recent report indicated that mandatory fees account for over one-third of the cost of attendance at Virginia colleges and student fees accounted for, on average, 68 percent of college athletic program revenue. Would you support or oppose a state limit on the cost of student athletic fees?

Answer	Percent
Support	90.18%
Oppose	9.82%

11. Do you support or oppose mandatory reporting policies that require college administrators to report all allegations of rape and sexual assault to law enforcement, even if the victim chooses not to press charges?

Answer	Percent
Support	79.91%
Oppose	20.09%

12. Do you support or oppose Medicaid Expansion in Virginia? While expansion would enroll up to 400,000 currently uninsured Virginians in Medicaid, it could cost the Commonwealth of Virginia over $1 billion per year, forcing cuts to other key services like education, mental health and public safety.

Answer	Percent
Yes, Medicaid should be expanded in Virginia	12.61%
No, Medicaid should not be expanded in Virginia	87.39%

13. Do you support or oppose efforts to provide additional funding for Virginia’s healthcare safety net, such as free clinics and mobile health stations?

Answer	Percent
Support	56.41%
Oppose	43.59%

14. Last year, the General Assembly adopted a number of reforms to Virginia’s transparency, disclosure and ethics laws. Those reforms included (a) creating a $250 gift cap, (b) creating a statewide ethics advisory commission, (c) requiring more frequent disclosures, (d) requiring all disclosure forms be posted online, (e) requiring mandatory ethics training for elected officials. Which of the following do you believe?

Answer	Percent
These reforms did not go far enough	22.51%
These reforms were almost enough, but more work is necessary	25.54%
These reforms were enough	51.95%

15. Article V of the U.S. Constitution allows two-thirds of state legislatures to call a “Convention of the States” to amend the federal constitution. Some lawmakers have pushed a convention of the states to enact limits on federal authority and spending. Do you support or oppose a “Convention of the States?”

Answer	Percent
Support	79.82%
Oppose	20.18%

16. In response to recent events, Governor McAuliffe has indicated that he will support legislation to further regulate child care providers. His proposal would require all providers who receive public subsidies to be licensed and inspected. This would require a budget allocation to support the additional Social Services staff necessary to properly administer such a requirement.

Answer	Percent
Yes, I support the Governor’s proposal	39.91%
I support the Governor’s proposal but I do not believe it goes far enough	6.87%
No, I do not support additional regulation of child care providers	53.22%

17. Should all Virginia law enforcement officers be required to wear body cameras while on patrol?

Answer	Percent
Yes, law enforcement officers should wear body cameras	20.68%
Yes, but local governments should make that determination	42.19%
No	37.13%

18. Under Virginia law, law enforcement may seize property related to criminal activity, even if the owner is not convicted of a crime. Some have argued that Virginia should reform its asset forfeiture laws to make it more difficult for law enforcement to seize private property in order to protect the rights of citizens. Do you support or oppose efforts to reform Virginia’s asset forfeiture laws?

Answer	Percent
Support	82.28%
Oppose	17.72%

19. Should voters have the option to register by political party (Republican, Democrat, Independent, etc.)?

Answer	Percent
Yes	72.32%
No	27.68%

20. Please prioritize the following veterans’ issues in the order you think they should be addressed by the General Assembly.

	1	2	3 41	4
Veterans' transition programs and employment opportunities	41.32%	26.45%	20.66%	11.57%
Veterans' healthcare	52.48%	19.01%	16.53%	11.98%
Veterans’ homelessness	29.34%	19.01%	14.46%	37.19%
Veterans’ education and job training	21.07%	28.51%	28.51%	21.90%

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General Assembly to Address Selling Sweets in Schools

Posted by · February 24, 2015 12:00 PM

HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) -- A bill proposed in the General Assembly may change how sweets are sold in schools across the state.

In an effort to fight obesity, federal law prevents schools from selling foods that don't meet specific guidelines during school hours.

A bill introduced by Virginia Delegate Dickie Bell, who represents parts of the Valley, could allow schools to ease those restrictions.

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Doughnuts out, wheat muffins in: Va. wants sugary school bake sales back

Posted by · February 21, 2015 12:00 PM

Doughnuts are out, whole-wheat muffins in, and Virginia’s General Assembly is fed up: It wants to bring back the old sugary school bake sale.

Federal guidelines that took effect this school year have banished sales of nutritionally dubious treats to students during school hours. Anything sold while school is in session must meet the same nutritional guidelines as school lunch and breakfast.

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FFA Teams Honored by General Assembly

Posted by · February 20, 2015 12:00 PM

The Nelson County FFA Agronomy and Farm Business Management teams gained further recognition earlier this month for earning second place honors in the nation at the 87th National FFA convention and Expo held in Louisville, Kentucky in October.

The groups were recognized with a joint resolution by the Virginia House of Delegates and the State Senate. Students also met with Senator Creigh Deeds and Delegates Matthew Fariss and Dickie Bell.

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