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Virginia Republican governor Bob McDonnell stuck the knives in the back of conservatives by pushing a massive tax hike scheme.  

Working with the Republican Speaker of the House William J. Howell and Democrat gubernatorial hopeful and Clinton bagman Terry McAuliffe, McDonnell raised state sales taxes, car taxes, regional sales taxes, personal property taxes, vehicle taxes, vending machine taxes, heavy-equipment taxes, commercial taxes, hybrid-vehicle taxes, hotel taxes and diesel-fuel taxes.

Howell is not one to take dissent likely and he will stop at nothing to enact his agenda.  Luckily for Tea Party supporters and conservative activists, there are a handful of delegates willing to say no to Howell -- and McDonnell's -- big government tax and spend programs.

Del. Ben Cline (R-Rockbridge County) is becoming the leader of the conservative opposition. Cline not only opposed the tax hikes, he is doing something about it.  He has formed the Virginia Conservative Victory Project. The group “endorse and help fund conservative candidates running for vacant seats in the Virginia House of Delegates and conservative House incumbents running for re-election this November.”

“It is clear that conservatives must increase their numbers in the House of Delegates,” said Cline, who was among 40 House members who voted against the tax-raising transportation bill that passed the General Assembly in February.

“The 2013 General Assembly session was a disappointment for conservatives,” Cline said. “Through the recruitment of conservative candidates for House vacancies and the support of conservative House incumbents for re-election, the Virginia Conservative Victory Project will promote policies that embrace free markets, individual liberty, and the values of faith and family.”

Tea Party activists in Virginia should rally around the opposition -- and our new leader -- Ben Cline.