Although not from Fauquier, Frank Ruff may earn FFC’s Clown of the Week award for his email about the Boneta Bill.
Senator Ruff has his facts and his power role wrong. He seems to think he’s a judge, not a legislator. And he obviously wouldn’t make a competent judge, judging from his email about the “Right to Farm” bill, which was never called that. It was the Boneta Bill amending the very flawed Right to Farm Act that Ruff helped pass many years ago.
His email and our comments follow.
Angry Ruffled Clown
“Or more appropriately the “fake right to farm” failed on Thursday.”
A “fake” might call it that, but the Boneta Bill addressed real rights.
“Opposition was the Farm Bureau and local government. Supporters were grassroots groups and individuals. Many emails and calls were in support. Many had no idea the bill’s effect; they had received a call asking them to call to protect small farms.”
People knew darn well the bill’s effect; Senator Ruff proves he did not. The bill would have amended the flawed Right to Farm Act . . . that left out actual rights. Senator Ruff chose special interests over the people.
“Before the committee some spoke of protecting their right to farm and sell the products from that farm directly to the public. A right they currently have under the existing ‘right to farm law’.”
False. Farmers have the right to sell products, but the Right to Farm Act does not expressly state that.
“It is reasonable and fair. It is balanced between the farm community and others that may live in rural areas. No one claimed the current law was not working in any county.”
The senator seems to be trying to defend the flawed legislation he helped pass many years ago, but thousands of people were ‘claiming’ the law was not working in several counties.
“It turns out that this was brought about because one woman in Northern Virginia was advertising that her farm was a location to have social events. Fauquier County sent a letter explaining she needed a permit to hold such events or that she could be fined.”
There he goes. The facts on which he relies were not before the committee, which may explain why he has them wrong. Martha Boneta was threatened with fines for selling her farm goods and hosting a birthday party. Even the county’s claim that she was in violation of law for “advertising” events shows the county broke the law. There is no law against advertising events, just for holding them without permits.
“Her right to have events is a zoning issue.”
The bill was about selling goods, not having events. The senator obviously voted against a bill that he did not read.
“This gives affected neighbors a chance to be heard in a permit process. That process would include such things as parking issues. If the rights of neighbors could be protected, most Boards of Supervisors in the state would approve this type of activity; but it is not a farming issue.”
The Right to Farm Act protects farms from, as was said at the hearing, lawsuits for “noise and stink” (and we in Fauquier love our farms’ noise and smells). Under his logic, people would need permits for many activities on their private property: weddings, barbeques, graduation parties, etc. The Boneta Bill was about the rights of farmers to engage in commerce. He claims that “is not a farming issue.” Ruff, ruff, ruff.
And, as is customary at FFC when we write about politicians, here is a list of Senator Ruff’s top contributors from Follow the Money:
http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=137108
Dale
February 25, 2013 at 12:38 am
Real Patriot; Agreeing has nothing to do with anything that this evil Frank Ruff had to say. This man lied. He is a representative of the people, he has a responsibility to get his facts right. I was there, his response is a lie .It was rude arrogant and a out and out attack on Martha Boneta. I am ashamed that this man calls himself a Republican.
Mark Fitzgibbons
February 20, 2013 at 10:11 pm
No, Real Patriot, you miss the point. It is not about not agreeing with someone. We can disagree with people, and do. We often disagree among friends and family. We at FFC frequently disagree among ourselves. But when public officials combine deceitfulness and ignorance with arrogance, we find that to be boorish and worthy of being called out for what it is. Senator Ruff put out a misleading email with false information about the Boneta Bill, and he displayed arrogance. If you want that tolerated and encouraged, stick to reading that other Fauquier newspaper.
Richmond Corruption
February 20, 2013 at 9:40 pm
The PEC clearly owns Ruff’s soul. How else does Ruff explain stating bold face lies that were never introduced or part of the Boneta Bill? His mudslinging sounds just like the exact same crap that has been coming out of Fauquier, doesn’t it?
Here is Ruff (mouth piece for PEC) on Uranium:
Ruff: Uranium bill should die in Senate, (Danville Register & Bee, 01/25/2013)
Perhaps Ruff is too old to be in office. Does he even understand that the muck he has been slinging around has NOTHING to do with HB1430?
Real patriot
February 20, 2013 at 9:34 pm
Boy, when you don’t agree with someone, you really stick it to them.