Hurt co-sponsors legislation to prevent U.S. government from interfering in state issues

Friday, January 29, 2010

By JOEL TURNER - Staff Writer

State Sen. Robert Hurt has co-sponsored two bills in the General Assembly that incorporate Tenth Amendment issues and are supported by Tea Party activists in Virginia.

The two bills are the Virginia Healthcare Freedom Act (HB 10, introduced by Del. Bob Marshall) and the Virginia Firearms Freedom Act (HB 69, introduced by Del. Bill Carrico).

Hurt co-sponsors legislation to prevent U.S. government from interfering in state issues

Friday, January 29, 2010

By JOEL TURNER - Staff Writer

State Sen. Robert Hurt has co-sponsored two bills in the General Assembly that incorporate Tenth Amendment issues and are supported by Tea Party activists in Virginia.

The two bills are the Virginia Healthcare Freedom Act (HB 10, introduced by Del. Bob Marshall) and the Virginia Firearms Freedom Act (HB 69, introduced by Del. Bill Carrico).

The bills block the federal government from interfering with state regulation of health care and gun rights.

The heath care bill prohibits individuals from being forced to buy health insurance.

Hurt (R-Chatham) is also sponsor of a bill in the Senate (SB 417) that would prohibit individuals from being forced to buy health insurance.

The bills on health care have been triggered by the "individual mandate" provision in the federal health care reform package in Congress.

Republicans in the Senate and House said it's unAmerican to force someone to buy something they don't want. They have questioned the constitutionality of a federal mandate that would require individuals to buy health insurance or be subject to a penalty. Opponents of the bills in the General Assembly contend that any federal mandate would override the state law and make it useless.

The firearms bill states that any firearm made in Virginia and retained within the Virginia borders is not subject to federal law or regulation.

Hurt, who is running in the June primary for the Republican nomination for the Fifth District, said he is working with Gov. Bob McDonnell to co-sponsor legislation to promote economic development in Southside Virginia and the rest of the state.

In his weekly legislative report, Hurt said he is the sponsor of legislation that would set a lower job creation threshold of at least 25 jobs for the major business facility job tax credit.

He is also the sponsor of legislation that would encourage veterans to start small businesses.

"I am looking forward to working with Gov. McDonnell and our local legislative delegation -- Del. Danny Marshall, Del. Don Merricks and Del. Charles Poindexter -- to promote economic development in Southside and across the Commonwealth," Hurt said.

Hurt said his committee assignments remain the same this year. He serves on the Courts of Justice, General Laws and the Rehabilitation and Social Services committees.