Update on our two 10th Amendment Bills

Health Care Freedom Act (HB10)

HB 10, the VA Healthcare Freedom Act, passed the full House Commerce & Labor Committee Thursday by 15-4. Three committee members later registered their votes to make the final tally 17-5. Significant in this vote is that three Democrats, Dels. Johnson, Joannou, and Lewis, joined the 14 Republicans on the committee, making this a bi-partisan bill.

Additional action was taken during the committee meeting. HBs 576 and 722, identical to SB 417, were “rolled into,” or merged into, HB 10.

Senate bills to be merged?

On the Senate side, now that three identical bills have passed the Senate, SBs 283, 311, and 417, it remains to be seen how these bills will be merged and under which number. I spoke today with Sen. Quayle, patron of SB 283, Sen. Martin, patron of SB 311, and the legislative aide of Sen. Vogel, patron of SB 417. No clear answer was given, except that tradition often allows the bill to go the senator with the most seniority. So, while we TEA Party Patriots have championed SB 417, it looks likely that it will be rolled into one of the other two bills.

Then we will have the issue of whether HB 10 and the surviving Senate bill will be merged. While they are similar in some respects, they are uniquely different. The Senate bills focus on the individual not being required to purchase health insurance. HB 10 focuses on no law restricting an individual’s right to choose his own health plan or medical services. They each have also been written for different subsections of the Code of Virginia.

[Submitted by Joe Guarino, Richmond Tea Party, Chairman of the Legislative Committee]

Firearm Freedom Act (HB69)

In a 4 – 1 vote in the House Militia, Police and Public Safety Subcommittee #1,
HB 69, the VA Firearms Freedom Act, was recommended to be reported by the full MPPS Committee to the full House for a vote. It was a party vote with the 4 Republicans in favor and the lone Democrat opposed. The recommendation is non-binding. The bill will come before the full MPPS Committee next week.

There was much opposition testimony by those who believe that guns kill. I’ve never seen a gun law that reformed a criminal or prevented them from getting guns. Imagine how life would be if everyone felt that way. You and I would be defenseless against an arsenal of weapons any criminal is able to obtain regardless of gun laws that restrict them. [RTP Sidenote: Not to mention that it is a right in the Constitution. We support the entire Constitution, not just selective parts.]

The feeling is that this bill will pass the full committee. The real battle will be in the Senate. We will need ALL HANDS ON DECK when it comes up on the Senate side with as many patriots in attendance and willing to give testimony in support of the bill as possible.

[Information provided by Donna Holt, VA State Director of Campaign for Liberty]