Just over three weeks ago, we watched as the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee considered SB 417 (along with its identical companions, SBs 311 and 283), the bill that provided that Virginians would not be required to purchase health insurance. During the debate, several senators had concerns dealing with judicial disputes, especially divorce cases where a judge would require that one parent purchase health insurance for a child. These senators were not convinced by the bill patrons’ explanations, and, accordingly, voted against the bill.

HB 10 is similar to SB 417, yet distinctly different. HB 10, for example, includes an exception dealing with judicial disputes. Specifically, it says, “No law shall interfere with the right of an individual to pay for lawful medical services…, except as required by a court where an individual is a named party in a judicial dispute.” This exception should assuage the senators on Senate C&L. They might, however, vote against the bill for other reasons.

Next Monday afternoon, 22 Feb., Senate C&L could potentially hear HB 10. In preparation, we are requesting that TEA Party Patriots contact four legislators on Senate C&L before 10 am next Monday:

- Sen. John Edwards: district21@senate.virginia.gov, 804-698-7521
- Sen. Creigh Deeds: district25@senate.virginia.gov, 804-698-7525
- Sen. Mark Herring: district33@senate.virginia.gov, 804-698-7533
- Sen. Donald McEachin: district09@senate.virginia.gov, 804-698-7509

Let them know that HB 10, that they could potentially hear Monday, 22 Feb., contains an exception clause that would allow the courts to continue to require the purchase of health insurance. Then ask them if this would be enough for them to support HB 10.

IF you receive a positive response that one of these senators would support HB 10, please let RTP Legislative Chairman, Joe Guarino, know as soon as possible by emailing him at joeguarino@richmondteaparty.com. Thanks.

First for the good news:

• SB 417 passed the House today, 66-29! This means that one half of the RTP’s health care freedom initiative has successfully navigated the legislative branch of VA. Now, the bill should be enrolled and sent on to the governor, who is expected to sign it. However, procedurally, that might not happen for another several weeks.
• HB 69, the VA Firearms Freedom Act, was reported by the full Militia Friday morning, 17-2. It should now come before the full House for debate and a vote next Monday and/or Tuesday. For HB 69 to receive a vote by the House before “crossover”, it will have to move through its three readings in two days. This is not uncommon as each house approaches Crossover. So, when we actually see the debate and vote on Monday and/or Tuesday is hard to say.

Now the bad news from our friend at Campaign for Liberty, Donna Holt:

• Word just came that Bob Marshall’s HB10 has been assigned to the Senate Education and Health Committee. Why would this bill be assigned to Education and Health when the Senate versions were assigned to Commerce and Trade if not to stop it’s passage? Can it be that no one on the Senate side wants Bob Marshall to get credit for his defense of our health care freedom? What about credit for all of your hard work on HB10 which was the first bill we came together on.

We must call and email the members of the Senate Education and Health Committee immediately. Be polite, but be firm. We will tell you that the votes to get this out of Committee are currently NOT THERE!

State Senators who are a part of the Senate Education and Health Committee:

Houck (Chairman), Saslaw, Lucas, Howell, Quayle, Martin, Newman, Edwards, Ruff, Whipple, Blevins, Locke, Barker, Northam, Miller, J.C.

Phone Number Contacts
Email Addresses

UPDATE FROM DONNA HOLT: No sooner than I sent the last email out, HB10 was reassigned to the Senate Commerce & Trade Committee.

Either you are REALLY fast on the draw or they realized their mistake and fixed it. While I have no doubt you are always fast on the draw, I gather they realized their mistake and reassigned the bill to the appropriate committee.

That being said the action has is the same but directed to the members of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee.

Use the contact links above. This is the list of the members of the Commerce and Labor Committee:
Saslaw (Chairman), Colgan, Miller, Y.B., Wampler, Norment, Stosch, Edwards, Watkins, Wagner, Newman, Puckett, Puller, Herring, McEachin, Deeds

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. More later.