Posted on 01/25/2011 8:02:44 PM PST by HokieMom
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Conservatives advanced measures through Virginia's House on Tuesday that defy Washington by exempting Virginia-made goods from federal oversight, allow states to repeal federal law and blunt federal energy policy.
The votes, largely on party lines, were victories for tea party groups and Republicans eager to please them in a legislative election year.
They came during 3 1/2 hours of sometimes charged rhetoric that invoked state sovereignty and even the Civil War in the former Confederate Capitol.
"Our federal government has become too big and too powerful and we're not going to take it any more," said Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, in defending legislation that would remove goods made and sold in Virginia from federal regulation.
"The time is now for states like Virginia to begin to push back," he said.
And in an edgy partisan Senate committee debate, majority Democrats turned aside a GOP effort to force a vote on some of the same measures. Republican Sen. Mark Obenshain's bid to resurrect legislation a subcommittee had already rejected failed on 9-6 party line votes.
(Excerpt) Read more at wtop.com ...
BTTT — Good things happening in Richmond.
We really need a CONSERVATIVE Senate Republican Caucus. Only about 5 or 6 of the 18 or so Republican Senators are reliable conservative votes.
Anybody want to start a PAC?
I will donate to it!
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