Rep. Robert Hurt kicked off his re-election campaign Monday with a swing through Virginia’s 5th District that included a stop at the Albemarle County Republican headquarters. “We have worked very, very hard on the House side to deliver on the message that you sent to Washington in 2010,” Hurt, R-Chatham, said to a crowd of about 60 people. “…It is a message of limited government and unlimited opportunity. That’s what this election is going to be about.”

Hurt hit on many of the themes that have become familiar over his first term, criticizing the White House and the Democratic Senate for inaction that he said has led to persistently high unemployment, higher gas prices and the continuation of a burdensome and unwanted health care law. He also called for increasing the supply of domestic energy and getting federal spending under control.

The freshman congressman is facing Democratic opposition from John Douglass, a retired Air Force brigadier general who went on to work as a lobbyist for the aerospace industry.

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Making It Official

Danville Register and Bee
Tiffany Holland
April 30, 2012

Two years ago in an office at 625 Piney Forest Road, campaign volunteers worked hard to bring a victory to U.S. Rep. Robert Hurt’s first congressional run for the 5th District.

On Monday, many of the same faces gathered in the same office to support the Pittsylvania County native in his re-election bid for Congress.

Joined by Delegates Danny Marshall, R-Danville, and Don Merricks, R-Pittsylvania County, Sen. Frank Ruff, R-Mecklenberg and about 50 other people, Hurt listed many of the issues he considered important, including repealing the Affordable Care Act, jump starting the economy, getting gas prices down and cutting federal government spending.

Hurt, who was elected to Congress in a Republican wave, said other members — especially the Democrats who control the Senate — have not gotten the message.

“It’s spending,” said Hurt, who added that eliminating spending and reducing regulations is necessary for economic growth. The freshman congressman was also critical of the White House.

“The president, with all due respect, has not demonstrated any leadership,” said Hurt to a fired up crowd.

Danville resident Shelby Burnett came out to support Hurt and said she was proud of her congressman.

“He has visited all the areas of the district and he listens to people,” Burnett said. “He did the best he could with what he is up against.”

During Hurt’s two years in office, he introduced bills limiting federal regulations on farm dust and the SHORE Act, which ensures private property rights are taken into consideration as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulates hydropower projects, the latter of which was a result of local constituents expressing their concerns to the congressman.

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On Wednesday, Robert introduced Supporting Home Owner Rights Enforcement (SHORE) Act. This legislation protects private landowners’ rights by requiring that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) take into consideration private property rights of Fifth District Virginians when exercising their authority as it relates to federally regulated hydropower projects in the Fifth District and across the country.
 
Below please find several news articles that discuss Robert’s SHORE Act, including coverage containing examples from Fifth District Virginians whose concerns this legislation seeks to address. Click on the links to read the full articles.
 
Roanoke Times: Rep. Robert Hurt Seeks Boost To Landowner Rights: Sparked by complaints by Smith Mountain Lake residents, Rep. Robert Hurt filed a bill Wednesday to boost private property owners’ rights in federally licensed hydropower projects. If passed, the Supporting Homeowner Rights Enforcement, or SHORE Act, would amend the Federal Power Act to require that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission must take into consideration landowners’ rights when issuing hydropower licenses.
 
News and Advance: Hurt Introduces Bill To Protect Lake Property Owners From Over Regulation: Homeowners at Smith Mountain Lake could have a federal agency paying more attention to their property rights under a bill introduced in Congress Wednesday by Rep. Robert Hurt, R-5th District. The measure was inspired by conflicts between lakefront property owners and regulators, who in some cases have limited the owners’ dock-building plans or told people to tear up property they’ve improved. Hurt proposed the Supporting Home Owner Rights Enforcement (SHORE) Act, which, if passed, would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to take into account private-property ownership rights when issuing and enforcing hydropower project licenses. Currently, FERC is not required to consider private-property matters when it issues or renews licenses for hydroelectric projects like the Smith Mountain-Leesville Lake complex operated by Appalachian Power Co. Hurt said his legislation would require FERC to consider “the private use and enjoyment of land.” Hurt’s measure would require APCO, when enforcing FERC rules, to “consider the benefit of private landownership to investment and increased tourism” when developers are building recreation resources on the lake, Hurt said. 
 
WSLS: Congressman Hurt Hopes New Bill Will Prevent Future Dock Fights: It took nearly a year and $10,000 in legal fees for Waterfront Condominium residents in Smith Mountain Lake to ensure their docks wouldn’t be removed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, better known as FERC. But while their fight is over, the issue is taking a much bigger stage. Six weeks ago FERC backed off its stance that the docks at the condominium complex had to be torn down. But thanks in part to the noise made by several of these condominium owners this issue will now be taken up in Congress. Wednesday Fifth District Congressman Republican Robert Hurt introduced the Supporting Home Owner Rights Enforcement Act (SHORE). The bill would require FERC to take private property rights into account when issuing licenses, something they are not required to do now. “It will give an opportunity to landowners to have their views heard in a very real way,” Hurt said. “I think that will have a very positive outcome in the final product.”
 
WDBJ: SHORE Act: Hurt Introduces Legislation To Protect Landowners’ Rights At Smith Mountain Lake: 5th District Congressman Robert Hurt has introduced legislation he hopes will protect the rights of private landowners at Smith Mountain Lake. He has dubbed the proposal the SHORE Act, short for Supporting Home Owner Rights Enforcement. The legislation would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to consider property ownership rights when issuing and enforcing licenses for hydroelectric projects like Smith Mountain Lake. Earlier this year, residents of Gangplank Point objected when FERC ordered their homeowners association to remove boat docks from the condominium community.
 
 
 
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Hurt’s Farm Dust Bill Passes In The House

VIDEO: Hurt’s Farm Dust Bill Passes in the House

WSET

December 12, 2011

Pittsylvania Co., VA – It’s now up to the senate to pass Rep. Robert Hurt’s Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act. The bill passed in the house by an overwhelming majority.

The bill would limit the EPA from controlling dust on farms. Hurt says he crafted the bill because further federal farming regulations would hurt the area, limiting job growth in an already struggling region. Farmers agree.

“There’s a lot of regulations that are good. But there are some petty regulations that I think sometimes the government just wants to have their hands in things that they really don’t need to be concerned about,” said Pattie Owen of Owen Farm.

It’s that sentiment among local farmers that drove Rep. Hurt to propose his farm dust regulation prevention act. Hurt says too many federal regulations kill jobs.

“The last thing farmers need, the last thing that folks who have businesses in rural areas need is to have the EPA coming down and making it more difficult to do business,” said Hurt.

“Because you would have to spend so much time meeting those regulations, you wouldn’t have time to do anything else. The cost would have to go up to the consumer,” said Owen.

Dust is a natural occurrence in farming farmers say they shouldn’t have to control. They say it forces small local farms to conform to the same regulations as corporate industrial agriculture, and it just doesn’t seem fair.

“A smaller operation doesn’t typically have the manpower to deal with a regulation on that scale,” said Stephen Barts, a Pittsylvania County extension agent.

Owen runs her farm with her husband. She’s grateful the house passed the bill because she says their small operation can’t handle more government regulations.

“The licenses and the regulations and the penalties and all the stuff that you have to go through raises the cost for the farmer,” said Owen.

The bill passed in the house by a vote of 268 to 150. Hurt hopes the senate will vote on the bill some time next year.

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“I want to thank all of our local and state candidates in the 5th District and across the Commonwealth for all of the hard work that went into their well fought campaigns.
 
“And I want to congratulate all of our Republican candidates on their impressive victories last night, which were critical in growing our majority in the House of Delegates and gaining Republican seats in the State Senate.
 
“As they did in 2009 and 2010, Virginia voters have once again sent a loud and clear message that in order to turn our economy around and move Virginia and our nation forward, we need people both in Richmond and Washington who are committed to supporting those commonsense, limited government policies that will help get our country back on the right track.
 
“I look forward to working alongside our local leaders, Delegates, and State Senators as we all seek to grow our economy, create jobs, and pass on an even better America to our children and grandchildren.”
 

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Robert Hurt To Attend And Address Albemarle, Lynchburg, Danville and Rocky Mount Victory Rallies

CHATHAM, VA – Robert Hurt will hold attend and address victory rallies in Albemarle, Lynchburg, Danville and Rocky Mount for candidates Sunday, November 6^th at 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm, and 6:00 pm and Monday, November 7^th at 11:00 pm. 

Sunday, November 6th, 2011

1:30 pm

Robert Hurt To Attend And Address Albemarle Victory Rally

Albemarle Republican Committee Headquarters

455 Albemarle Square

Charlottesville, VA 

3:30 pm

Robert Hurt To Attend And Address Lynchburg Victory Rally

Republican Victory Center

3700 Candler’s Mountain Road

Lynchburg, VA

6:00 pm

Robert Hurt To Attend And Address Danville Victory Rally

Blairs Fire Hall

7100 US Highway 29 North

Blairs, VA

Monday, November 7th, 2011

11:00 am

Robert Hurt To Attend And Address Rocky Mount Victory Rally

Franklin County Courthouse

275 South Main Street

Rocky Mount, VA

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Albemarle Board of Supervisor candidate Jim Norwood and Congressman Robert Hurt took a tour of new small businesses in the town of Scottsville on Saturday.

The two Republicans went door to door speaking to owners to see how their businesses were progressing. They also spoke to a small crowd at the restaurant, A Slice of Heaven. Politics and Norwood’s new job plan were the main topics up for discussion.

Norwood said he wants new business owners to come to the town. He hopes to help them find a way to develop a business plan.

He said that plans are moving forward for the old Hyosung plant. The developer wants to build retirement homes in its place.

Democrat Chris Dumler will face Norwood in the November 8th election.

In just over a week, voters will decide who replaces Lindsay Dorrier as Scottsville’s representative on Albemarle County’s Board of Supervisors. The retiring Democrat is often seen as a swing vote for some of the board’s more controversial decisions, like the decision to move forward with a Route 29 Western Bypass. Now for the two new candidates, the race is on to win over voters.

Republican candidate Jim Norwood talked jobs Saturday in Scottsville. He says the board can do more to encourage small business growth in southern Albemarle.

“We need to find ways to be creative with overall expansion in the private sector,” he said. “Whether we have tax incentives that are not in place at this time. We need to pass ordinances that are going to make government less impactful on private investment.”

Norwood got some help delivering that message from Congressman Robert Hurt.

“I don’t think there’s anything more important at a local level than creating an environment that’s conducive to job creation,” Hurt said during a speech to supporters.

While Hurt and Norwood campaigned, about 15 miles north near Mill Creek, Democrat Chris Dumler was knocking on doors.

“We’re reminding supporters they’ve got to get out there and vote November 8″ he said.

Dumler says pressuring Richmond to change the formula that determines how much funding each locality gets from the state could help the board better tackle budget shortfalls.

“One of the things I support is fixing the composite index formula on the state level that doesn’t take into account our land use taxation program, doesn’t take into account that we pay revenue sharing money to the city of Charlottesville,” he said.

Despite ever-decreasing funds, both candidates say preserving teacher jobs is an education priority.

Both candidates insisted that the school division should work hard to use the money they have wisely. However, Dumler did leave the door open to tax increases, but only, he says, if there’s an outcry of support for such a measure from constituents.

As for the Western Bypass, Norwood supports the roadway, and Dumler opposes it. This summer Dorrier cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of the bypass.

 *MEDIA ADVISORY*

Robert Hurt To Address And Attend The Fluvanna Republican Committee Annual Oktoberfest Event   

CHATHAM, VA – Robert Hurt will address and attend the Fluvanna Republican Committee Oktoberfest Event tomorrow, Saturday, October 29^th at 12:00 pm. 

Saturday, October 29^th, 2011

12:00 pm

Robert Hurt To Address And Attend The Fluvanna Republican Committee Oktoberfest Tomorrow

Camp Friendship

Rte. 15 South

Palmyra, VA

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