The Johnson City Press - Senate Candidate Hilleary Talks Lower Taxes, State Budget In Visit

Senate Candidate Hilleary Talks Lower Taxes, State Budget In Visit

Posted on August 09, 2005

By Ben Ingram
Johnson City Press- Press Staff Writer
bingram@johnsoncitypress.com

United States Senate Candidate Van Hilleary made a campaign stop Monday in Johnson City to address Washington County Republican Women.

A one-time candidate for governor in 2002, Hilleary addressed such local party concerns as lowering taxes and balancing the state's budget while also touching on a few national issues.

"Some of the things, nationally, that we need to get serious about include the war on terror and our country's border security," Hilleary said.

"It's really ridiculous the number of illegal immigrants our nation is dealing with. Something needs to be done to tighten security along our borders."

Hilleary touched on a number of his conservative values as well, issuing his support for a pro-life stance along with the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman.

Also on Hilleary's mind was the U.S. Supreme Court and the need, in his opinion, to have a conservative base of judges.

"We don't need judges who legislate from the bench," he said. "The Supreme Court's judges have been chipping away, for some time, at a few of the freedoms we enjoy.

"Nowhere in the constitution does it say that anyone has a right to carry out on abortion."

"We need a more conservative Supreme Court, we already have a Republican president, House and Senate."

Hilleary said that it was important for him to spread his message around Tennessee, especially in the Tri-Cities region.

"It's important that people know there is an East Tennessee on this side of Knoxville," he said.

"Overall, I think people in this region are concerned with what most people in the state are concerned with and that includes the illegal immigrant issue, which is big, and the war on terror."

One other issue Hilleary pointed out was a recent measure that allows the U.S. government to confiscate private property and give it to another private property owner.

"This is just another issue that I believe should be challenged and I will work to do that," he said.

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