Star-Tribune - Hurt Finishes First Week in Congress

News Article

By Tim Davis

U.S. Rep. Robert Hurt was scheduled to return to Washington, D.C., Tuesday after a quick trip home Monday with his family.

Hurt, who was sworn in last Wednesday, spent the weekend in Williamsburg attending a freshman orientation program after completing his first week as the 5th District's new congressman.

Dozens of family members, friends, and supporters traveled to the nation's capital last week -- many by bus -- to see Hurt take the oath of office.

"It was wonderful to have so many people brave the long bus ride up to Washington," said Hurt, 41.

The new congressman said his schedule has been a bit chaotic, but he expects to settle into routine soon.

"It has been very challenging trying to be everywhere I need to be," he said.

So far, one of his biggest surprises is learning that members of the House of Representatives don't have desks in the capitol. Instead, they sit in chairs with no assigned places.

"It's just a totally different way of doing business than the General Assembly where you had a specific desk and were expected to be in your seat," said Hurt.

The House of Representatives, which includes 435 members, isn't set up that way.

"The system is not designed for everybody to be sitting on the floor at the same time and engaging in debate," Hurt added, noting that the floor process is very restrictive.

In its first week, the House of Representatives adopted rules banning earmarks and agreed to cut spending for congressional offices by 5 percent.

Hurt, who voted for both measures, hopes to return even more of his congressional allocation.

"We're very serious about being good stewards of the taxpayers' money," the Republican said.

Hurt also co-sponsored legislation for a balanced budget amendment and repeal of President Obama's health care reform law.

"We need policies that reduce the cost of health care, not increase it," the congressman said. "We don't need government mandates."

Although he's only been in Washington a week, Hurt is more convinced than ever that the nation is in dire financial straits.

"We've got to continue to look for ways to cut spending," he said, noting that a balanced budget amendment is a first step.

"States do it, localities do it, businesses do it and individuals do it," Hurt said. "There is absolutely no reason why we can't."

Hurt is a member of the House Financial Services Committee, which oversees the banking industry.

Congress was stunned by the weekend shooting in Tucson, Ariz., that severely wounded U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords during a meeting with constituents.

Despite the shooting, which killed six and wounded 14, Hurt doesn't believe congressional members need protection.

"I'm not fearful and I don't think it will change the way we do business. You can't let it," he said. "We have a democracy, and one of the fundamental principles of democracy is that people have access to government."

A former Chatham lawyer, Hurt is one of 85 new congressional members -- the largest new group in more than 50 years.

He was a chief assistant commonwealth's attorney in Pittsylvania County from 1996 to 1999 before leaving the prosecutor's office for private law practice.

Elected to Chatham Town Council in 2000, Hurt served until being elected to the House of Delegates in 2001.

He spent six years in the House of Delegates and was elected to the Virginia Senate in 2007 to succeed retiring Sen. Charles Hawkins.

Hurt and his wife, Kathryn, have three children: Charles, 11; Clement, 9; and John, 6. They live on Main Street in Chatham.

"It is very humbling to realize that folks have put such a tremendous responsibility in my hands," said Hurt.

"I just want to offer my heartfelt thanks to everyone back home. I really appreciate the opportunity. We are looking forward to working for them for the next two years."

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