Hurt is a social conservative who believes "that life begins at the moment of conception." An anti-abortion rights lawmaker, he also opposes embryonic stem-cell research. As a state legislator, Hurt supported an amendment to the Virginia constitution that banned the recognition of same-sex marriage.

Hurt opposes granting amnesty to illegal immigrants. He supports a 2010 Arizona law that allowed local law enforcement officers to review the immigration status of anyone suspected of being in the country illegally.

Fiscal Policy

As a state lawmaker, Hurt has been dogged by a 2004 vote for a $1.4 billion tax increase that helped close Virginia's budget gap and funded education, public safety and mental-health services.

Local Republicans criticized Hurt for the vote. "I was convinced at the time, based on what I knew, that it was something that had to be done," he said. "I hated the vote, but I felt it was necessary at the time."

Hurt opposes privatizing Social Security, saying the program "is a promise that has been made, it has been earned, and it's something that must be kept. End of story."

Hurt supports permanently extending the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts to all income classes.

Though Hurt has both vowed to not request earmarks and oppose any bills with earmarks, as a state lawmaker, he sought more than $150 million worth of spending in state bills. Hurt says the budget amendments he submitted aren't the same as earmarks, which lack transparency. In Congress, Hurt said he would seek funding for his district through a "transparent process."

Hurt supports giving the president line-item veto power and a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget.

The Economy

Hurt criticized the $787-billion stimulus bill passed in February 2009 for failing to create jobs. He has supported funding included in the bill for expanding broadband access.

Hurt has voiced ambivalence about free-trade measures such as a 2007 agreement signed between the U.S. and South Korea, saying measures should also work to protect local jobs.

A critic of cap-and-trade measures to fight climate change, Hurt says such policies would lead to higher utility bills and taxes while making the economy worse. He supports a "safe and responsible" opening pf Virginia's coast to offshore drilling.

Hurt said he would have opposed a July 2010 bill that extended unemployment benefits, explaining he couldn't justify such measures without having the money to pay for them.

A proponent of less government regulation of business, Hurt opposed the July 2010 financial reform bill, arguing it would hurt businesses looking to acquire credit while putting smaller banks at a disadvantage.

Health-Care Reform

Hurt has signed a pledge to defund President Obama's 2010 health-care reform law and has also promised to seek repeal and replacement of the law.

Hurt also opposes cutting Medicare benefits, saying focus should be put on cutting costs of health care. He says he supports tort reform, allowing the sale of health insurance across state lines and enhancing the health-savings account options.

Education

Hurt is an advocate for an across-the-board federal spending cut, though has specifically mentioned the Department of Education as a target for elimination.

"If there's a good reason for its existence, it's not clear to me," said Hurt, advocating for keeping tax money locally rather than being doled out at the federal level.

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