FEATURES – November/December 2008

 

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Congressional District One

Rob Wittman, Republican, Incumbent
More information: www.robwittmanforcongress.com

In addition to stimulating economic development, lowering gas prices and supporting our veterans, one issue of particular importance to everyone in the Hampton Roads area is transportation. I believe that Congress must be a better partner with Virginia's state government in building roads and easing the chronic congestion we face in this region. To do this, it is critical that Congress improve its management of the Highway Trust Fund. This has been a priority of mine since coming to Washington in December and will continue to be into the next Congress.

A well managed Highway Trust Fund means more transportation funding, better highways and less congestion in Hampton Roads. Unfortunately, because of mismanagement throughout the last decade, the Highway Trust Fund is facing solvency issues. I have introduced legislation that would return the Trust Fund to a more disciplined style of management, and I will continue working to ensure that transportation dollars are available to fund our most critical needs.

When Congress takes up the Federal Transportation Reauthorization Act next year, I will fight to ensure that Hampton Roads receives its fair share of transportation funding. Currently, Virginia receives only 92 cents in funding for each dollar we pay in gas tax. Resolving this imbalance will be a critical step to make sure our highway and infrastructure needs are addressed.

 

Bill Day, Democrat, Challenger
More information: www.billdayforcongress.com

Hampton Roads is a highly competitive metropolitan area in the United States, as diverse as it is active. Having met with residents across Hampton Roads, the issue that was most prominent at the doors was the economy. That being said, as you know, within Hampton Roads, many individuals rely on the public transportation system for work, school and leisure. The local economy in particular is being affected by reliance on a public transportation system that is poorly funded, and a road system that is in disrepair. By focusing on the infrastructure, and working to improve public transportation systems across the district, we can improve the ability of Hampton Roads residents to get to work consistently and on time. Expanding the reach of public transportation will also increase the employment opportunities that residents may choose, lowering the unemployment rate, and increasing the quality of life for all of Hampton Roads.

Congressional District Two

Thelma Drake, Republican, Incumbent
More information: www.thelmadrake.com

The most important issue to Hampton Roads? Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!

Small businesses are the engine that runs the local economy. Tax cuts aimed at the middle-income and small businesses infuse our economy with the capital needed to expand, leading to job growth. Conversely, tax increases aimed at capital gains and dividends—the very same taxes that Democrats have made a central tenet of their economic policy—stifle job growth by producing a disincentive to investment.

The Port of Hampton Roads is a jobs generator. I know that foreign trade plays a huge role in our local economy. Democrats in Washington refuse to allow pro-growth, pro-jobs trade legislation to come up for a vote. It's an outrage that Democrats in Washington do the bidding of anti-trade labor groups such as the Service Employees International Union and refuse to allow pro-growth votes to pass.

Manufacturing companies, small businesses, homeowners: all rely on a steady and affordable supply of oil and natural gas. I worked hard this Congress to ensure that we increase our supply of domestic energy, while also transitioning to renewable energy sources. Increasing production not only creates thousands of new jobs, but it lends itself to preserving American jobs that would otherwise move offshore to countries where oil and gas are at a fraction of what we pay today.

Glen Nye, Democrat, Challenger
More information: www.glennnye.com

I spent my career serving as Foreign Service Officer in some of the world's toughest conflict zones. I served in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and recently in Iraq. When you work alongside the military in these conflict zones, you learn the value of working together and producing results. Washington partisanship has led us down a road of gridlock and inaction. Mark Warner has shown us here in Virginia what we can accomplish when we work in a bipartisan fashion to get things done. That's exactly the kind of leadership I will bring to Congress.

I witnessed how our military sacrifices for us, and I believe veterans benefits must be a national priority. I support Senator Webb's GI Bill, and I was disappointed to see Thelma Drake vote against it. Such military benefits are especially important to the military community of Hampton Roads and to our economy.

I also plan to focus on balancing our budget and strengthening our economy. We must invest in America's economy by focusing on our infrastructure and transportation needs, especially in Hampton Roads.

The single most important thing I will do for Hampton Roads is bring the Virginia-style leadership of bipartisan problem-solving to Washington.

 

Congressional District Three

Robert "Bobby" Scott, Democrat, Incumbent
More information: www.house.gov/scott

The single most important thing to do to make life better in Hampton Roads is to balance our national budget and return fiscal responsibility to our economy. Job security and job creation is critical to a better life in Hampton Roads, and rejuvenation of our national economy is the key factor in job security and job creation. Eight years ago, we had a sound economy with a balanced budget and a large projected surplus which we quickly squandered with tax cuts and deficit spending. In the interim, we have paid little attention to our economy, and now it has placed a drag on not only the economy of Hampton Roads, but that of the nation and the world. And without a strong national economy, other matters vital to improving life in Hampton Roads—such as enhancing our education system, improving access to health care, developing a comprehensive energy policy and investing in crime prevention to keep our young people free of crime and on the path to productive lives—also cannot be done. All of these matters are interrelated and important to the quality of life in Hampton Roads—if we don't fix the economy, we can't address jobs, education, health care, energy, crime or other needs.

Rep. Scott is unopposed in this election.

For the remainder of this article and the entire issue, pick up the November/December 2008 issue wherever magazines are sold.

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