This is the last part of Josh and my interview Monday with Congressman Jim Moran (D-8th). Part 1 is available here, Part 2 is here. Today, we conclude with several questions submitted by readers, plus one last question by Raising Kaine. Thanks for all your suggestions, and thanks again to Congressman Moran for being so generous with his time.Virginia Centrist: "Isn't it a bit disingenous for Democrats to claim the mantle of fiscal responsiblity without actually proposing any major cuts in programs or cost saving initiatives?"
Congressman Moran: I voted against the prescription drug benefit. That was just a massive giveaway to the big drug companies.
And it's a crime that we can't negotiate prescription drug prices. Seniors are forced to pay prices many times those we pay at the VA for example, because we can use the power of the government to manage those costs.
VirginiaBelle: "With the BRAC realignment, Arlington will be losing many of its defense jobs, and Ft. Belvoir will experience a huge population explosion and traffic nightmare. 1) What sort of "new" Arlington do you foresee? 2) What is being done, on a federal level, to ease the transition to Ft. Belvoir, both in Arlington and in Fairfax?"
Congressman Moran: He's trying to delay the move to Ft. Belvoir by holding back military construction money to put it in to veterans' health care. The federal government should pay for infrastructure so that the new residents don't overtax the Ft. Belvoir's resources. 20,000 people will move but much closer than currently projected. Crystal City will be the hardest hit. It needs to be remodeled and it's already underway, with much more pedestrian traffic and more mixed used development.
Peter Rush: "Why did you support, much less champion, the Bankruptcy Bill which you co-sponsored? That bill is arguably one of the worst pieces of legislation in history. It dramatically penalizes the 85-95% of filers who really need protection for the possible sins of the 5-15% who might be abusing it....The bill was written by the credit card industry..."
Congressman Moran: I've supported bankruptcy reform since 1991. People skipping out on creditors was hurting a lot of small businesses. Under the new laws if you're under the median income level you automatically go under chapter 7 which automatically elimates all payments, and we made special provisions for child care payments to protect mothers and children. People were going to homestead states, and skipping out on their responsibiliites. That needed to end. Credit card companies also agreed not to advertise to college students and to describe on the bill how long it would take to pay off debts by paying the minimum monthly payment.
Raising Kaine: A recent poll showed that 86% of Virginians believe gays and lesbians should be protected against job descrimination based solely on sexual orientation. This year the Virginia Marriage Ammendment will seek not only to abolish Gay Marriage in the constitution, but also to elimate nearly all possilbe contracts between unmarried couples that replicate marriage rights. Is the Virginia legislature out of touch or is this a political tactic?
Congressman Moran: When I was in Alexandria city government, we were the first jurisdiction to put non-descrimination for gays on the books. We've been passing protections at the local level for 25 years, and now they want to repeal decades of hard work. I believe in relationships for gays. This rule is unamerican and unconstitutional.
Liberalism is the essence of humanity. It's hardwired in to the way we are. We are going in the direction of liberalism, and will continue. Sooner or later these things will be overturned. Right now, there are some who really believe in this constitutional ammendment, but some are using it because it's a clever, winning tactic.