RK ARCHIVE - How can Virginia help regain the majority?

The math is easy. Democrats need to gain 15 seats. Pundits have suggested that approximately 40 seats are in play. If the observers are correct and the Democratic Party can be at least 50% successful, look for a new team in the front office.

Obviously we have a very competitive senate race here in the Commonwealth, but Virginians in the Second Congressional District will also be able to vote in one of those 40 targeted contests in November. The polls now show that Kellam is up by eight percentage points over Drake.

A Democratic majority in the House of Representatives would certainly have many upsides for the country, but what about for Virginia? Even with Kellam's win, Democrats will still only hold four of the eleven congressional seats.

One of those four, though, will be Ninth District Congressman Boucher, who is now seeking his 13th term. Boucher is a senior member of the congress and well-respected. What does that have to do with Kellam v. Drake, you ask?
If Kellam and 14 other Democratic challengers are successful this year, we can start referring to Boucher as "Mr. Chairman." Would any Virginian not want a fellow citizen to be a committee chairman in the congress?

So keep in mind, a vote for Phil Kellam in November is a vote for Rick Boucher [for Chairman].

Virginia voters are uniquely situated this year. If we elect Jim Webb to the senate and Phil Kellam, Virginia could be responsible for shifting the majority party in both chambers and creating an opportunity for Congressman Boucher to be a committee chairman.

Comments

Good news for Southwest (Bubby - 9/10/2006 4:24:59 PM)

A Democratic majority this fall would bring the interests of Southwest Virginia to the front - no other part of the nation is a better example of what happens when poorly administered trade treaties export jobs. Boucher's seniority will allow him to gain much influence. It used to work for the south, and it can again. I always wonder why people go on about "term limits' in rural Virginia.

The needs of rural America - jobs, opportunity, education, health care are not being met. These people are largely struggling in silence. When I contemplate the estimated $2 Trillion debt incurred for this Iraq adventure, I wonder how much we could have accomplished here at home. The utter waste is staggering.

Iraq War could cost $2.6 Trillion

This is a great post, thank you for this! (demnan - 9/10/2006 5:03:47 PM)

I've read about Kellam in the Daily Kos too. This is one of the elections where they do expect a flip I believe. I've been telling Northern Virginians for years that a vote for Tom Davis is a vote for Tom Delay, but unless you understand how Capitol Hill works it really doesn't come home to you. All the work on legislation is done through Committees. The chairman of the Committee decides whether there will in fact be hearings on various pieces of legislation. The Democrats don't have a chance unless we get control of one of the branches of the legislature so we can start to put together vital items like a raise in minimum wage for instance, without all the detrimental riders the Republicans will put on a bill like that.

Imagine what we could do if John Conyers, or Ted Kennedy was Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. This Committee controls the spending in the House. But you know that. I could go on and on about how important the Ways and Means Committee is. I saw this in action when I worked on Capitol Hill.

5th District Race (Gordie - 9/10/2006 7:56:04 PM)

With Virgil Goode's MZM donations and his last comment that the 5th will be a tight race, why are Virinians forget or conceding this race to Virgil. Come on all, give Al Weed a hand.When Webb wins he will need a man like Al Weed with 42 years of Military experience to back him. Write it up for Al Weed and contribute.

Which committee... (Neal2028 - 9/10/2006 11:19:16 PM)

Which committee might Boucher get to be Chair of? On the Judiciary, he's second only to Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) and Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA). I'm pretty sure John Conyers will have to go out feet first before Boucher gets a shot at that particular chair.
On the Energy Committee, Boucher is behind Reps. John Dingell (D-MI), Henry Waxman (D-CA), and Ed Markey (D-MA).
So my question is this; if Boucher would get a new committee assignment, would he be bumped to the top and be a chairman, or when we say Rick gets to be a chairman, it's actually of a Subcommittee--namely the Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee?