Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 29, 1994 TAG: 9411010029
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
That's nonsense.
From his vote against the North American Free Trade Agreement and his steadfast opposition to any gun-control measures, with which we don't happen to agree, to his diligent efforts to advance the region's economic growth and educational opportunities, which we applaud, Boucher has consistently tried to make his constituents' interests his priorities.
On top of that, the six-term Democratic congressman is becoming increasingly influential in Washington. Voters have good cause to re-elect him.
His opponent this year is Republican Steve Fast, who teaches math at Bluefield College. Fast seems a sincere young man, but better at repeating national GOP talking points than addressing real issues confronting the 9th.
Fast has questioned, for example, whether taxpayers' money should be spent to erect shell buildings or improve roads and sewage systems to lure new businesses into Southwest Virginia, where economic development generally lags behind the rest of the state.
Boucher has rightly encouraged localities to install such infrastructure to accommodate new development, and he has worked to provide federal funding assistance. His efforts help account for the fact that all the district's cities and counties now have industrial parks.
Fast also suggests that Boucher's "Showcasing Southwest Virginia" program has more to do with the incumbent's desire for re-election than helping the region. Even assuming that's true, so what? The endeavor, which brings in corporate executives and federal-agency officials to see the region's assets, has helped generate new jobs and millions of dollars in investment in Southwest Virginia. If Boucher gets favorable attention in the process, he's also getting favorable results for the district.
The same is true of other initiatives he has worked on, such as development of a fiber-optic educational network, regional recreation and tourism resources, and a biotechnology center at Virginia Tech. Boucher gets a share of the credit because he deserves it.
His constituents also should know that Boucher has developed expertise and influence on several national issues with local significance. As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, for example, he has been in the middle of an effort to comprehensively reform and update telecommunications law. Not incidentally, this could spur electronic-networking opportunities in rural communities, both for jobs growth and for schools.
Similarly, he is sponsor of legislation enabling local governments to prohibit imports of out-of-state waste to private landfills - a questionable measure, but again a protection for isolated, less-populous regions.
Boucher is constantly out and around his district. Far from falling out of step, he has stepped up to provide leadership as thoughtful, consistent and representative as it is energetic. His record merits his re-election.
Keywords:
POLITICS ENDORSEMENT
by CNB