THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 30, 1996 TAG: 9610300462
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: Decision '96
LENGTH: 90 lines
SENATE
John W. Warner (R)
A Senator's ultimate responsibility is to maintain his own integrity while serving country, state and party - in that order. Senate committee chairmen, in consultation with the Senate leadership and the administration, should, and do, establish legislative priorities and identify commonly shared goals.
Mark R. Warner (D)
Fortunately, the Senate has changed over the last 20 years so that seniority is less important and committee chairs don't wield such tremendous influence. As a result, each senator can follow his conscience and act in the best interests of his constituents, without having to follow the party leaders in every instance. On matters of international affairs, I believe that we should work together to make sure our nation speaks with one voice. And when our troops are serving abroad, I believe we all have an obligation to come together and support them, regardless of ideology or political party.
2ND DISTRICT
Owen B. Pickett (D)
I go back to my fundamental principle. We don't have a parliamentary system in America and I'm very thankful for that. We have a unique system. Had the framers of the country wanted us to have a parliamentary system, they could have copied what Britain had at the time. That's not what this country requires or needs. My job as a U.S. representative is to reflect the views, values and interests of the people in this district. That's what I attempt to do. This is not to say that I may not make mistakes. But I try to read as best I can what the predominate view of the district is.
John F. Tate (R)
A congressman's highest responsibilities are to make commitments to his constituents based on his beliefs and then, once elected, to keep those commitments. Too many politicians start selling out things that they know are right and that their constituents want, just to curry favor with another, higher ranking politician. Owen Pickett's recent vote against $40 million in medical care funding for veterans is a perfect example. He voted to use the money to instead pay for Bill Clinton's Americorps program, where so-called ``volunteers'' are paid $30,000 per year and more to perform ``community service.''
3RD DISTRICT
Elsie Goodwyn Holland (R)
To the extent that the interests of the constituency are at stake, I feel you have to follow the leadership or follow the committee leader or party, if that is what it would take to get some legislation adopted. In the welfare bill, every time something was proposed, President Clinton would say, ``I'll sign it if this is changed or that is changed.''
Robert C."Bobby" Scott (D)
The responsibility of a congressman is to use the best judgment that he can and there is, in my opinion, no responsibility to follow simple-minded foolishness just because a committee chairman or a party leader may have proposed it.
4TH DISTRICT
Norman Sisisky (D)
My strongest commitment is to bipartisan support for national security and U.S. interests overseas. Other than that, I'm fairly independent and look at issues on their merits. I really don't have to follow anyone's lead except the people I represent in the fourth district.
Anthony Zevgolis (R)
A congressman has a responsibility to follow the president when it deals with matters of national security and those responsibilities that are given to the president under the constitution. That doesn't mean he has a responsibility to follow the president's budget. If he believes the president's wrong, he needs to say so. Vote with the president when he's right, and vote against him when he's wrong, and not let the party persuade you one way or another. If the president proposes something that's against the people in your district, then you have an obligation to oppose it or to try to persuade the president. I don't believe we have an allegiance to the Speaker of the House, no matter who he is. I think we have a certain obligation to our party's platform, because I am a Republican. That doesn't mean I agree with every item that's on the platform; no one would agree with that. I am responsible to the people of the fourth district. I'm not beholden to anyone, and I don't believe a congressman should be beholden to anyone except the constituents in his district.
KEYWORDS: CANDIDATES U.S. CONGRESSIONAL RACE ELECTION
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