This Friday, October 20, TODAY incumbent 2nd district Congresswoman Thelma Drake will be here for a live blog. The session will start at 5:30 pm and will run for one hour. Feel free to leave your questions in this thread for the Congresswoman.
PLEASE NOTE: If you linked to the prior thread, the link is no longer active.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Rep. Drake. I want to first of all thank you for participating in this forum. Additionally, I want to wish you all the best for the next two weeks. You have my full support.
I saw your wonderful profile in the Pilot yesterday. The article celebrated your humble roots and rise to prominence. My question is this: what have been the most amazing and rewarding parts of your career in public service so far? (I say so far because I know you will have many, many more years of dedicated service ahead of you!)
Rep. Drake,
I want to echo everyone who has thanked you for participating in this live blog. Thank you.
My question is if the Democrats do in fact gain control of the Congress and yet you are re-elected, how will you use this opportunity to reach across the aisle? Do you think the GOP in the minority has an opportunity to come to some compromises on issues without compromising core beliefs since there won’t be such a concern of keeping the majority anymore?
Also, can the GOP as the minority work with a Speaker like Pelosi? If the Dems gain control of the House, who would you like to see them elect as speaker?
Congresswoman Drake,
Energy issue related attacks have been prevalent this campaign season and many people have suggested that the forthcoming election is only reason gas prices have come down. However, OPEC’s decision this week to raise prices by slowing production reminds us that it’s a supply and demand driven market that leaves us extraordinarily dependent on foreign oil. What do you think the United States needs to do to exercise some long-term control over the volatile energy market?
Thank you for taking the time for these questions.
Congresswoman Drake,
You opponent has being going after you for being too much of a Bush administration yes man. Are there any votes where you sided with President Bush, but now due to changing circumstances or more information, you think your vote was wrong?
What is your biggest disagreement with the Republican leadership in Congress? What do you intend to do about it next term?
And thanks for appearing in the blogosphere.
Vivian & Readers –
Thank you very much for the opportunity to answer your questions this evening. I’ll try to get to as many as I can over the next hour.
It is an honor to serve the people of the 2nd District in Congress. We have but 18 days left in this campaign, and I humbly ask for your vote on November 7th.
Now … let’s get to the questions.
Thanks for being here!
1. eileen – October 18, 2006
Dear Rep. Drake,
First, thank you for live-blogging here. My questions: Assume you get as you wished and the moratorium is lifted for drilling off the Virginia coastline. DOI has sold off all its leases and any one of the various oil companies in their exploration finds either both natural gas and oil, or just oil. Virginia’s legislative intent is to allow only for the exploration and production of natural gas. What happens when the oil companies instead find oil? Do they “stop” up the hole and walk away from it, so to speak? Nothing that the Federal government has done would prevent them from harvesting the oil, but it would defy the wishes of the Commonwealth (reference Sen. Wagner’s SB262 with Gov. Kaine’s amendments). Would you therefore be willing to restrict the moratorium’s lift to be exclusively on the production of natural gas to so reflect the wishes of Virginia? If instead this is in reality an “all-or-nothing” moratorium, and knowing that lifting such goes against the desires of Virginia, would you still vote to lift the ban?
Thank you.
***
Thanks, Eileen. Perhaps after tonight’s live blog, I will have won your vote.
America imports 62-percent of its oil products right now. It is thirteen times more likely to have a significant spill to import product by tanker than the risk of a spill from deep sea rigs. What happened in the Gulf during Katrina is an example of how safe modern technology is.
Very little natural gas can be imported (roughly 3-percent).
In America, we have increased demand for natural gas for the generation of electricity without increasing supply. Hence, our much higher prices, which has driven the fertilizer industry mostly out of the country.
The lifting of the moratorium would give Virginia complete control of the waters for 100 miles. The decision of gas or oil will be totally dependent on state action. If oil is found, and Virginia has only authorized natural gas, only natural gas can be extracted.
A big issue for Virginia is the training mission of the military. The legislation gives the military veto power over this drilling. Currently, discussions are underway to see if the industry could coexist with the military or if any recovery would need to extend beyond the training grounds. That means 130-plus miles off shore.
It remains to be seen if industry could support that with location of the resource as well as costs that would be involved. The importance of lifting the moratorium is to increase domestic supply regardless of whether it can happen off Virginia specifically.
America cannot be dependent on our enemies in the Middle East or Venezuela for our energy. Iran has threatened to end our supply if we refuse to allow them to pursue nuclear programs. Who knows what Chavez would ever do.
4. Not Larry Sabato – October 19, 2006
Congresswoman Drake,
Good to see you in the blogosphere. My question is about the BRAC meeting where you were pictured with your eyes shut. What’s the story behind that?
***
I’m really sorry to inform you, but I truly am human. I blinked. Photographers present were taking tons of pictures very, very quickly during the swearing-in. Obviously, this shot captured a moment when I had blinked. It’s that simple.
Nice try, though.
Thanks for answering my question!
16. Southwest by Southeast – October 20, 2006
Rep. Drake. I want to first of all thank you for participating in this forum. Additionally, I want to wish you all the best for the next two weeks. You have my full support.
I saw your wonderful profile in the Pilot yesterday. The article celebrated your humble roots and rise to prominence. My question is this: what have been the most amazing and rewarding parts of your career in public service so far? (I say so far because I know you will have many, many more years of dedicated service ahead of you!)
***
There have been many amazing and rewarding parts of serving in public office. Most importantly is helping solve problems that constituents face. Let me give you one example where I think I made a real difference. I authored and passed legislation that improves Virginia law regarding the practice of eminent domain. Legislation passed during my tenure in the House of Delegates has been used in Virginia courts, including the Virginia Supreme Court is cited by our judges in ruling in favor of private property owners.
Thank you for your support.
2. hrconservative – October 18, 2006
Rep. Drake,
If you get re-elected, will you be doing your past in the next Congress to control spending?
I have been one of your biggest supporters and a supporter of the Republican Party, but the spending has been outrageous. I realize this is not all the House’s fault, and I won’t mention any names (cough, cough, President Bush, cough), but this out of control spending has to be dealt with.
Kudos on your illegal immigration position, by the way.
2nd question – how have you been able to cope with the misleading ads and, at times, outright lies in those ads? It has been a testament to the fantastic campaign that you have run that you are not at 30% in the polls. As it is, you are currently winning or tied. Has your campaign seen any backlash because of these ads FOR you? In other words, have you heard people saying that are more inclined to vote FOR you, AGAINST Phil Kellam because of these misleading ads from MoveOn and the DCCC?
***
Spending is a major concern and I am working with my colleagues to reduce federal spending. Last year we cut 53 federal programs and this year 95 ineffective federal programs are targeted.
Earmarks have been reduced by 37-percent because of a change in House policy. I have voted for — and the House passed — line-item veto to allow a president to remove any fiscally irresponsible projects.
The federal budget for FY 2006 was reduced by $39 billion. This is a result of our current tax policy and reducing spending.
The budget deficit has been cut in half NOW. The original projection was to have that accomplished by 2009.
With regard to the negative ads: I have tough skin and the voters know better than to believe these silly distortions and negative attacks.
It’s been very hard on my grandchildren, actually. They tell me they know this stuff isn’t true.
People have called my office and asked for signs and how to donate money because of these very vicious attacks. In fact, our information shows that MoveOn.org’s ads in the spring hurt my opponent, because most people associate him with the organization. They hold him responsible, especially since he never condemned them.
14. vjp – October 20, 2006
Congresswoman Drake
Thanks so much for taking the time to come and interact with the members of the Virginia blogshpere and particularly those of us in the 2nd.
My question: what is the one thing that separates you from your opponent?
~Vivian
***
Well, according to a recent article — salon.com, I think — Phil and I both blow dry our hair, so that’s not it.
I think the news coverage of this week’s debate captured one key difference — with regard to our efforts to fight terrorism.
I support a strong policy of tracking terrorists by following their communications and financial transactions. I think that we ought to be monitoring conversations between known terrorists and anyone they are talking to in America.
My opponent wants to wait for lawyers to get involved, which I believe puts the country at risk.
I’d like to ask a follow-up question to the offshore drilling one, but ONLY if time permits and you have cleared through the other’s questions.
You say Virginia would have control on the 100 miles off its coast. So I assume the Feds control outside that 100 miles. What if they find oil 100 miles or more off our coast? Stop it up and move along? Or do they develop oil? Also, what kind of onshore facilities (refineries, pipelines, etc.) that support the offshore drilling would we the residents of VB and the Eastern Shore be expected to endure?
13. Pat – October 20, 2006
Congresswoman Drake,
Thank you for taking questions in this format. This is really reaching out to your constituency to learn what we are thinking and share your views. Frankly, it should be done perhaps monthly or bi-monthly, not just at campaign time. If re-elected can you pledge to do that?
My other question is how do you feel about the Marshall/Newman act? I realize that it’s at the state level, not federal, but you live in Virginia, too, and I would appreciate your addressing it.
Thanks again for being here.
***
I’m glad to be here. I hope to continue doing this. Thanks to Vivian for the opportunity.
With regard to the Marriage Amendment, both Phil Kellam and I support the amendment and intend to vote for it.
10. James Martin – October 19, 2006
Rep. Drake; Thanks for coming by!
My question concerns the possibility that the GOP remains in the majority come November (or if the GOP is the minority party). If re-elected, when you go to vote for Republican leadership, will you vote for anyone who is currently in leadership, such as Speaker Hastert, Congressman Boehner, or Congressman Reynolds who covered up the predatory behavior of a pedophile in order to hold a seat in congress for the GOP?
***
Anyone who knew about sexually explicit e-mails (the second group that we all know about now) ad did not act to protect our children should be held accountable. Whether it is a staff member or an elected official, any person who knew and did not act absolutely has to go.