Whatever happened to him?
Posted on 01/01/2010 10:27:33 AM PST by LA Woman3
Last year brought a number of significant political developments. The Democratic Party made gains on the federal level, taking control of the White House, U.S. House and U.S. Senate for the first time since 1995.
But efforts to overhaul the health care system, rein in carbon emissions and jump-start the country’s shaky economy have cast an increasingly bright spotlight on moderates in the party such as U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, of Waco, whom Republicans see as vulnerable in the 2010 elections.
Edwards reflected on 2009 in an interview a few days after the House session wrapped up, giving Congress mixed marks on the weighty issues of the day.
The biggest letdown, Edwards said, was the politicizing of efforts to tackle ballooning budget deficits and health care costs.
“I think we have to find a way to reduce some of the pure partisanship being played on both sides of the aisle,” Edwards said. “To solve big problems historically — whether it’s creating Social Security, creating a Medicare program or fighting World War II — Congress has needed bipartisanship.”
Edwards was the only House Democrat from Texas to vote against the health care bill, citing the bill’s cost as a concern. He opposed a bill that seeks to use money returned to the government from bailed-out banks to pay for a second round of stimulus spending, citing the deficit, though he voted for the original $787 billion stimulus package.
“I’m disappointed that Congress has not yet faced the reality of reducing long-term deficits,” Edwards said. “I think there’s a general understanding that there are going to be deficits when you’re in the deepest recession since the Great Depression and fighting on two war fronts, but I don’t think Congress has yet recognized the economic train wreck that could occur if we don’t do more to address long-term structural deficits.”
Edwards did, however, see some bright spots.
He said he’s encouraged by signs the U.S. economy is moving in the right direction, noting the stock market has rebounded from large losses and the GDP grew for the first time since 2007. Edwards said leading economists were crediting the turnaround to Congress’ bailout of the country’s financial industry:
“I asked (Federal Reserve Board Chairman) Ben Bernanke this over the summer: ‘What do you think would have happened had Congress not taken action to stabilize our financial markets?’ ” Edwards said. “And he said, ‘I think we would have had the worst financial crisis in the history of the world markets.’
“While we’re not out of the hole yet, I think partnerships of public and private actions helped prevent a second Great Depression, and I don’t think many people realize how close we were last fall to the entire world financial system collapsing.”
Unemployment is still high, however, and Edwards stressed that the U.S. is not out of the woods yet, particularly in terms of jobs.
However, as a House member, Edwards said he’s uniquely positioned to help out jobs on the local level.
“A lot of people think the job of a congressman is voting on national issues. I’m one of 435 votes on national issues, but I’m the only vote we have in the U.S. House to fight for jobs and federal economic development that tie into our private sector,” said Edwards, who’s one of 12 subcommittee chairs on the powerful Appropriations Committee.
“My staff and I spend well over half of our time on these jobs and economic development projects for our district.”
Edwards, whose subcommittee oversees spending for military construction and veterans affairs, ticked off a list of projects that have helped the Waco area on the jobs front and helped its veterans.
He said increases in veterans-related funding pushed through his subcommittee have led to growth at the Waco VA Hospital, where a 224-job pharmacy call center was created last year. Similarly, Fort Hood’s Darnall Army Medical Center was a recent beneficiary of a push to modernize the nation’s military hospitals to the tune of $800 million for an overhaul. That construction project would benefit contractors in the Waco area, Edwards said.
In ’09 spending bills, Edwards also inserted millions in earmarks for projects in the district. Some of the local projects include:
* $2.4 million to continue the post-traumatic stress disorder study the Waco VA Hospital is performing in conjunction with Fort Hood.
* $5 million for a lab at L-3’s Waco facility where upgrades for EP-3E surveillance planes can be tested before installation, thus reducing the time planes must be pulled away from intelligence-gathering missions.
* $1.6 million for three research projects at Baylor University, including two aviation-related projects. The third project seeks to help veterans cope with PTSD triggered by a son or daughter going into combat.
* $100,000 for Texas State Technical College to help returning veterans find jobs.
2010 promises to bring another key vote on health care and a legislative schedule affected to some degree by federal elections, which analysts are predicting to go well for the GOP.
Republican groups, who’ve been critical of the Democratic efforts to craft health care legislation as well as skeptical of the effectiveness of the stimulus, are hoping the new year will bring with it a political sea change for Edwards’ district, which went overwhelmingly for Sen. John McCain in 2008.
The National Republican Congressional Committee put out a robocall across the district a few days before Christmas, arguing among other things that the stimulus was ineffective and urging people to make a promise for the new year:
“Call Chet Edwards . . . and tell him your New Year’s resolution is to watch his votes in 2010.”
mshapiro@wacotrib.com
757-5707
How the heck did a Dem win in Waco in the first place? It’s just a demonstration of how pathetic the Rinos were at growing the party.
Chet “Dimples” Edwards is such a Nancy-Boy that she wanted him to be the VP candidate last year. The real conservatives in his district have not forgotten that salient point.
Edwards voted with her every time that she brought up a Iraq surrender-date bill and only votes with the other “Blue Dogs” (aka Lap Dogs) when she gives them permission because she has the votes to pass the Obama agenda without them.
We didn’t just fall off the turnip truck, Chet.
Horsepucky. There are no moderate democrats, they don't exist, they're a figment of some fevered imagination. Whatever moderation they promise to get elected they'll forget the instant they get to Washington and fall in line behind the San Francisco wing of the 'Rat party.
Whatever happened to him?
Only after Nancy was sure she had the votes, then she granted him "permission" in a lame attempt to help him hang on to his seat next year. He does whatever Nancy tells him to do.
Wrong pretty boy Edwards! LOL! I haven’t heard about him in a while....
You are exactly right. Did he come home for the holidays? I looked for him at Christmas Eve service!
Hmmmm, do you think he went to Hawaii?
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