Sen. Tim Kaine was re-elected to his third term in the U.S. Senate on Election Day 2024. In 2024, he marked 30 years serving in public office, which began on Richmond City Council.
“I admit to being somewhat mystified by the result,” Kaine said of the 2024 elections.
However, he added that his focus for the remainder of 2024 will be the National Defense Authorization Act and appropriations legislation, as well as the Farm Bill and energy bill.
“But, it’s going to be a busy next stretch,” Kaine said.
Also, appointees are expected from President Joe Biden for Supreme Court Justice before he leaves office in late January 2025.
Kaine said that his focus will be and is always on Armed Services, which are important to Virginia‘s economy.
He also spoke on the importance of November 15 as the 3rd anniversary of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Along with the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS and Science Act, Kaine said the three bills are “really bearing fruit in Virginia.”
“We’re making anniversaries virtually every week still three years later out of that bill,” Kaine said of the Infrastructure Law in Virginia, for which he will continue to advocate funding.
Kaine said he will remain as a member of the same committees in the U.S. Senate: Armed Services, Budget, Foreign Relations, and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
When asked by press about the possibility of Donald Trump withdrawing the United States from NATO when he becomes the 47th president, Kaine said that the last co-sponsored legislation by Sen. John McCain before he died in 2018 was that no president can withdraw from NATO without a 2/3 vote from Congress.
The U.S. Farm Bill requires reauthorization, according to Kaine, and he encourages everyone in agriculture to reach out and let lawmakers know what is important to pass in the legislation.
A deadline looms for legislators on Dec. 20 to keep the U.S. government from shutting down if funding authorization is not approved.
“No one should threaten to shut down the government of the United States. I mean it’s irresponsible,” Kaine said of Republican interference.
In 2019, Kaine pushed guardrail legislation that federal employees would receive backpay in the event of government shutdowns.
“We view that as a pretty effective guardrail,” he said in the Zoom meeting.
As questions were asked regarding Peter Hegseth‘s possibility as Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Defense, Kaine expressed his support for women in combat although Hegseth does not support women in combat. Kaine’s colleague, Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a retired Army National Guard lieutenant colonel, lost both of her legs in combat. Kaine also has a son who is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran.
“I don’t think he’s been paying attention,” Kaine said of Hegseth’s opinion of women in combat and his appointment is not confirmed until after a committee and the U.S. Senate provide confirmation.
Also nominated for Trump’s cabinet is Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who serves as vice chair of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, as U.S. Secretary of State.
“He’s a solid pick,” Kaine said of Rubio.
However, Kaine did not support Matt Gaetz as U.S. Attorney General for Trump’s presidency.
“Matt Gaetz as Attorney General is dangerous. It’s kind of on the verge of comical,” Kaine said.
He added he thinks the nomination may have been Trump’s way of testing if Republicans in Congress have a gag reflex. Gaetz withdrew his name for nomination amid sexual misconduct allegations and announced two weeks ago that he will not return to U.S. Congress representing Florida although he was reelected in early November.
“We’re going to have to expose conflicts and bypass them,” Kaine said of the coming months.
Kaine said he believes Tesla and X owner Elon Musk does not have a long attention span. He may be interested in politics and standing by Trump now, but may move on to something else next month.
Kaine responded to Augusta Free Press‘s inquiry regarding fears and concerns Virginians may have with the election of Trump to a second term as U.S. president.
“I’ve promised to always stand up for Virginians. While the national election results were not what many Virginians and I had hoped for, I look forward to representing the Commonwealth in the Senate for another six years. I will continue working to protect our democratic institutions and freedoms, bolster our national security, expand access to health care and job training programs, lower costs for families and grow our economy.”
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Rebecca Barnabi
