Vanke fights Capitol Hill convention

Chris Graham

A question for Jeff Vanke. You’re an independent candidate for Congress. Let’s say you’re elected. Who do you caucus with? The answer will surprise you. “I wouldn’t caucus with either party. I would have a vote on the House floor,” said Vanke, a self-described “independent centrist” from Roanoke who is challenging Republican incumbent Bob Goodlatte…

Drilling in the Valley

Contributors

Millions of gallons of water are used to literally fracture the earth to get at the natural gas below. And below is the operative word – hydraulic fracturing, or hydrofracking, as it’s commonly called, aims at natural-gas reserves anywhere from 5,000 to 20,000 feet beneath the earth’s surface. The good news is that natural gas…

Aaron Dorfman: Healthy democracy needs philanthropy

Contributors

Column by Aaron Dorfman Submit guest columns: [email protected]   When those who speak for regular folks – you, me and everyday working people – are outspent in Washington, even the most welcome legislation tends to serve the rich and powerful. As the country anticipates President Obama signing financial reform legislation, the scorecard is so starkly…

Frank Knapp Jr.: Restoring balance between Wall Street and Main Street

Contributors

Column by Frank Knapp Jr. Submit guest columns: [email protected]   The South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce and small business organizations and owners across this country want Wall Street Reform. But you wouldn’t know that from the attention the media gives to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which…

Rail Compact holds first meeting

Contributors

Edited by Chris Graham [email protected]   The newly formed Virginia-North Carolina Interstate High Speed Rail Compact held its inaugural meeting Monday at the NCDOT Transportation Building in Raleigh. The compact, which was authorized by Congress and established through legislation enacted by the Virginia and North Carolina state legislatures, will work to advance high-speed rail initiatives…

DREAM to reality

Chris Graham

Isabel wanted to create an impression on her visit to Washington, so she had members of the group there to lobby Sen. Mark Warner for support for the DREAM Act to wear their graduation caps. “We weren’t sure if we would actually be able to meet with him one-on-one,” she said. But the senator was…

Susan Shaer: If you want to know what Congress values, watch the supplemental vote

Column by Susan Shaer Submit guest columns: [email protected]   It’s not enough that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have topped $1 trillion. Now there is a supplemental appropriations bill awaiting a vote in the House of Representatives that will add $37 billion more, plus some other odd bedfellows. This so-called supplemental allows other “emergency”…