Former Congresswoman Hopes to Serve 11th District

By Broadside Asst. News Editor Becca Fulton

Former Congresswoman Leslie Byrne was invited to George Mason University by the College Democrats to discuss current politics in regard to her bid for Congress. The discussion took place on Monday, March 24, in Student Union Building II from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. The election will take place on June 10.

Byrne, who is now running to reclaim the 11th District, has served seven years in the House of Delegates and was Virginia’s first Congresswoman. She lectured on many of the decisions and legislation that current administration has made. Commenting on the Bush administration, Byrne explained that she does not believe the current situation in Iraq is feasibly able to end under the current advisors.

A few of Byrne’s endorsements include the Daily Coast, Raising Kaine and Not Larry Sabato.

“I don’t want a legacy of my children or my grandchildren that the Bush administration has created, I don’t want war without end,” Byrne said. “It must be the mom in me saying ‘if you make a mess then you clean it up.’”

In response to the war in Iraq, Byrne has signed on to the Responsible Plan to End the War. This plan can be found at Responsibleplan.com. The site states, “There is a deepening public desire for a new path forward and a cohesive military, diplomatic and economic strategy that will end the war in Iraq while protecting American interests.”

Byrne also spoke of her environmental initiatives while confronting traffic in the state of Virginia at the same time. She explained that she was named one of nine environmental champions by The Planet newsletter, claiming that polluters should pay for their own pollution. She was also the first person to raise money for the rail to Dulles.

“Rail is the cleanest way to go,” Byrne said. “I think it’s environmentally important.”

Byrne, who claims to have voted with Bill Clinton 76 percent of the time, stated that there was very little she would have changed about her past votes, with few exceptions. One of these exceptions is voting for the ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy’ Byrne wishes to correct if elected back into Congress.

“I regret that vote and I would vote to repeal it today,” Byrne said.

There are many other votes that Byrne claimed to have voted with and policies she would have voted for if she had been in office. Byrne says she would have voted against NAFTA, while also claiming that she would have voted against the Telecom Community and the Patriot Act.

When asked about both democratic presidential hopefuls, Byrne expressed her concern about the wellbeing of the Democratic Party.

“I would be happy with either one of them [Democratic Presidential candidates],” Byrne said. “I just hope we don’t tear ourselves apart.”

Byrne also discussed working under and alongside member of the Republican Party. She explained that while their party affiliation may be different there are certain things people can find to agree on.

“You deal with what you have,” Byrne said. “Party doesn’t matter when you can find those areas that you can both agree on.”

Byrne expressed that she does not vote democrat because of party guidelines but because of what she believes is best for the people of Virginia and the people of the United States.

“I make no apologies that I’m a progressive Democrat,” Byrne said. “I do what I believe in my heart is right.”