October 2002

Takoma Voice Enthusiastically Endorses Chris Van Hollen

Chris Van Hollen scored a stunning upset in the September primary against a better-funded opponent because voters recognized Van Hollen for who he is: arguably the hardest working and most accomplished legislator for progressive causes Maryland history.

Now it's time to complete the deal and vote Van Hollen into Congress over Republican incumbent Connie Morella.

Morella has served the 8th District relatively well over the past 15 years, frequently voting with Democrats and developing a well-deserved reputation for good constituent service. But Morella's presence makes possible the increasingly dogmatic, hawkish, and regressive Republican leadership in the House.

In past months, Morella has also voted for disastrous Republican bills. These include Bush's obscene $1.4 trillion tax cut which goes overwhelmingly to the rich and a House energy bill which provides huge subsidies to fossil fuel companies who accelerate global warming while cutting funding for renewable energy and efficiency measures.

On the other hand, a vote for Van Hollen, in addition to raising the chances of a Democratic majority in the House, would offer 8th District voters utterly consistent representation on the issues most important to Takoma Parkers: global warming, gun control, education, civil rights.

As a Maryland Senator, Van Hollen took the lead in the campaign to slow global warming by crafting historic legislation that now removes the state sales tax from a host of energy-efficient products, from refrigerators to hybrid cars. He authored a key compromise last winter that is now bringing millions of additional dollars to schools in Montgomery and PG Counties. And he lead the senate fight to make Maryland the first state in the nation to require embedded trigger locks on handguns.

Despite Morella's admirable service in past years, reasonable and open-minded voters simply can no longer overlook the destructive Republican leadership that comes with her presence in the House. But more important, Connie Morella simply can't compete with a dedicated, battle-testing, forward-thinking candidate like Chris Van Hollen.

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