Chet Edwards For Congress

October 15, 2006
Editorial: Edwards for Congress

Waco Tribune Herald

How, many observers ask, can a district that strongly embraces a Republican president as its resident continue to re-elect a Democratic congressman?

Easy, if the Democrat is Chet Edwards. Easier, if the option is Republican Van Taylor.

The Tribune-Herald editorial board recommends Edwards’ re-election to his ninth term in Congress.

In Edwards and Taylor, Central Texans have contrasts in what it means to be connected.

Edwards has served this area more than two decades in elected office — having represented Greater Waco in the state Senate before. Taylor just moved into the district.

Edwards’ imprint on this community is deep and wide.

His roles have been many: economic development; protecting the Bosque watershed from pollution; finding funding for local projects, including the Lake Waco hike-bike trail; and, of course, leading the charge to save the Waco Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

As a congressman, Edwards has been principled. As one of only five members of Congress holding spots on both the House Budget and House Appropriations Committee, he is in a unique position to influence federal spending and to be a voice of moderation and austerity.

An advocate of a balanced budget amendment, he has been a strong spokesman for fiscal sanity — often opposing politically popular tax breaks.

He has stood up against those who seek to get government into the religion business.

On national defense, his experience is immense, co-chairing the bipartisan House Army Caucus.

Taylor’s campaign has been characterized by attacks that twist the truth into pretzel form. Nothing in Edwards’ voting record suggests he is a pushover on immigration or on deporting illegal aliens who have committed crimes. Yet Taylor has tried to make this matter his centerpiece.

Taylor has run an aggressive campaign, with a lot of door-to-door engagement. But he would have to go to a lot more doors to match the impact that Edwards has made as a member of the Central Texas community.

Edwards’ centrist political stances and ability to tend to community and constituent needs are key reasons why the Republican Party has failed to dislodge him, even after redrawing his district out from under him and taking away the Fort Hood area, where his support was strong.

Edwards deserves re-election because he is effective and connected.