Chet Edwards For Congress - Editorials

Editorial: Edwards' help still needed at VA

Kat — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:33:05 -0700

August 21, 2007

Editorial: Edwards' help still needed at VA

Waco Tribune Herald
By Editorial Staff

If anyone deserves a tribute for working to save the Waco Veterans Affairs Medical Center it is U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards.

He will get it Wednesday when the city hosts a reception in his honor.

But it needs to be more than a tribute. It needs to be a pep rally. As much as Edwards and other allies have done to preserve the hospital, much needs to be done to enhance services and utilize an under-used campus.

In June, a similar reception was held to recognize U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison for her decisive efforts in saving the hospital.

In her campaign to save the VA campus, Hutchison made several important visits to Waco, especially when she accompanied both the VA secretaries on tours of the facility.

She also sponsored legislation to designate the hospital a “mental health center of excellence.”

But no one was as diligent about this task as Edwards. His hands-on efforts helped blunt the proposal to move all of Waco’s mental health treatment programs, blind rehabilitation treatment and geriatric care units to the Olin E. Teague Veterans Medical Center in Temple and to farm its services elsewhere around the country.

The Waco VA hospital has specialized in treating the mental health problems of veterans for more than 70 years. Over that period an invaluable network of mental health services developed both on the VA campus and in the Waco community.

Edwards worked with community groups while also securing more funding for the VA hospital in Congress.

He was instrumental in securing a joint research project into post-traumatic stress disorder between Fort Hood and the Waco VA hospital.

Although VA Secretary Jim Nicholson finally announced late last year that the Waco VA facility would not be closed, challenges still remain that could again jeopardize the facility.

One of the reasons cited in the original decision to close the hospital was the number of empty buildings and their associated maintenance costs.

Edwards has warned that the fight to preserve the hospital must continue.

A promising plan has been proposed to utilize some of the empty buildings for transitional housing for the homeless, especially veterans.

VA officials have promised to consider the idea.

Besides that program, Edwards’ help is needed as the VA implements plans to expand mental health services nationwide during a time of warfare, bloodshed and psychological wounds on two fronts.

Clifton Record Endorses Chet

jessica — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 08:37:30 -0700

November 1, 2006
Endorsement for U.S. Representative, District 17
By W. Leon Smith|CLIFTON RECORD

Perhaps no other candidate in the state is as attuned to his district than Congressman Chet Edwards (D), who is being challenged by Guillermo Acosta (L) and Van Taylor (R). And perhaps no other elected Congressman has focused more on issues and his constituency, with the willingness to forego party alliances, than Edwards. Very much an independent thinker and doer, his votes have reflected the sentiments that have been espoused by both major parties, largely depending upon what he hears from the people he represents.

But beyond that, Edwards has spent abundant time in the district, getting to know his constituents on a first-name basis, and helping local citizens access important federal government programs. He has fought tirelessly to save the Waco VA hospital. In Bosque County, he played a crucial role in a recent water pipeline project for the Cities of Clifton and Meridian that will provide for future water needs, and he has fought to better enable regional healthcare on behalf of Goodall-Witcher Healthcare Foundation, as just a couple of examples that could be multiplied many times over in this region of Texas.

Edwards has a solid track record of service and is considered an icon when it comes to fighting for the needs of veterans. If only there were more like him in Congress, returning veterans would more fully see their post-service needs answered.

Edwards genuinely cares about the people of his district and has proved it many times over. He says he likes being a U.S. Representative because at this level you don’t tend to lose touch with the people you serve, you can listen to their needs or concerns and help them, and you can make their voices heard in Washington.

Congressman Edwards has earned our respect, our thanks, and our vote.

Bryan College Station Eagle Endorsement

jessica — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 06:23:50 -0700

October 23, 2006
Eagle Editorial:
U.S. House of Representatives, District 17

Bryan-College Station Eagle
Eagle Editorial |

Texas Congressional District 17 includes Brazos, Grimes, Madison, McLennan, Hill, Bosque, Hood, Somervell and Johnson counties and portions of Robertson, Burleson and Limestone counties. This is the second election cycle for this district since the Legislature redistricted congressional boundaries.

When Brazos County was put in the newly drawn 17th Congressional District slightly more than two years ago, people of this area were quick to warm up to Chet Edwards, who had represented the Waco-Temple-Killeen-Fort Hood area in Congress since 1991. Since winning in the newly configured district two years ago - the only Democrat in Texas targeted by Tom DeLay to do so - Edwards has been a frequent visitor to Brazos County. In fact, he may be a more frequent visitor than even the much-admired U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady when he represented Brazos County.

Edwards certainly was no stranger to this area, having graduated from Texas A&M in 1974. In the past two years he has worked hard with A&M to receive$114 million in federal research dollars, money that was not included in the Bush budget. Edwards has worked with city and county leaders to get $20 million for badly needed highway projects not included in the administration's budget. He is strongly supportive of efforts to keep Americans safe, and he has long been a strong supporter of our troops and veterans. He has led the fight to keep the Veterans Administration hospital open in Waco and has worked to make sure our veterans get all the benefits they were promised.

Taylor is the latest in a series of attack-dog Republicans trying to unseat Edwards.

Personally, Taylor is a pleasant man with a fine background. He served this nation well in the Marines, including during the opening days of the war in Iraq. But he is irritating when he claims such service gives him the "moral imperative" to represent veterans - something Edwards has done extremely well for close to 16 years. Taylor pledges to work to keep the VA hospital in Waco open - again, something Edwards has been working hard to do. Taylor says he would like to expand access for veterans' medical care to include doctors in private practice.

Both Taylor and Edwards support America's efforts in Iraq, and both say it would be wrong to unilaterally pull our troops out of that country until the Iraqis are ready and able to take over.
Taylor says he would work to bring an interstate highway through College Station and Bryan. Edwards already has helped secure funding to build better, safer roads.

Both men also call for securing our border. Taylor favors erecting a fence along a portion of the border with Mexico and employing the latest technology to stop the flow of illegal immigrants. Edwards also favors a wall in certain places and using technology. He calls for hiring 6,000 additional border patrol agents and wants an employee verification system so the government can hold businesses accountable for whom they hire.

Where Taylor gets nasty is in his attack ads. He showed in the spring primary that he is willing to run ads telling partial truths or making claims the facts don't support. Unfortunately, Edwards has responded in kind, and the campaign has devolved into a "did-too, did-not" spitting match.

Efforts to portray Edwards as a typical Democratic liberal just don't hold water. Even a cursory glance at his record shows he is a moderate conservative. He is doing and has been doing for 16 years what Taylor says he wants to do.

We see no reason to dump a good representative for an unproven newcomer.

The Eagle recommends a vote for U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards for re-election.

Hood County News: Chet Edwards deserves your vote

jessica — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 06:15:44 -0700

October 21, 2006
EDITORIAL: Chet Edwards deserves your vote
By Jerry Tidwell|Publisher, Hood County News

Chet Edwards has accomplished great things for Hood County in the two years that he has represented us in Congress. Without question, Edwards deserves another term and needs and deserves your vote.

Edwards has secured $5.75 million in appropriated funds and sent it back to Hood County to help our community with our biggest and most pressing needs. Here are a few
examples of how our congressman is bringing local tax dollars back home:
• Obtaining funding to protect the water quality of Lake Granbury.
• Funding the first phase of airport expansion.
• Twice he has gotten funds to help widen Hwy. 377.

The list goes on, but you get the idea. Edwards is clearly working hard for Hood County and is in touch with community leaders and the needs of our community. During his 35 trips to Hood County he has listened carefully to local citizens and their needs and has responded.

He also lent his support for the Environmental Protection Agency’s $1.4 million grant to develop an integrated action plan to protect the water quality of Lake Granbury.
Edwards' service to Hood County has been invaluable, but his great record far exceeds the boundaries of our county.

He opposes amnesty for illegal aliens and believes it is essential that we strengthen our borders. He has voted numerous times to increase the number of border patrol agents. The congressman has spearheaded the effort to fight the spread of nuclear terrorism by installing nuclear detectors at the busiest foreign ports. Improving security around Russian nuclear weapons materials is also one of his achievements.

Edwards has supported the troops by helping to build better housing on Fort Hood and led the fight in 2001 to shoot down proposals from troop reductions.

All of you know that I am not affiliated with either party. I'm an Independent. I like Chet Edwards' bi-partisan approach. It's desperately needed in Washington, D.C. now. Don't be misled by the attack drivel from Edwards' opponent. If the opponent does have any plans they are mired in the muck of the attack ads and are completely lost.

Join me in voting to re-elect Chet Edwards as our congressman. We need Congressman Edwards to continue to work for the betterment of Hood County.

John Young: Face fresh from the factory

jessica — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 07:20:34 -0700

October 17, 2006
John Young: Face fresh from the factory

Waco Tribune Herald
By John Young |Colimnist

I think I’ve talked to enough politicians in my career to have read Van Taylor from three words and three words only: “my first time.”

As in: “This is my first time to ever run as a politician. I’m an
Eagle Scout and Marine. And all I know here is the truth.”

Humble. Truth-seeking. Patriotic. And neatly pressed and delivered to Central Texas voters direct from an expert political machine. Delivered to us with an arsenal of factory-fresh attack ads. Truth? Well, they sort of pass truth in the hall en route to the video room.

In Bush’s Brain, James Moore and Wayne Slater attribute to GOP mastermind Karl Rove this Sun-Tzu strategy: “All we need to do is throw something odd and unaccountable at the enemy.”
Words that sailed a thousand swiftboats.

From the first shotgun blast of Labor Day, Taylor has fired salvos so far afield of the truth that barnyard animals have been running.

The first was part of a bid to brand District 17 Congressman Chet Edwards soft on immigration. Taylor’s ads asserted that Edwards supports pampering illegal aliens with food stamps and Medicaid, and that he opposed deporting illegal aliens charged with crimes.
The votes Taylor cites are the results of “show votes” staged by Republicans in Congress. Proponents know they won’t fly, but they are used to get Democrats on the record in ways the GOP can use on the campaign trail.

The benefits in question aren’t for illegal aliens but for citizens, children born to undocumented individuals here and naturalized by birth. The Supreme Court twice has ruled that key federal benefits can’t be denied them.

The assertion about deporting illegal aliens charged with crimes isn’t over such a vote. It is over a bill Edwards opposed that would have denied several Texas cities homeland security funds because they don’t routinely ascertain citizenship in police stops.

It’s a mighty leap from that proposition to wanting to shelter murderers and rapists.

Yes, it’s hard to follow. Here’s something that isn’t.

A Taylor direct-mail piece accuses Edwards of voting to increase the tax on Social Security benefits by 70 percent. But he didn’t.
Just the opposite. In 1993 President Clinton proposed, and Congress approved, a bill to raise the tax on upper-income Social Security recipients.

Edwards voted against it.

So, to what was Taylor referring? Twice Republicans tried to rescind this tax. Edwards voted “no” because, as he said, “They didn’t have a way to pay for it.”

That’s the same as voting to raise taxes on Social Security recipients? (Remember: We aren’t talking about all of them, just a few.)

“These are semantics,” Taylor told the Trib editorial board. “You can start cutting the words up precisely as to what that means,” said Taylor, but he called his claim “totally, factually correct.” No, it’s not.

The same mailer purports to cite direct Edwards quotes from an AARP publication that he supports “indexing” Social Security benefits (curbing them based on prices rather than wage growth.) Edwards says he made no such statement for AARP. It backs him up.
“The quotations . . . are not in AARP’s 2006 voter guide,” the organization wrote last week to Tina Benkiser, state GOP chairwoman, demanding a retraction. Don’t expect one.

Since, as I deduced, Taylor said it all in three words, “my first time,” it’s fitting for AARP to complain to the state party. This is a machine at work. Taylor is just along for the ride.

The sad thing is that Taylor is pleasant, sharp, a good citizen, maybe a good candidate. He’s also a fabrication. Someone who knows “how campaigns are won” is doing his thinking for him.
Or else Taylor is ruthless, underhanded and downright deceitful.

I don’t want to believe that of an Eagle Scout.

Editorial: Edwards for Congress

jessica — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 17:54:00 -0700

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.

Second Major Newspaper Endorses Chet

jessica — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 08:08:27 -0700

October 11, 2006
We Recommend Chet Edwards in U.S. House District 17

Dallas Morning News
Editorial | The Dallas Morning News

Central Texas stalwart Chet Edwards is being challenged for his seat in Congress this year by a rookie who's long on cash and slash-and-burn campaigning but short on answers.

Mr. Edwards' steady, pro-defense record and years of dependable service to constituents are reasons enough to return the Democrat to Congress for a ninth term. The fitness of his Republican opponent, Van Taylor, is another reason.

The battle in District 17 – which stretches from Cleburne to Crawford, Waco and College Station – has become one of the nation's most expensive House races.

Mr. Taylor, 34, a Waco real estate investor and Iraq war veteran, is one of the GOP's top prospects for knocking off a sitting Democrat. A district newcomer – he says he moved to the district 16 months ago – he's received an infusion of outside money and fundraising help.

But that hasn't helped Mr. Taylor's grasp of the issues. In an interview, he stressed an urgent need to trim spending but was vague on where to start, despite several invitations to outline priorities. On immigration, he opposed "amnesty," yet lacked a thought-out proposal and was unclear about ideas on the table in Washington.

Credibility is another concern. Mr. Edwards, 54, of Waco, says his opponent has used Willie Horton-like ads, a charge close to the mark. The ads say one Edwards vote helped dangerous immigrants avoid deportation, including some who later committed "rape and murder." That's a stretch. The measure in question threatened Homeland Security money for cities; Mr. Edwards voted with most of the Republican-dominated House.

Mr. Edwards' centrist politics have helped him survive as a Democrat in GOP territory and build seniority that helps his district. His senior position on the House Appropriations Committee gives him muscle in the fight for Waco's threatened VA center.

He favors a balanced approach to immigration that seeks security plus guest worker provisions. He also calls for a bipartisan summit to attack the deficit and favors a wise pay-as-you-go approach to federal spending.

Libertarian Guillermo Acosta, 30, of Allen, lives outside the district. Saying people should be "happy," he supports amnesty for all immigrants, marriage for gays, legalization of marijuana and replacing taxes with fees.

Edwards Receives Major Newspaper Endorsement

jessica — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 12:44:20 -0700

October 6, 2006
U.S. House District 17

Fort Worth Star Telegram
| Star-Telegram Editorial Board

Chet Edwards brings experience, understanding and the closest thing to statesmanship one can find in Washington these days.

In his more than 15 years representing Central Texas, Edwards has distinguished himself through his passion for the men and women who serve in the armed forces.

From championing investments in the nation's military infrastructure to voicing concerns about healthcare for veterans, Edwards has been a constant advocate for the country's military personnel. He is the senior Democrat on the Veterans Affairs and Military Quality of Life Appropriations subcommittee and co-chairs the bipartisan House Army Caucus. He also serves on the Homeland Security Appropriations subcommittee.

Van Taylor of West, Edwards' Republican challenger, is a personable and likable young man who deserves thanks for serving his country in the Marines, with duties in Iraq and along the Texas-Mexico border as part of Joint Task Force 6. Taylor, 34, should be encouraged to continue his education into the issues beyond the war on terror that are important to District 17 -- land and water use, agriculture, environment and education.

Although military affairs have been a hallmark of Edwards' political work, his interests extend to other areas. He is a member of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees key homeland defense and university research programs, and he has long been outspoken on the issues of church-state separation and open government.

What Edwards is not is a party ideologue.

Project Vote Smart, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that collects voting information on elected officials, releases annual evaluations from special interest groups that indicate how often a member of Congress votes with the groups' preferred positions. Edwards' score card makes clear that the Waco congressman thinks for himself and is not a functionary of the party.

In the 2006 Voter's Self-Defense Manual published by PVS, Edwards received 100 percent ratings on educational issues from the National PTA, senior and social issues from the Alliance for Retired Americans and veterans' issues from Disabled American Veterans.

The conservative Eagle Forum rated Edwards at 53 percent; the liberal Americans for Democratic Action rated him at 85 percent. (For context, U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, rated a 20 percent from Eagle Forum and 100 percent from the ADA; U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Abilene, rated a 87 percent from Eagle Forum and 0 from the ADA.)

Edwards, 54, received that Eagle Forum rating in part for votes such as the one he cast right before lawmakers headed home for pre-Election Day campaigning. Edwards was part of the majority in the House vote that would make it a federal crime to transport a minor across state lines for an abortion to evade a law in her home state.

The Star-Telegram recommends Chet Edwards for U.S. House District 17.

Editorial: Glad 17th District remains unchanged

Kat — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 06:47:43 -0700

June 29, 2006
Editorial: Glad 17th District remains unchanged

Bryan-College Station Eagle
Eagle Editorial |

No doubt most Texans greeted Wednesday's redistricting ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court with a sigh of relief. While we might question the ruling that Legislatures are free to redistrict any time they wish, at least most of us won't have to deal with the mess of changing district boundary lines this close to the Nov. 7 general election. Such changes required by the high court will be a nightmare for the counties that were ordered by the court to redistrict to reflect minority representation.

We are particularly glad because we like the 17th Congressional District we were put in by the Legislature two years ago. While it would be nice if Bryan and College Station were at the center of a district, we share much in common with the rest of the 17th District as drawn. The two population centers - Bryan-College Station and Waco - both are somewhat comparable in size and both have major universities and active junior colleges. We share a Central Texas common bond that was lacking for the two years we were in John Carter's 31st Congressional District based in the suburbs north of Austin.

In addition, we have been served well by U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, who is a frequent visitor to Brazos County and has championed everything from research at Texas A&M to badly needed highway improvements.

We hope that the Legislature doesn't take advantage of its new authority to redistrict the state as often as it desires. The chaos wrought by the redistricting two years ago is an example of what happens when lawmakers redistrict for political reasons. Repeated redistricting between the census required every 10 years would throw people into turmoil and would make it virtually impossible for representatives to get to know their constituents.

Of course, it is impossible to take politics out of the redistricting process, but we urge the politicians of both parties to show restraint when they are in the majority in the Legislature.

Editorial: Waco VA task force labors on

Kat — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 08:40:21 -0700

June 8, 2006
Waco VA task force labors on

Waco Tribune Herald
By Tribune-Herald editorial staff |

It would be helpful if Veterans Affairs officials in Washington, D.C,. worked a little closer with Waco officials trying to save their hospital.

It’s hard to imagine that any community would do more to support its VA hospital than we have here in Greater Waco.

From the moment nearly three years ago when Washington VA officials announced plans to shut down the Waco VA Hospital, veterans, residents and business, civic and government leaders in Waco have rallied to save their hospital.

On the good news side, the lengthy review process has allowed time for light to shine on the demand for the primary mental health service provided by the Waco hospital as wars are waged in Afghanistan and Iraq.

From the time when the Waco VA Hospital first opened its doors in 1932, it has specialized in helping veterans with mental health problems that have been referred to as “shell shock,” “battle fatigue” or post-traumatic stress disorder.

It’s also good news that the review process has allowed time for the Texas Legislature to pass a resolution supporting the Waco VA Hospital and for Congress to name the Waco hospital as a “center of excellence” for mental health care, which has resulted in the authorization of additional funding to study post-traumatic stress disorder at the Waco hospital and at Fort Hood.

U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, was able to add $3 million to an appropriations bill to fund the PTSD study last year and add another $3.5 million to continue the same study this year.

Also, in the nearly three years since the VA first announced plans to shutter the Waco hospital, VA officials have shown a willingness to change their minds.

The Waco hospital and 17 other VA hospitals nationwide were put on the chopping block in the summer of 2003. VA officials announced earlier this year that they are removing the Big Spring VA hospital from further consideration for closure.

That decision offers hope for Waco.

On the bad news side, the longer it takes VA officials to make a decision, the more difficult it becomes for supporters of the local hospital to put together proposals to occupy the empty buildings on the Waco campus.

The Waco VA Task Force has found and lost prospective tenants for some of the empty buildings on the campus during the lengthy time that the hospital’s future has been up in the air.

The drawn-out process makes it difficult to hold the community together.

Edwards has urged local hospital supporters to continue to look for ways to partner with the hospital. That’s good advice. It also would be good if the VA officials would offer specific guidance and keep the review process on track.

No community is willing to work harder or do more to support its VA hospital and veterans than Greater Waco.