McHenry on Track

Statesville Record & Landmark Editorial

Statesville, Mar 9, 2007 – Who said Republicans would be locked out of the legislative process following the Democrats’ triumph in the November congressional elections?

Sure, it’s now incrementally more difficult for the president’s party to make a major splash in Congress, but Rep. Patrick McHenry is proving that it’s not impossible.

McHenry (R-10th) has shown that it’s possible for GOP lawmakers to pick their spots and work across the aisle without compromising their core principles.

Now in his second term, McHenry drafted legislation prohibiting federal funds from ending up in the pockets of lobbyists. That’s no small feat.

“From time to time, it’s important to challenge Congress’ words by calling for action,” McHenry told his colleagues. “This legislation is a gut-check for Congress. How will you explain to your constituents that you like the idea of limiting lobbyists’ influence – but not enough to do anything about it? Or even worse, vote against it?”

It’s surprising to us that such a law is necessary, but the sordid Jack Abramoff affair exposed some gaping holes in our government that unscrupulous characters are eager to exploit.

Give McHenry credit for finding a way to close one of these holes.

Attaching his bill to the Water Quality Investment Act of 2007, a run-of-the-mill bill to provide federal funding for local water and sewer improvement projects across the nation, was a shrewd political move as well.

McHenry’s amendment was supported in the U.S. House by all 425 voting members and was sent to the U.S. Senate after the original legislation passed by a comfortable margin.

It would be easy for Republican members of Congress to sit on the side-lines and be content to bottle up Democratic initiatives until the 2008 elections, when control of both house and the White House will be up for grabs.

McHenry will likely be on the ballot again in 2008. It’s reassuring to know that he’s not planning to take the next 20 months off.