This post was written by Clara Hanson.
Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., addressed a wealth of political issues from the environmental crisis to online gambling at his speech to the GW College Democrats and Green GW this Tuesday.
The congressman, who is a GW alumnus, discussed the current health care bill, the war in Afghanistan, the Iraq War, and the Bush Administration, and talked at length about his experience as the Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee.
Rahall also promoted climate bill he is currently drafting, which he says may improve upon a current environmental bill in the Senate.
“That bill, I imagine, will be a very pro-oil industry bill. That’s one of the reasons why I’ve introduced my bill on the House side. If that happens, then I have an alternative to the oil industry bill that I expect the Senate may send us before the year is over,” he said.
As a representative for West Virginia, a coal state, Rahall also stressed clean coal options and problems presented by lack of government control of oil drillers. He said he believes that the owners of untapped oil fields should be taxed, rather than allowing them to wait for the price of oil to rise in order to maximize profit.
The Congressman also spoke about the need for a bipartisan government and a bipartisan people.
“In regards to your political viewpoints, you should always respect the opposite presidency,” Rahall said.
Matt Ingoglia, the CDs communication director, said, “he emphasized the fact that Democrats need to realize that Republicans are not our mortal enemies, they’re people who are just as principled in their beliefs as we are, and it’s important that … we recognize that our disagreements are legitimate, and that we build from there.”
Spencer Olson, president of Green GW, said, “I know a lot of our members wanted to have a discussion with the chairman of the natural resources committee … it was nice for us to host someone who many of our members don’t necessarily agree with all the time, and to have an open discussion.”