Boucher Completes 28 Years as Congressman-Abingdon
December 29, 2010
Dec. 26-ABINGDON -- For 28 years, U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher divided his time between the mountains of Southwest Virginia and the ornate buildings on Capitol Hill.
Source: Roanoke Times
Boucher Serves 28 years
Dec. 26, 2010-12-29
ABINGDON -- For 28 years, U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher divided his time between the mountains of Southwest Virginia and the ornate buildings on Capitol Hill.
By all accounts, the long-serving congressman's roots and life in the 9th District thoroughly influenced his work in Washington -- and vice versa.
Boucher was known on Capitol Hill for his work on the cutting edge of technology and telecommunications, and he consistently tried to use that knowledge to build a 21st century economy in Southwest Virginia.
Boucher talked up the need for "electronic villages" and broadband Internet service while at home, and then pushed to extend those networks to rural areas using his senior position in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
He used his pull in Congress to secure federal funds for projects such as the Virginia Creeper Trail and the Blue Ridge Music Center while encouraging local officials to boost their tourism efforts.
He talked to coal miners during campaigns, then worked to get legislation passed that helped buffer the industry from new environmental laws and regulations.
In both the district and on Capitol Hill, Boucher was known for his analytical and deliberative style. And although he said he maintained an open mind while deciding whether to back a policy or politician, he was unwavering in his support once that decision was made.
That approach helped keep Boucher, a Democrat, safe in a Republican-leaning district for nearly three decades. But this year his approach didn't resonate with enough voters. His support of President Obama and his work on the unpopular cap-and-trade energy bill contributed to his upset by challenger Morgan Griffith on the crest of the 2010 Republican tsunami.
***
Musing on his career earlier this month, Boucher, 64, said the biggest difference between the freshman representative who took office in 1982 and the one leaving now is that the 2010 version is "considerably more realistic in the art of the possible."
That definition of politics -- generally attributed to Otto Von Bismarck -- has defined Boucher's congressional career.
In Washington, Boucher is considered a "thought leader" according to Sharon Ringley, his deputy chief of staff during the late 1990s and now a lobbyist for TwinLogic Strategies, whose clients include Amazon and Motorola.
U.S. Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., said on the House floor last week that Boucher is "by far the most informed and educated on telecom Internet issues. So when Rick Boucher stands up to discuss an issue that affects e-commerce and the Internet, we listen."
That was echoed by U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, who praised Boucher as a workhorse legislator.
"He's always very thoughtful and the issues that he picks are big ones," Barton said in a phone interview. "Some members of Congress focus on low-hanging fruit that's easy to do and noncontroversial. Rick goes the other way and picks things that are tough to do and important to do. He's one of the best on the other side of the aisle as far as getting into the details and nuances. In some ways, he's like a senior staff person who knows all the facts and figures."
Elizabeth Frazee, a former staffer of U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke County, who went into business with Ringley for TwinLogic Strategies, said that newer lobbyists were nervous when meeting with Boucher because he'd inevitably "ask the one question you couldn't answer."
Reference: www.roanoketimes.com
