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Q&A With Bob Levey
Washington Post Columnist
Tuesday, July 23, 2002; Noon EDT

"Levey Live" appears Tuesdays at noon EDT. Your host is Washington Post columnist Bob Levey. This hour is your chance to talk directly to key Washington Post reporters and editors, local officials and people in the news.

Today, Bob’s guest is Chris Van Hollen, candidate for Congress from Maryland’s 8th District.

Chris Van Hollen

Chris Van Hollen was elected to the House of Delegates in 1990 and to the state Senate in 1994. He has focused on education issues, as well as health care, gun control, the environment and transportation concerns.

He was the architect of the Thornton Commission amendment that brought an extra $80 million to local schools. He previously led the "Schools Before Stadiums" fight that resulted in a record increase in school construction money. He has also authored and passed legislation to protect patients from HMO shortcuts and to protect the Chesapeake Bay from drilling. In total, he has introduced and passed 55 bills in the General Assembly.

Before serving in Annapolis, Chris was on Capitol Hill for five years, specializing in foreign affairs. He lives in Kensington with his wife Katherine and his three children, Anna, Nicholas and Alexander.

The transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

Bob Levey: Good afternoon, Mr. Van Hollen, and thanks very much for joining us today. You're facing a tough race against Mark Shriver for the Democratic nomination in the Eighth District. How does one go about beating a Kennedy?

Chris Van Hollen: I think the voters care more about what you've done than who you know. And I invite the voters to look at my record in the Maryland legislature over the last 12 years, and my work on foreign policy issues prior to 1990. All the Democratic candidates are talking about how they want to lead the fight on Capitol Hill for better health care, more educational opportunities for our kids, and a cleaner environment. I've had a record of not just talking about these issues, but passing laws to make real changes for our community in all of these areas.

Bob Levey: As a young man, you worked on Capitol Hill, mostly in foreign affairs. So let me ask you how you would vote on the questions of 1) a war against Iraq and 2) support for Israel, both political and financial.

Chris Van Hollen: As a staff member on the Senate Foreign Relations committee, I traveled to the Iraqi-Turkish border in 1988 and interviewed thousands of Kurdish refugees who had been victims of chemical weapons attacks by Saddam Hussein. We must do everything we can to contain his ability to develop and use weapons of mass destruction. My decision on what specific steps we should take would be based on intelligence reports available as a member of Congress.
The United States must maintain its historic and moral commitment to the security of the state of Israel. Arafat's campaign of terror has betrayed his own people. I support President Bush's over-all approach to the Middle East.

prince georges, maryland: Connie Morella has been wondrful on wildlife issues. If elected, how would you work to protect the wildlife of Maryland.

Chris Van Hollen: I am very proud of my strong environmental record. Just this year, I wrote the law that will protect thousands of acres of wild lands in western Maryland. In February, I received the Conservation Legacy Award from a coalition of leading environmental groups, including the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Sierra Club and Clean Water Action. One of the reasons I am running for Congress is the fact that the Bush administration is turning back the clock on many environmental protections in this country.

Bob Levey: Dick Gephardt thinks that World Com Rage may add 40 Democrats to Congress. Do you agree that this one issue (corporate responsibility) might be the wedge that beats Connie Morella?

Chris Van Hollen: People throughout this country are seeing their retirement savings disappear and their job security threatened. The Enron executives cashed out early, and left their employees holding the bag. This is a big issue for voters. The president's speeches on this matter has amounted to more sound than bite. He and the Republicans in the House are continuing to try to undermine the legislation written by Sen. Sarbanes that would provide independent oversight and accountability. Connie Morella originally supported the Republican approach on this issue.

Beltsville, Md.: In light of the campaign contributions and costs associated with this race, what is your stand on campaign finance reform?

Chris Van Hollen: I'm a strong supporter of campaign finance reform. Candidates spend much too much time chasing after money. I'm proud of the fact that the overwhelming majority of the monies we've raised have come from the local community, rather than big checks from California and other parts of the country. We need to take action to reduce the influence of money in politics. I pushed for measures to do so in the state legislature and will continue to do so if elected to Congress.

Bob Levey: This seems to be the year of going right at the other guy's vulnerabilities. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend wants to go for independents, so she chooses a running mate who is, for all intents and purposes, non-partisan. Ehrlich wants to woo blacks, so he names a black running mate. Will Chris Van Hollen try to woo Republicans if he wins the primary?

Chris Van Hollen: I intend to reach out to all voters in the congressional district. In the state legislature, I believe I have been successful at passing legislation by bringing together the coalitions of Republicans and Democrats, as well as coalitions of people who represent different regions of the state. One of the reasons Connie Morella has been reelected is that she sometimes votes the way her constituents would like on issues such as environmental protection, gun control and education. But she has not stood up and fought for these issues. I'm very pleased that so many members of the educational community, state and local environmental leaders and the key leaders of the Million Mom March are supporting my candidacy. They recognize the difference between being for something and fighting for something.

Takoma Park: Hello there, thank you for joining today. I am a democrat but have supported Connie Morella in the past because she is very strong on women's issues, both domestically and internationally. As we have seen with Afghanistan, women around the world need help and attention from the U.S. What kind of focus do you plan to bring to these issues?

Chris Van Hollen: I have been a strong supporter of women's issues in the state legislature and am proud to have received the Planned Parenthood Award for my efforts to protect a woman's right to choose in Maryland. I have also been committed to obtaining funding for a variety of women's health programs, including screening for breast and cervical cancer. The United States should be a leader on women's health issues around the world. The Bush administration has abdicated its responsbility in this area. The decision to withhold international family planning funding was disgraceful. I grew up spending several of my early years overseas, in countries like India, Turkey and Sri Lanka. I have seen the health needs of people in these and other countries. I will be a leader in efforts to ensure that the United States is committed to women's health issues both domestically and internationally.

Bob Levey: Early in the campaign, you charged that Mark Shriver was engaged in "push polling"--asking questions in a way that suggested Chris Van Hollen was something he isn't. Are you satisfied that Shriver has stopped doing this?

Chris Van Hollen: The Shriver campaign did a "push poll," where they telephoned voters and made false statements about aspects of my record in Annapolis. We documented the statements, and showed that they were false. I wrote to Mark Shriver, asking him not to engage in that kind of campaign. I have yet to receive a response. I hope that this campaign will be conducted in a way that will let the voters know about the differences between us, without resorting to the type of negative statements made in that poll.

Kensington, Md.: One of the positives of Connie Morella is that she doesn't tow the party line, she seems to vote her personal belief system.

Can we expect the same independence from Congressman Van Hollen?

Chris Van Hollen: I have a record of taking on my own party on many big issues in the state legislature. I led the fight in the Maryland Senate to build "schools before stadiums." I believe that taxpayer dollars should go to renovate our kids' schools rather than to big football team owners. The entire Democratic leadership in the state, including the governor, the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House, were on the other side. There was a lot of pressure to back down, but I continued to fight. Because of that battle, school renovation and construction funds for our schools have more than tripled.

Silver Spring, MD: I am impressed with your record and comfortable with your positions on issues important to me. You have to convince me, though, that you are the one who can beat Rep Morella. What do you bring to the November race that Shriver or the others do not?

Chris Van Hollen: A recent independent poll conducted in Maryland showed that among the Democrats, I was in the best position to defeat Connie Morella. The poll showed Mark Shriver and I virtually the same distance behind Connie Morella. However, it showed that Mark Shriver had a 23 percent unfavorable rating, while I had a 3 percent. The reason so many leaders in the environmental, education, gun control and public health communities are supporting my campaign is because I have not just voted the way they would like -- I have led the fight on many of those issues. That distinguishes me from the other Democratic candidates. In addition, I am the only Democratic candidate who combines a strong background in national security and foreign policy issues with a legislative record of leadership.

Gaithersburg, MD: What are your plans for a prescrition drug benefit?

Good luck!

Chris Van Hollen: Many senior citizens throughout our country face a terrible choice between the medicines they need to stay healthy and other basic necessities. Our nation needs to address this problem immediately. I support the Democratic plan that would add a prescription drug benefit under Medicare. Connie Morella, by contrast, supported the Republican plan backed by the insurance and pharmaceutical industries.

Bob Levey: You've raised close to all your money in your district. Shriver has raised a sizeable sum elsewhere. Does this matter? If it does, why?

Chris Van Hollen: I think it does matter, for two reasons. First, it shows that we have strong grassroots support within the local community. More people from the community contribute to our campaign, and the average contribution is smaller. Second, it reflects the fact that I will look out first for the interests of our local community, and not be beholden to big money interests from outside the state.

Bob Levey: Your position, please, on the Intercounty Connector and the Metro Purple Line.

Chris Van Hollen: Traffic congestion is a huge problem in Maryland. All my three children are in MSI soccer leagues, and I coach one of their teams. I spend a huge amount of time each week stuck in traffic taking them back and forth. The traffic problem takes away from the time we have to spend with our families. There is no one silver bullet. We need an aggressive and balanced approach that includes more roads, more transit and more incentives for telecommuting. I voted to resume the environmental impact study that is necessary in order to move forward with the ICC. I also support moving ahead with the Purple Line. There are a number of Purple Line alternatives -- the county and the state must reach a consensus on which route to pursue so that we can be united when we ask the federal government to fund its share of this project.

Bob Levey: Let's say you defeat Shriver and face Connie Morella in the general election. Is it enough to say--as Shriver has--that a vote for Connie Morella is a vote for Dick Armey and Tom DeLay? Or will you need to pinpoint some other vulnerability in Morella?

Chris Van Hollen: Voting against Connie Morella in order to return the House to Democratic leadership is an important, but not the only, reason to vote against her. Connie Morella's vote for the Bush $1.4 trillion tax cut, that goes mostly to the very wealthiest Americans, was the wrong decision for the country. You can't have it all ways. Connie Morella says she's for a prescription drug benefit, full funding for federal education programs, and environmental initiatives. But there simply are not enough resources to make those important investments if the $1.4 trillion tax cut is preserved. Furthermore, it has contributed to growing deficit and debt, and will make it more difficult to meet with Social Security obligations in the future.

Potomac, MD:
How does your record on gun control issues compare with Mr. Shriver's?

Chris Van Hollen: I have not just been a strong voice on gun control issues, but led the Senate fight to pass Maryland's landmark trigger lock law. I think there is a difference between just voting for something and leading an effort to get something done. In the year 2000, I joined forces with Carol Price, who had lost her 13-year-old son John in an accidental shooting. Carol wanted some good to come out of John's death, and she became the head of the Maryland Million Mom March. I worked with Carol to pass the Maryland trigger lock law, and am pleased to have her support, and that of many other gun control leaders.

downtown cubicle: What is your position on domestic partner benefits? thanks.

Chris Van Hollen: The short answer is, I support domestic partner benefits. I was proud to be one of the Senate floor leaders in the battle to pass Maryland's anti-discrimination law. That law bans discrimination in employment and housing based on sexual orientation. The Republicans in the House have refused to move forward on these issues at the federal level. It is time for change.

Bethesda, Md.: I'm looking forward to being able to vote for the first time, but am having a hard time figuring out who deserves my vote. I've read the various pamplets that have come in the mail, but they haven't really helped distinguish the candidates in my mind. What do you think sets you apart from the others? What traits do you have that will make you more successful in Congress than the others?

Chris Van Hollen: I believe experience on federal, state and local issues is important. For many years, I worked on arms control and foreign policy issues as a staff member on the Senate foreign relations committee. I also worked in the state of Maryland's Washington office, lobbying Congress and the executive branch on issues important to the people of Maryland. I also have 12 years of active leadership in the Maryland state legislature. No other candidate combines this foreign policy experience with a record of getting things done in the legislature.
In addition, all the Democratic candidates say they want to move the country forward on a variety of health care issues. However, I'm the only candidate who has actually authored any health care legislation. All the Democratic candidates say they want to fight to clean up our environment. However, I'm the only candidate who has authored any successful environmental legislation. These are a few examples. The larger point is, I think there is a difference between just saying you're for something and having gotten something done.

Bob Levey: Many thanks and good luck to Chris Van Hollen. Be sure to join us next Tuesday, July 30, when our guest will be the mayor of Ocean City, Md., James Mathias. That discussion will begin at noon Eastern time.

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