Now that Democrats have taken control of the House, Democrats in Virginia’s congressional delegation are about to take on a new and more significant role in the next Congress.
One of the old maxims of American politics is that elections have consequences. One consequence of this election might be that Congress does something about the student loan crisis.
Congressman Bobby Scott is poised to become the next chairman of the Education Committee, where he wants to move forward with a plan to make community college free for all students.
“For the last 30 years, colleges have become more and more expensive, less and less accessible and affordable. And so we’re responding to the problem.”
Congressman Gerry Connolly is poised to become a senior member of the Oversight Committee. That’s the committee that is expected to take on more aggressive oversight of the Trump administration. And Congressman Connolly is not shy about how he plans to use the power of that committee.
“And I just want to say to all my friends in the Trump administration: You better put on your rollerblades because you’re going to be skating to Capitol Hill a lot.”
The current Virginia congressional delegation has seven Republicans and four Democrats. The delegation in the next Congress will have the opposite: seven Democrats and four Republicans.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
