Rasoul: National Debt A Security Issue Says Personal Conviction Won't Affect Legal Stance On Abortion By Jeff Mellott Sixth Congressional District Democratic candidate Sam Rasoul said Wednesday that he is ready to go to Washington, D.C., where he vows to fight special interests while working to secure a balanced federal budget. The Blue Ridge businessman and political newcomer, who stopped by the offices of the Daily News-Record for an editorial roundtable, said voters could count on him to fight the national debt, which he considers a national security issue. But anti-abortion advocates should not bet on Rasoul's support. Although he says he's opposed to abortion personally, he also opposes government intrusion into a woman's right to choose. Rasoul is seeking to unseat Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke. Independent Janice Lee Allen of Bridgewater also is challenging Goodlatte. Rasoul said he liked to separate his personal feelings from pending legislation. "There is a difference in what I believe is my job as a legislator and what my personal convictions are," he said. Rasoul said he had to draw a line and that it could not be "his way or the highway." Even with his personal convictions on abortion, Rasoul said, "I don't feel the government should have the right to come in and tell, during the first trimester, what [a woman] can or cannot do with her body." Fresh Ideas For 20 months, Rasoul has been crisscrossing the district, which extends from Shenandoah and Rockingham counties to Roanoke and Lynchburg. At 27 years old, Rasoul is the youngest congressional candidate in the country. This is his first time seeking political office. Rasoul said his youth is an advantage in his race against Goodlatte, 55, an eight-term congressman, and Allen, 56, also a political newcomer. "People are looking for new and fresh ideas from an independent mind that has not been tainted by the system," he said. But Rasoul has not made much progress against Goodlatte, according to a recent survey. A public opinion poll conducted by Roanoke television station WDBJ and SurveyUSA showed him trailing Goodlatte by 29 points, 59 to 30 percent. Allen polled 3 percent. Rasoul, however, discounted the poll's results, saying it is too early in the election process to have much meaning. Opposing Vouchers On other issues, Rasoul said he did not want to do anything to undermine public education funding. Rasoul said he opposed school vouchers, but would consider tax credits for parents who homeschool their children. He does not, however, support tax credits to help send children to private schools. Supporting private education with public funds leads to a socioeconomic divide, he said. No Bacon Rasoul, running in one of the most conservative congressional districts in the state, said he would align himself with Democrats in Congress who supported reining in the federal spending. He wants to sponsor comprehensive reform of earmarks, commonly referred to as "pork barrel" projects, which he blames for driving up federal spending. Asked if he would bring home the bacon to the 6th District, Rasoul said, "no."

Why Have Gas Prices Gone Through the Roof? Those big signs at gas stations along every major road in the Sixth District shout our dilemma. We can't afford to drive the vehicles we own. In a few short months, gas prices have destroyed the family budget and now threaten our entire economic health. Over the past few weeks in parades, at fairs, and on doorsteps, I have heard the same concern: the price of gas. We are in a crisis, and families need help today. What happened? And will things get better or worse? First, let's talk about why the price escalated. Not everyone agrees on why the prices rose as quickly and as high as they did. I'll take you through the conventional explanation, which offers no quick solution. Then, I'll end with a possible dilemma we can fix with the appropriate legislation and effective energy policy. One reason for increases in price is simple supply and demand. However, supply and demand didn't hit the wall overnight. There's no doubt demand has escalated. Americans use 25 percent of the oil produced worldwide, and developing countries, especially China and India, are trying to catch up to our pace. Right now the world demands 87 million barrels a day, while oil production lags behind at 85 million barrels a day. OPEC, with two-thirds of the world's oil reserves, could produce more, but has no incentive to do so while reaping such healthy profits. The Iraq War has contributed to the crisis also. Oil production was interrupted and has not climbed back to prewar levels. Though the shortfall is only about a quarter-million barrels a day, it's easy to see how that shortfall fits the supply-and-demand picture. To make matters worse, our military operations in Iraq use great quantities of oil, costing us money for which we gain no useful economic output. In fact, our military operations protecting the shipping lanes and oil refineries and other needs of the foreign oil industry we depend on adds more to the demand, pushing prices higher. Couple those problems with the weak dollar. Our addiction to oil and weak domestic production force us to spend $33 million per hour on foreign oil. We import nearly 70 percent of the oil we consume, sending the money to places where it has no chance of entering our economy. When we send more dollars out of the U.S., we weaken the dollar and gas prices go up again. Then we must send even more money out - a cycle that hits us weekly at the gas pump and the grocery store and every other sector of our economy. OK, all that makes sense, but doesn't answer why prices rose so fast. In 2000, at the request of Enron and other energy companies, Congress exempted energy markets from government regulation. A 2006 Senate report warned speculation uninhibited by regulation would send prices sky-high, but our representatives paid no attention. With no oversight, energy traders have gone wild with market manipulation and excessive speculation. Investors looking for good returns and a hedge against the falling dollar have found an unregulated energy market provides them the perfect opportunity. Their opportunity may account for as much of 60 percent of today's oil prices, according to several analysts. I'll address possible solutions to these problems in my next article. If speculation is indeed the main driver of high prices, we can provide some short-term relief, perhaps, but the supply and demand issues necessitate a long-term commitment for an energy revolution in our country. In 1999, we could get gas for 90 cents a gallon; those days are past. We must create a secure supply of energy that is pro-national security, pro-environment, and pro-growth. The responsibility rests with all of us.