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Jim Moran

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Jim Moran currently serves the 8th Congressional district of Virginia

James Patrick Moran Jr., a Democrat, has represented the Eighth Congressional District of Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1991. (map)

Contents

Record and controversies

General information about important bills and votes for can be found in Congresspedia's articles on legislation. You can add information you find on how Jim Moran voted by clicking the "[edit]" link to the right and typing it in. Remember to cite your sources!

Iraq War

Moran voted against the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.[1]

For more information see the chart of U.S. House of Representatives votes on the Iraq War.

"Jewish" remarks

Prior to the 2003 invasion of Iraq he told an antiwar audience in Reston, Virginia on March 3, 2003, that "If it were not for the strong support of the Jewish community for this war with Iraq, we would not be doing this. The leaders of the Jewish community are influential enough that they could change the direction of where this is going, and I think they should."

This remark proved controversial. Writing in the December 22, 2003 edition of The Nation, Letty Cottin Pogrebin charged that "Representative James Moran of Virginia stirred up another incendiary canard-Jewish influence-by attributing America's war with Iraq to 'the strong support of the Jewish community.'"

On November 13, 2007, during Moran's Town Hall on "Is Iran Next?", he said that a piece of legislation that he led, attempting to control the development of bunker buster nuclear weapons, was headed off by lobbyists at the last minute before passage. When pressed by a questioner for the name of the lobbyist, he said "AIPAC." He went on a great length to say that AIPAC was playing by the rules and doing its job effectively in our system, and he did not question their right to do so. It was clear that he did not want this to be taken as an anti-Jewish remark. The context for bringing up the topic was administration preparation for war with Iran.

Environmental record

For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

DC voting rights

On June 3, 1992, Rep. Moran introduced a constitutional amendment (H.J.Res.501) calling for the District of Columbia to be treated as though it were a state for purposes of representation in Congress (similar to the amendment which passed both houses in 1978, but was not ratified by the states). The resolution was referred to the House Judiciary Committee, where no action was taken.

Main article: Voting rights in the District of Columbia

Support for gun control

Moran cosponsored H.R 1022 (Assault Weapons Ban Reauthorization Act of 2007) on March 7, 2007.[2]

In April 2007, Moran, issued criticism of President Bush for letting the assault weapons ban expire saying that,"if he's serious about doing whatever he can to stop the potential for this carnage [the Virginia Tech Massacre], that might be one place to start." [3]

Main article: U.S. gun legislation

Earmarks

On June 9, 2006, Moran told a crowd of 450 at the Arlington County Democratic Committee's annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner that if Democrats regained control of the House of Representatives in the 2006 midterm elections, he would use his seniority to secure more money for his congressional district. He stated, "When I become chairman [of the House Appropriations Subcommittee], I'm going to earmark the s--out of it". [1]

On June 19, 2006, the Washington Post reported that Moran supports earmarks stemming from "Project M," a technology involving magnetic levitation. To date, the project has received $37 million in earmarks. This project was designed to keep submarine machinery quieter, keep Navy SEALs safer in their boats, and protect Marines from roadside bombs. The Pentagon, however, has said that it does not care for the project. Project M's creator, Vibration & Sound Solutions Ltd., has given $17,000 to Moran's campaign and works in Moran's district. The Washington Post also reported that Moran cited 25 jobs that depend on the project and that he, "earmarks projects if the company involved employs people in his district and the military thinks it has merit." [2]

National security and foreign policy

In late June 2007, House defense appropriators considered adding language to the 2008 Defense Department spending bill that would close Guantanamo Bay. According to Rep. Moran, who is a strong opponent of the facility, the language would leave Guantanamo open "just for specific purposes, but we’re not going to keep more than 5 percent of the people there."

Main article: FY 2008 Defense Department authorization

Reparations for Japanese Latin Americans

Moran cosponsored The Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent Act in the 110th Congress which would establish a commission that would determine the facts and circumstances involving the relocation, internment and deportation of Japanese Latin Americans.[4]

Main article: Redress for Japanese Latin Americans/ U.S. legislation#Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent Act of 2007

Bio

Moran was born May 16, 1945 in Buffalo, New York. He attended the College of the Holy Cross and the University of Pittsburgh, graduating with a masters degree in Public Administration. He was elected to the Alexandria, Virginia City Council in 1979, serving as deputy mayor from 1982 to 1984, when he was forced to resign as part of a nolo contendre plea bargain to a misdemeanor conflict of interest charge. The conviction was later erased. Moran subsequently ran and was elected mayor of Alexandria in 1985. His brother, Brian Moran, is a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Moran was elected to the U.S. House in 1990.

Congressional career

In 1998, during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, Moran was one of 31 House Democrats who voted with Republicans to launch a formal impeachment inquiry into President Bill Clinton.

Politically, Moran is a New Democrat, and is affiliated with the Democratic Leadership Council. On economic issues he often breaks with his party, supporting CAFTA and other free trade agreements, harsher bankruptcy laws and increased restrictions on the right to bring class action suits. On other issues he is more liberal. He supports gay rights, and voted against the Defense of Marriage Act. At different times he has voted to ban flag-burning and partial-birth abortions, though he has reversed his positions on both issues.

2006 elections

In 2006, Republicans nominated Thomas O'Donoghue to face Moran in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) [3] Moran retained his seat.

Money in politics

This section contains links to – and feeds from – money in politics databases. For specific controversies, see this article's record and controversies section. <crpcontribdata>cid=N00002083&cycle=2006</crpcontribdata>

Links to more campaign contribution information for Jim Moran
from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org site.
Fundraising profile: 2006 election cycle Career totals
Top contributors by organization/corporation: 2006 election cycle Career totals
Top contributors by industry: 2006 election cycle Career totals


Committees and Affiliations

Committees

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

More Background Data

Wikipedia also has an article on Jim Moran. This article may use content from the Wikipedia article under the terms of the GFDL.

Contact

DC Office:
2239 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-4608
Phone: 202-225-4376
Fax: 202-225-0017
Website
Web Email

District Office- Alexandria:
5115 Franconia Road, Suite B
Alexandria, VA 22310
Phone: 703-971-4700
Fax: 703-922-9436

District Office- Reston:
1760 Reston Parkway, Suite 312
Reston, VA 20190
Phone: 703-481-4339
Fax: 703-481-4338

2008 Campaign Contact Information

Official Moran for Congress campaign website

311 N. Washington St
Ste 200L
Alexandria VA 22314

Phone: 703.738.3417

hmargetich@moranforcongress.org

Articles and resources

Sources

  1. ↑ Roll call vote, Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002.
  2. ↑ Thomas page on H.R. 1022
  3. ↑ David Mark, "Moran Criticizes Bush, Calls for Gun Control," Politico, April 17, 2007.
  4. ↑ "SENS. INOUYE, AKAKA, LEAHY, LEVIN, BENNETT, MURKOWSKI, STEVENS," US Fed News 15, 2007.

Resources

Articles

Local blogs and discussion sites

Corresponding article on Wikipedia and Cause Caller. (If Cause Caller link does not work, pick from its list of senators and representatives.)

Current Office: U.S. House of Representatives
111th Congress
Leadership Position:
 Committees Chaired:
 Committees,
Ranking Member On:
 Caucuses:
Committees:
110th Congress
Leadership Position:
None		 Committees Chaired:
 Committees,
Ranking Member On:
 Caucuses:
Committees: House Committee on Appropriations, House Committee on Appropriations/Subcommittee on Defense, House Committee on Appropriations/Subcommittee on Interior and Environment and Related Agencies
Congressional Career
First Elected to Current Office:
November 6, 1990		 First Took Current Office:
January 3, 1991		 Next Election:
November 4, 2008		 Term Ends:
Freshman Member?
No		 Previous Political Work?
Mayor of Alexandria, Vice Mayor of Alexandria, Alexandria City Council		 Other Party Membership:
District Offices:
1. 5115 Franconia Road, Suite B, Alexandria, VA 22310
Phone: 703-971-4700 / Fax: 703-922-9436
2. 1760 Reston Parkway, Suite 312, Reston, VA 20190
Phone: 703-481-4339 / Fax: 703-481-4338
Campaign Contact:

Website: jimmoran.org
Webform Email: hmargetich@moranforcongress.org / Email:

Campaign Offices:

1. 311 N. Washington St, Ste 200L, Alexandria VA 22314
Phone: 703.738.3417 / Fax:
Zip Code Affiliations:
Misc:

Date of Birth: May 16, 1945







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