|
- |
By DONNIE JOHNSTON
Politics is a matter of give and take, as Rep. Eric Cantor's visit to Culpeper showed yesterday.
The 7th District Republican stopped off yesterday to give out $150,000 in federal money to help fight gang violence. But when the official ceremonies were over, he found himself taking tough questions from reporters about everything from political scandals to the Iraq war.
Cantor helped Culpeper secure the $150,000 gang violence prevention money through a Justice Department grant aimed at stopping the spread of gangs that have been moving out from the inner cities in recent years.
"Although there is much prosperity and economic growth in the region, we are also witnessing in-creased violence from gang activity," Cantor said.
The money will be divided equally among the Culpeper County Sheriff's Office, the Culpeper Town Police Department and the Department of Social Services.
"This is a grant program that allows a lot of flexibility for the use of the money," Cantor said.
Sheriff Lee Hart said both local law-enforcement agencies had been working closely with Cantor to secure the grant.
"This is not something that came together overnight," Hart said.
Board of Supervisors Chairman John Coates also expressed his gratitude, saying the money will help ensure "gangs do not become active in our community and stop the violence before the problem becomes too large."
In response to a question concerning just how prevalent gang-related violence has become in the area, Cantor said, "There is no question that during the last five or more years there is a trend of illegal immigrants crossing our southern border from Central America."
Cantor said that the highest concentrations of these gangs are in big cities such as Los Angeles, Miami and Washington. But he added that suburban areas such as Culpeper are seeing a spillover.
Although Cantor mentioned only the highly publicized MS-13 gang as an example, he said gang violence is not limited to America's Hispanic population. Hart added that there is already MS-13 activity in Culpeper.
Following the grant announcement, Cantor found himself being quizzed about the recent legal troubles of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
DeLay's decision not to try to regain the majority leader's post as he awaits trial on money-laundering charges opens up leadership positions in the House. Cantor, now a deputy whip, said he already has enough votes to be elected majority whip if the position becomes available.
He said he is confident of keeping those votes even with others expressing interest in the No. 3 position in the House.
"We have well over the majority number of votes to secure a victory," Cantor said. "We are right now working very hard. We are not stopping."
He denied any close connection to Abramoff, who pleaded guilty to felony charges and agreed to cooperate in a federal bribery probe that is focused on members of Congress and their aides.
Cantor said all campaign funds he received through Abramoff have been returned. He added that in his first election to Congress, the lobbyist "spent $100,000 against me."
Cantor said he expects Congress to take up comprehensive lobbying reform when it reconvenes, and that will help GOP Republicans get out from under the cloud of mistrust that has arisen in the past several months.
The congressman also defended the Iraq war, adding that, "We are winning it."
He would not offer any ideas about a timetable for removing U.S. troops, but said the war is in no way similar to Vietnam.
To reach DONNIE JOHNSTON:
Email: djohnston@freelancestar.com
