SerpApi.Org
Democratic lawmakers U.S. Sen. Mark Warner and Rep. Suhas Subramanyam discussed issues as local as the Rappahannock County courthouse construction project and as global as the Iran War Saturday during a campaign stop from Big Washington to Little Washington.
Throughout the lawmakers' speeches, at what was billed as a "community conversation," there was rigorous applause from the audience of about 80.
Packed into the Washington Town Hall on a 90-degree afternoon, eight of the attendees asked questions during a 20-minute Q&A, which took place after Warner and Subramanyam spoke for about 40 minutes.
Both Democrats are up for reelection on Nov. 3. The stop was one of numerous "community conversations" Warner is holding around the commonwealth, occasionally accompanied by a House candidate.
Subramanyam thinks county is mistaken to reject courthouse funding
Subramanyam said Rappahannock County supervisors should accept a $1 million Community Project Funding grant he secured for a $23 million courthouse construction project. The county has contended that the grant comes with strings attached that would make the project cost-prohibitive. The supervisors are expected to consider formally declining the funding when they meet in August.
County Administrator Garrey Curry said during a July meeting that accepting the grant would subject the entire courthouse project to federal requirements, including federally mandated wage and benefit rates and additional environmental and historic preservation reviews.
"I'll just say that if you reject the first million dollars, then you don't get the next $5 million," Subramanyam told the crowd.
Subramanyam, a first-term representative, argued more money could be on its way if he is reelected and lands a powerful and highly sought-after committee assignment next term.
"The dollars and cents may not make sense to you right now, but they will make more sense as I get on the Appropriations Committee next year," he said. The House Appropriations Committee dictates where federal dollars go in spending bills.
Subramanyam said in an interview after the event that the county reached out to his office regarding the grant following reporting from the Rappahannock News last week, but that he doesn't have any information on why the grant would be cost-prohibitive. The congressman from Loudoun County said he didn't plan to meet Rappahannock County government officials while he was in town Saturday.
Bonnie Jewell, the assistant county administrator, said in an email that the county hasn't sought to speak with Subramanyam directly, but is " instead working through what we understand to be the appropriate channels."
"We are working together to determine a path forward for use of the $1,015,000 in federal funding," she wrote.
Subramanyam said the audience should tell county officials to "come to my office and we'll help work this out."
"I'm so glad we're here in this courthouse today," Subramanyam said, apparently confusing the town hall he was standing in with the courthouse down the street. "It smells a little funny, I'm not gonna lie. It seems a little old. I feel like they should probably do something to try to, you know, renovate it, perhaps."
Subramanyam said in the interview after the event he was trying to use the courthouse "as a prop."
Warner chooses pragmatism over resistance in data center debate
Warner, who made a fortune in the tech world before entering politics, told the audience the federal government should rein in the data centers powering the modern tech world.
"We need minimum federal standards for data centers anywhere around this country," Warner said. "That means you gotta either bring your own power or make sure there is no ability to have increased rates."
While he didn't get much more specific about which regulations he'd prefer, Warner said data centers should be barred from using an accounting trick called accelerated depreciation "until and unless they meet these standards." Accelerated depreciation allows companies to reduce taxable income during the early years of a business asset, lowering their tax bills.
To offset the intense power demands of data centers, Warner also proposed an all-of-the-above energy policy that includes nuclear power.
Lawmakers avoided answering some questions directly
The last 20 minutes of the event were dedicated to a Q&A with the audience. While Warner and Subramanyam received a couple of softballs - "What is the best use of our time?" one self-described Warner fundraiser asked - the men sidestepped some dense or thorny questions.
Questions ranged from the status of a voting bill championed by Trump to undoing the president's signature tax bill.
Asked by Flint Hill resident Rick Tagg about purported Israeli influence in the federal government, Warner said he was "so glad I can pass that off to Suhas," drawing laughter. Subramanyam delivered a monologue about Israel's role as an ally and asset for Middle East stability and said Congress would "have to really look critically" at a 10-year security deal with Israel that expires next year.
Warner then took the microphone and pivoted to condemning antisemitism and Islamophobia, before taking the next question.
Asked by Laurie Emrich of Castleton what he could do to stop the Trump administration from "enfeebling" nongovernmental organizations, Warner - without providing specifics - said that a Democratic-controlled Senate could "put guardrails in place."
Opposing Trump is central to Warner, Subramanyam reelection bids
Both Warner and Subramanyam portrayed President Donald Trump's actions in Iran and American elections as "illegal" and "corrupt."
Warner, who has spent the past few weeks on cable television and social media combating Trump's claims of widespread electoral fraud, struck an existential tone.
"If we have a corrupted election this cycle, I don't know how we ever put Humpty Dumpty fully back together," he said.
Subramanyam portrayed the Iran War, initiated by Trump, as wasteful and pointless.
"Even a few Republicans are starting to agree with us," Subramanyam said, an apparent reference to the handful of Republicans who voted to curb the president's war powers last month. "We will continue putting the pressure on them."
