James Moran

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

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

Support for gun control
Moran cosponsored H.R 1022 (Assault Weapons Ban Reauthorization Act of 2007) on March 7, 2007.

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."

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". 

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." 

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."

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.

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)  Moran retained his seat.

Money in politics
cid=N00002083&cycle=2008

Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Appropriations
 * Subcommittee on Defense
 * Subcommittee on Financial Services
 * Subcommittee on Interior and Environment

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

 * House Committee on Appropriations
 * Subcommittee on Defense
 * Subcommittee on Interior and Environment and Related Agencies
 * On the Board of Governors for the Partnership for Public Service.

More Background Data

 * 2006 Virginia CD 8 Candidate List from VIS

2008 Campaign Contact Information
Official Moran for Congress campaign website

311 N. Washington St Ste 200L Alexandria VA 22314

Phone: 703.738.3417

[mailto:hmargetich@moranforcongress.org hmargetich@moranforcongress.org]

Resources

 * Official website
 * Campaign website
 * GoodbyeJim.com
 * "Moran Wins Va Primary" (Controversies analyzed) Washington Post
 * Jim Moran's Colbert Report interview. (Other Colbert Report interviews with members of Congress)
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Articles

 * Charles R. Babcock, "The Project that Wouldn't Die", The Washington Post, June 19, 2006.
 * Scott McCaffrey, "Moran: Democratic Majority Means More Money for 8th District," Sun Gazette, June 10, 2006
 * Charles Babcock, "Earmarks at the Office of Naval Research," Washington Post, June 19, 2006.
 * Amanda Terkel, "U.S. Troops Given Misleading, Inaccurate Bios Of Democratic Lawmakers Visiting Iraq," Think Progress, August 31, 2007.

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Richmond Democrat
 * Act Blue