Former Va. Congressman (Joel) Broyhill Dies

[Penndems]

Joel T. Broyhill, 86; Vigorous 11-Term N.Va. Congressman

By Bart Barnes
Special to The Washington Post
Wednesday, September 27, 2006; Page B09

Joel T. Broyhill, 86, an 11-term Republican congressman from Arlington County who became an institution on the political landscape of metropolitan Washington during 22 years of service on Capitol Hill, died of congestive heart failure and pneumonia Sept. 24 at his home in Arlington.

Mr. Broyhill won his seat in Congress on the coattails of Dwight D. Eisenhower's presidential landslide in 1952, and he lost it in 1974 in the wake of the Watergate crisis and the resignation of President Richard M. Nixon. He played a key role in vital decisions affecting the nation's capital and the Washington area as an influential member of the House District Committee and a master craftsman of legislative tactics and strategy.

As a lawmaker, Mr. Broyhill was best known for local matters. He sponsored legislation that led to the construction of the Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson bridges across the Potomac River and the second span of the 14th Street Bridge. He also sponsored a measure that led to the widening of Shirley Highway. He fought for better pay and working conditions for federal employees, federal aid to local school systems and financial support for Metro.

He was an unrelenting and outspoken opponent of home rule for the District, arguing that the U.S. Constitution placed ultimate responsibility for the nation's capital with Congress, and he battled for years against measures to increase the authority of city residents to manage D.C. affairs.

Link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/26/AR2006092600911.html
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If you've lived in Northern Virginia for at least thirty years, and you're old enough to remember him, you know who Joel Broyhill was. He and I were on opposing sides of the political spectrum, and he was a pompous ass as a human being, but this man did an enormous amount in regards to alleviating transportation problems in NorVA. Everyone in his district knew when they called Representative Broyhill's office with a problem, it would receive his personal attention.

Every Dem we ran against him up until 1974 went down to defeat - that's how popular he was.

[Catchawave]

1. He was given a very nice write up in the Norfolk area today.

I remember him, I grew up in Springfield, Virginia ....next to the old Shirley Highway, in the 60's, before I-95 and the Beltway!

I remember him as being an inspiration for my earlier love for politics during high school, when there were no Democrats and Republicans, just great people who could make a difference. :patriot: R.I.P. Joel :patriot: