Politics & Government

One-on-One with Sen. Robert J. Garagiola

Get to know the state senate majority leader and Germantown resident who plans to run for U.S. Congress.

Maryland Sen. Robert Garagiola’s (D, 15thdistrict) is expected to officially announce plans to run for congress at 10:30 a.m. today (Tuesday, Nov. 1) at , one of several appearances scheduled in Frederick, Cumberland and Hagerstown. Patch chatted with Garagiola, 39, of Germantown, .

Patch: What made you want to run?

Garagiola: When I first ran for the senate about 10 years ago, I did it because I wanted to make change. I didn't want to be a back-bencher. I feel like I've made a lot of accomplishments in the Maryland legislature on health care, on renewable energy, on moving forward and passing balanced budgets. I look at what's going on in Washington, with the partisan gridlock, the posturing, there's a real concern about the direction of our country right now. I worked with Republicans and Democrats in the Maryland legislature to get things done and I feel like we need to get things done again to move America forward at the federal level. That's the reason I'm running for congress. We need to have change. We need to look at how we create jobs and progress on a number of issues and challenges we're dealing with.

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Patch: Why do you think Western Maryland voters would be receptive to being represented by a Montgomery County lawmaker?

Garagiola: When I first ran for the Maryland senate in 2002, alot of the agricultural community in upper Montgomery County had the same question for me, being from an urban area like Germantown. And I feel that I was able to demonstrate to the voters in upper Montgomery County, to the agricultural community in some of the small-town communities like Poolesville and Barnesville that I would be, was and have been an effective advocate for their interests. I have been meeting with voters throughout the 6th congressional district ... I think there's alot of reception to me as a person, to my background. Alot of the things I have focused on and would plan to focus if elected to congress.

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Patch: That being said, what would be your priorities if you were elected to congress?

Garagiola: We really need to do something to get jobs back in our economy. Some of that is focusing on our infrastructure needs: water, sewer, roads, transportation. Part of it is relooking and revamping some of the incentives we have out there to spur on certain types of economic development. And we really haven't seen much of that. I know President Obama put forward a jobs package and largely the senate Republicans prevented that from getting enacted. I know they're looking at trying to put pieces of that forward in the short term. But we've really got to get our economy back going again. The ups, downs and concerns about a potential double-dip recession, that's where the focus needs to be right now.

Patch: There are a few issues that are sticking points with Western Maryland's more conservative voters. I'd like to ask you about your stances on three. We'll start with taxes and spending.

Garagiola: Unlike the current incumbent in congress from the 6th district, I've actually helped pass and shepherd through nine balanced budgets for the state of Maryland. I believe strongly that we need to get our fiscal house in order. But there's a right way to do it and a wrong way to do it. I think that the leadership in the House of Representatives has been looking to do this on the backs of seniors and the middle class, which is not the right way to do it. We've been able to make an investment in Maryland in education, in expanding health care, in balancing our budget. Clearly that means there needs to be some spending reductions.

My position as far as taxes, I've voted for tax cuts in the past. I've also authored legislation to reduce certain types of taxes, as well. Also, the use of tax cuts to provide incentives to try to grow certain business. That same kind of common sense is what we need to be looking at on the federal level instead of the ideological posturing we've seen in the past.

Patch: As far as , where would this fit in to your view?

Garagiola: I think everyone agrees that we need new revenue for our transportation trust fund. That's something that I don't think there's any disagreement on. The question is how do we get that revenue. Where do we get that revenue from The gas tax is a source of revenue to meet our transportation needs for the federal government as well as the state government. We need to look and explore — for new revenues, is the gas tax going to be part of that are there going to be other types of revenues that are going to be part of that as well? I certainly commend the Blue Ribbon commission for the work that they've done and the work that they have put forward. That's a starting point. I think most people know where an idea or an action starts in the legislative process, isn't necessarily where it ends. I think there's going to be lots of discussion on this. The governor's going to be weighing in on this. At the end of the day, we're going to need new revenue to meet our transportation needs. It's something that's important both for short-term economic investment and jobs. The construction industry, the engineers, the architects who are involved with transportation projects and want not, they are some of the hardest hit as far as unemployment in this state. Clearly the needs are there as far as the long-term investment, as well, with infrastructure that we'll have for decades. The need is there. We're going to need some additional revenues. What those revenues are and where they come from, that's going to be subject to debate as we get into the next general session in January.

Patch: There are a couple other issues I wanted to ask you about — gun control and same-sex marriage.

Garagiola: As far as gun control, I think where the laws are today is where they should stay — pretty straight forward. On same-sex marriage, I look at providing equal rights for all  Marylanders, all Americans. Right now there are hundreds of rights that I enjoy in my relationship with my wife. There are others who do not get the benefit of those same rights. There are state laws and federal laws where there's essentially discrimination. Two people of the same sex who are in love with each other and are in a committed relationship can't avail themselves of those civil rights and protections that I get to enjoy. I've been a supporter of it and will continue to be. 


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