Even as the terrorist attacks on Paris were ongoing late Nov. 13 and into the early morning hours of Nov. 14, President Barack Obama and North Carolina’s top lawmakers were promising prayers, unity and solidarity with France. Obama, speaking as gunshots and explosions still could be heard throughout the French capital, promised, “We are going to do whatever it takes to work with the French people and with nations around the world to bring these terrorists to justice.” North Carolina lawmakers al...
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The Thomasville Area Chamber of Commerce hosted U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-5th, Friday for an informal forum with members of the public. Foxx spent an hour during lunchtime meeting with small business owners and Thomasville area citizens discussing many of the issues Davidson County faces with the federal government. “I know what it’s like to have a small business, make payroll, deal with broken contracts and people who don’t do the right things and all those things that small business people ha...
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WASHINGTON – Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., today released the following statement to commemorate Veterans Day: “On Veterans Day we rightly single out the members of our military past and present to honor them with the respect and gratitude they deserve. The veterans that we honor today are a reflection of American greatness. Liberty is bought and paid for by the incomprehensible generosity of these patriots. “In November we also honor the commitment and sacrifices of our military families by celeb...
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Lynchburg College President Kenneth Garren was sipping wine at a reception before Virginia’s gubernatorial inauguration last year when he spotted a familiar face: Sen. Mark Warner. Mr. Garren had known the senator for years and had met with the lawmaker’s daughter on campus when she was considering applying to the small Christian college. At the inauguration party, Mr. Garren says, he buttonholed the senator and urged him to oppose a plan from President Barack Obama to create a ratings system fo...
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During his first full week as Speaker, Paul Ryan gave a glimpse of how he’ll run the House differently than his predecessor, John Boehner. The 45-year-old Wisconsin Republican opened up the legislative process and allowed hours of freewheeling debate on more than 100 amendments to a long-term highway bill. Then he pushed the bill through the House on a huge bipartisan vote. Ryan vowed to give more opportunities for disgruntled rank-and-file members to be heard, holding the first weekly policy-fo...
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After the death this week of former U.S. House Rep. Howard Coble, local politicians and friends who knew Coble expressed an outpouring of support and remembrance. Coble, who was the longest-serving Republican House member in North Carolina history, represented Davidson County on Capitol Hill for 15 terms beginning in 1984 before redistricting split the county among the 5th, 8th and 12th districts in 2013. He left the House in 2014 and died Tuesday in Greensboro at the age of 84 after a battle wi...
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Speaker Paul D. Ryan has directed a task force to make recommendations on how to diversify representation on the Steering Committee. Members charged with overhauling the powerful panel that determines appointments to the House’s committees will submit recommendations to the full Republican Conference the week before Thanksgiving. Republican Policy Chairman Luke Messer, R-Ind., who has taken the lead on soliciting member feedback on a broad overhaul of the House GOP rule book, confirmed to CQ Rol...
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WASHINGTON – Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., today released the following statement regarding the passing of former Rep. Howard Coble: “Howard Coble was a dedicated public servant and a champion for his constituents. He never backed down from a challenge to do what was right for North Carolina and always pushed Washington to work better for those he represented. Howard was the essence of what it means to be a southern gentleman: someone who simply exuded kindness, charm and compassion. He was a man ...
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He was a man who loved his people. He was a public servant who never took a penny of pension from the U.S. government. He was a congressman to whom political differences didn't matter. He was a humble North Carolinian, whose down-to-earth personality and humorous charm captivated North Carolina voters. He was Howard Coble. "It's not my seat, it's not a Howard Coble seat. It belongs to the people of the 6th district," he once said. Coble passed away shortly before midnight Tuesday at the age of 8...
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Former Rep. Howard Coble, the longest-serving GOP congressman from North Carolina, died late Tuesday after a lengthy hospital stay, according to local media reports. He was 84. Coble, who could be easily spotted around Capitol Hill due to his colorful plaid suit jackets, represented the Tar Heel State’s 6th congressional district for 30 years. He decided not to seek reelection in 2014 due to health reasons, and was succeeded by conservative Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.). “Howard Coble was a dedicate...
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