U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott considering U.S. Senate bid

After almost two decades in Congress, U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott is considering running for the U.S. Senate next year because he believes the House has become so divisive there's little room for negotiation or compromise on major issues.

The Newport News Democrat said Friday that he probably won't decide until July. "There's no urgency," he said.

After U.S. Sen. Jim Webb surprised state Democrats by announcing last month that he would not seek a second term, many party members have focused their attention on former Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, who is considering running but has not made a public decision.

David Mills, executive director of the Democratic Party of Virginia, said Scott has not talked with him, but he welcomes the congressman's interest.

"We think he is a great Democrat and a great leader," said Mills, adding that the party organization will not play favorites before a 2012 Senate nominee is chosen next year. State party leaders are expected to decide in September whether the Democratic candidate will be chosen in a primary or a state convention.

Three Republicans already have launched campaigns to compete in their party's June 2012 primary for the GOP nomination: George Allen, a former senator and governor; Jamie Radtke, former leader of a state tea party group; and David McCormick, a Virginia Beach attorney.

Scott contends that, given his congressional experience, he could be very effective in the Senate. The chamber's rules, which allow individual members to block legislation, foster more debate and compromise, he said.

"Everybody has an opportunity to be heard over in the Senate," he said.

In the House, particularly with Republicans in the majority, Scott said, there are too many party-line votes with little opportunity for true debate and compromise. "When they decide how to vote on a measure, they all vote that way."

Scott said he would want to stay in the House "if it appears we're going to regain control. I have significant seniority." He was chairman of a subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee before Democrats lost their majority.

He has strongly criticized efforts by House GOP lawmakers and some Democrats to cut spending on social programs and other government operations to reduce the national deficit - particularly because legislators also were agreeable to adding trillions of dollars to the debt to keep intact the so-called Bush tax cuts.

"It's fiscal insanity what is going on now," Scott said. "People don't have any idea how big that tax cut was that was not paid for."

Scott has a strong record as a liberal lawmaker on many social issues but also has supported defense programs, including those that benefit Hampton Roads.

While many Republicans have attacked the new health care law as too intrusive, Scott supported it and argued that it didn't go far enough. He has supported a government-run health insurance program, known as the public option, which supporters have said would compete with private companies and keep down costs.

Scott, 63, who has been in the House since 1993, easily won re-election in November to a 10th two-year term representing the state's 3rd Congressional District. The district includes parts of Norfolk and Portsmouth and stretches up to Richmond.

Before serving in Congress, he had a law practice and served multiple terms in the Virginia Senate from 1983 to 1992, and the state House of Delegates from 1977 to 1982.

Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com