Shadow Politics
Shadow Politics is a grass roots talk show giving a voice to the voiceless. For more than 200 years the people of the Nation's Capital have ironically been excluded from the national political conversation. With no voting member of either house of Congress, Washingtonians have lacked the representation they need to be equal and to have their voices heard. Shadow Politics will provide a platform for them, as well as the millions of others nationwide who feel politically disenfranchised and disconnected, to be included in a national dialog.
We need to start a new conversation in America, one that is more inclusive and diverse and one that will lead our great nation forward to meet the challenges of the 21st century. At Shadow Politics, we hope to get this conversation started by bringing Americans together to talk about issues important to them. We look forward to having you be part of the discussion so call in and join the conversation. America is calling and we're listening… Shadow Politics is about America hearing what you have to say. It's your chance to talk to an elected official who has spent more than 30 years in Washington politics. We believe that if we start a dialog and others add their voices we will create a chorus. Even if those other politicians in Washington don't hear you — Senator Brown will. He's on a mission to listen to what America has to say and use it to start a productive dialog to make our democracy stronger and more inclusive. If we are all part of the solution we can solve any problem.
Guest, Tom Davis
Tom Davis is a Washington, D.C., attorney who focuses his practice on handling a variety of congressional and regulatory affairs, including congressional investigations, land use and legislative strategy.
Mr. Davis served 14 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing the 11th Congressional District of Virginia. He served as chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform from 2003 to 2007, where he led a number of high-profile investigations. In addition, Mr. Davis was elected chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee and served in that role from 1999 to 2002. When he joined Congress, Mr. Davis was the first freshman representative in 50 years to hold a subcommittee chairmanship, taking the gavel of the Subcommittee on the District of Columbia.
While in Congress, Mr. Davis was a chief author of more than 100 pieces of legislation that became law, including the Services Acquisition Reform Act (SARA), Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), D.C. "Control Board" Act, District of Columbia College Access Program, D.C. Revitalization Act, Federal Acquisition Reform Act (FARA), National Capital Transportation Amendments Act (Washington Metro Authorization), Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and the Y2K Act (tort reform). He also presided over 150 hearings and investigations culminating in reports which included Hurricane Katrina, steroid use in professional baseball and contracting in Iraq.
Mr. Davis also served as a supervisor on the Fairfax County (Va.) Board of Supervisors from 1980 to 1994, and as the board chairman from 1991 to 1994.
Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Davis was managing director of the Government Relations Office at Deloitte, where he advised the consulting side of the firm and its clients in its efforts to develop business with governmental clients. Mr. Davis also served 14 years as general counsel for a publicly held professional services firm in McLean, Va., a publicly held professional services firm, up until his election to Congress.
Mr. Davis has served as a director on the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) where, as vice chairman, he oversaw the construction on Phase I of Metrorail to Dulles Airport and helped procure the funding agreement for Phase II. He currently serves as Rector (chairman of the Board of Visitors) at George Mason University, where he is also a distinguished professor of Public Policy at the Schar School of Policy and Government.
Mr. Davis also has authored numerous thought pieces in The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and The Hill on the workings of Congress and other governmental issues. He also has appeared as a commentator on various television news and entertainment programs, including "Meet the Press," "Fox News Sunday Show" (power player of the week), MSNBC, CNN and the "Bill Maher Show."
In addition, Mr. Davis is a frequent speaker to trade associations, academia and corporations on the workings of Congress and the political environment, and he has traveled to various countries to speak to heads of state about the workings of democracy.
