Rosa DeLauro may have been around for a while, but if a Congressional seat isn’t broke, there’s no need to fix it. Now in her tenth term representing New Haven and Connecticut’s third district, DeLauro’s experience dwarfs her challenger’s, Republican Jerry Labriola Jr., a real estate lawyer who has not yet served in a public capacity.

We believe she has served New Haven, Connecticut and the country admirably thus far. We appreciate her emphasis on infrastructure investment; the recent fiscal stimulus fell short by allocating billions of taxpayer dollars away from this crucial area. DeLauro seeks to correct this mistake. She has introduced legislation to create a national infrastructure “bank” which will fund major national projects, from transportation to energy: a Keynesian move which we think could be effective. We hope that if she is elected, which according to recent polling is more than likely, she will continue with the effort.

Unlike other more radical Democrats on the hill, DeLauro also understands that the key to economic recovery will be enterprise, innovation and job creation — she shows it by supporting tax relief for the middle class and small business, America’s most dependable engines of growth. Indeed, across the board, this newspaper finds many national stances of DeLauro’s with which we can enthusiastically agree: her emphasis on homeland security and fighting terrorism internationally, her opposition to a nuclear Iran and lowering energy costs. Closer to home, she has also fought for women’s rights and to prevent environmental destruction in Connecticut.

Unfortunately, DeLauro’s inexperienced challenger is far wiser on the issue of taxation than the incumbent. Labriola Jr. supports maintaining the Bush-era tax-cuts for the lower, middle and upper class, while DeLauro proposes letting them expire. Further, the Congresswoman wants to increase the capital gains and dividends tax, which would discourage investment. These policies would hamper our ability to rebound from recession, and encourage high-capital investors to take their wealth elsewhere. We hope that if and when she is reelected, she will reconsider her tax-and-spend tendencies, although luckily, her stated position on these fronts is unlikely to garner majority favor on Capitol Hill. In other areas, such as financial accountability on Wall Street, DeLauro’s economic views are more encouraging.

In short, while today will likely see major Republican gains, Capitol Hill will need reasoned, experienced and representative liberal voices like DeLauro’s to keep the conversation balanced, progressive social policy defended and left-wing constituencies like New Haven’s well-represented. According to a popular blog, Rosa DeLauro is a hipster: just look at those funky sweaters. But that’s not the only reason this newspaper supports her campaign for reelection. Even disregarding our own proclivity for horn-rimmed glasses, she will bring a strong voice on the issues that matter to Yalies to Washington, D.C. Reelect Rosa DeLauro.