Burton gets input at town meeting
By ROBERT BRYAN
Thursday, April 13, 2006 10:59 PM EDT
Job worries, unfair trade competition, reduced wages and benefits, gas prices, the immigration reform movement, Iraq, the U.S. economy - these and a few other matters were touched on here Thursday morning, April 13, by 5th District Rep. Dan Burton.
His stop at Wabash City Hall was part of his Spring 2006 Town Hall tour in the district. Discounting his staff and City Hall personnel, the forum drew eight or 10 people, most of them with something to say.
 |
| U.S. Rep. Dan Burton makes a point Thursday, April 13, during a meeting at Wabash City Hall. Plain Dealer photo by GREG DANNACHER |
A Hayes Lemmerz employee, who'd recently taken a pay cut, talked about unfair wage competition from developing countries like Mexico and China.
He also spoke of a national problem he labeled "corporate terrorism": Whether implied or explicit, this is the corporate threat - gripe too much and we'll move to Mexico.
Burton, a Republican first elected to the House in 1982, reminded those present that he had voted against NAFTA because he felt it did not guarantee "fair trade" as it was trying to guarantee "free trade."
The best way to keep business in America, he said, is to provide tax incentives for doing so.
Burton was questioned from the audience by a potential Democratic opponent for the 5th District seat, Mike Brown, about Brown's perception that Burton's lengthy list of corporate campaign contributors at least made it appear he might be beholden to them.
Burton reminded Brown that, while chairing a committee investigating Bill Clinton some years back, the Clinton administration went though his campaign finances with a fine tooth comb - and found nothing untoward.
In his introductory remarks, Burton staked out his position on these matters:
- Immigration Reform. Probably no legislation this year, but the matter is pressing, partly because political instability in parts of this hemisphere threaten us with another wave of illegal immigrants.
Burton urged a four-part response to the problem of about 12 million illegal immigrants currently in the country: Stem the flow of illegal immigrants, even if it takes the military and national guards to help patrol the borders; provide ID cards for those aliens who are here legally; then offer a package for those who seek to become citizens - register, learn English and the Constitution and Bill of Rights and apply for citizenship. Those who don't take this offer would be subject to beefed up law enforcement and deportation.
- The War in Iraq. The War against terror is being fought out in Iraq, as our enemies are trying to make it the base for world terrorism.
"We have taken the war to the enemy. We have to win this war against terror. We have to defeat the terrorists." The U.S. should be able to reduce forces this year, but a military presence there is probably a long-term thing.
- The U.S. Economy. "Things are not as bad as they're made out, but we do have problems."
By some measurements, he reminded, the U.S. economy is doing very well: New jobs are being created, and unemployment and interest rates are low by historical standards.
Print this story | Email this story
|
