National Issues Take Spotlight at Town Hall Meeting

The town hall meeting with Seventh Congressional District Congressman Leonard Lance took place in Hillsborough, but the focus was national issues rather than local challenges.

About 70 people, including students from several schools, attended the Wednesday meeting, held in the Municipal Court Room. 

While Lance opened the meeting with a brief overview of his position in the House of Representatives, where he will serve on the Energy and Commerce Committee this year.  He then opened the floor to questions from Hillsborough residents—who said their concerns included healthcare, unemployment and national debt.

For some residents, the federal budget—which has not been approved and the government is operation under a resolution of continuance—should be trimmed in a way similar to Gov. Chris Christie’s budget practices.

“60 billion is 1.65 percent of the budget,” one resident who declined to give his name said.  “The state of New Jersey cut 9 percent of its budget.  I would like to see the federal government do the same.”

The resident also noted that he would like to see reforms to the tax code, though he did not specify what sorts of reforms.

A sentiment to reform the tax code exists within Congress, however, the Ways and Means Committee, according to Lance, would handle any review or reforms.  Several representative favor lowering corporate taxes in the event that tax loopholes would be closed, he added.

For some residents, the lack of work toward paying off the national debt created another concern.

“If I owed you $140,000 and I said this year, I’m going to give you $100 toward that debt, you would not be happy,” one resident said, referring to the national debt.  “The reality is we just can’t do it any more.”

Lance noted that the president had not addressed the national debt or federal budget, but believed a fundamental issue with Medicare and Social Security programs would need to be addressed to help with either issue.  He favored raising the retirement age for people currently in their 20s, as a method of addressing Social Security concerns.

Other residents, like former Township Committee member Sonya Martin, voiced concern about Lance’s voting record, feeling it showed a lack of concern for the middle class or fighting the recession.

“This recession was not caused by the middle class,” Martin said.  “It was caused by the shenanigans of Wall Street, banker speculation, corporate greed, outsourcing of American jobs, out-of-control health care premiums by for-profit insurance.  I was disappointed that you voted against this financial regulation bill.  I was disappointed that you voted against a stimulus package that provided middle-class tax cuts.  .   .It seems to me the one thing we need to do in this country is grow our economy.”

Martin’s other concerns included voting down bills that would have funded public health clinics offering women’s services, including pap smears, mammograms, disease testing and reproductive services and contraception, and voting down the healthcare bill. 

“The things that are wrong with it can be improved by amendments,” she said.  “Not by voting down the whole bill.”

“When you were elected, I looked to you to be a moderate and independent voice,” she added.  “I was hoping that you would provide a more balanced view to the more extreme voices and agendas.”

Lance said he voted for the consumer bill on credit cards, which was against his party’s mentality.  His reasons for voting against the financial regulation bill involved keeping the United States as a commerce hub, he said.

“I want to be sure that New York remains competitive with London and Singapore,” he said.  “My concern is that, if we over regulate, the center of world activity will move from New York either back to London, or more likely to Shang Hai or Singapore or Hong Kong.

But the stimulus and the unemployment rate remain under debate.

“I think there is a healthy debate among economists as to whether it was effective,” he said.  “We may have a legitimate argument there.”

Oil prices, heating costs and reliance on foreign oil were concerns for other residents, who would like to see less reliance on foreign fuel sources.

“Diesel oil has gone up 45 percent in the past year,” Stephan Nash, pastor of the Christian Community Chapel said.  “.  .  .What are you going to do .  .  .to lift the moratorium on the drilling of oil in the Gulf of Mexico and coal and nuclear energy?”

Elected representatives rather than those in the agencies handling the areas should make decisions made regarding energy policy, Lance said.  The Energy and Commerce Committee, where Lance currently serves, will handle the energy questions.

“We need greater energy independence in this country,” he said.  “We should rely less heavily on foreign sources of energy.  .  .I favor responsible drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and I favor lifting the moratorium.  .  . I favor natural gas.  This country is abundant with natural gas.  I favor nuclear power.”

“I favor solar and wind, but, let’s be frank, we’re not going to get a lot of energy from solar and wind until the next generation is more my age,” he added.

The two-hour meeting concluded with Lance continuing his comments on unemployment and the national deficit—the real key to balancing the budget is jobs, according to Lance.

“We cannot balance the budget this year or next year or the year after,” Lance said.  “The best way to close these deficits is to get people working.  A 9 percent unemployment rate is not acceptable.  .  .We need to have strategies in place that have people working.”

For some residents, attending had no overt political reasons, with at least one resident stating that he simply wanted to attend a town hall meeting.

“I came to hear and we got to hear and learn and find things out,” Darwin Owens said.  “The big issues are the deficit, jobs and healthcare.  .  . I think he’s handling himself well.”

Others came to the meeting because of their children rather than their own interest, they said.

“I came out because my son is a Boy Scout and we are trying to teach him about local government,” Deena Centofourti said.  “I think the healthcare issue not being addressed is one big part of the problem.  It was good to hear where he stands on the healthcare bill, social services and Medicare.”