By Linda Burchette
Assistant Editor
Jefferson Post
Newly sworn
Congresswoman, Rep. Virginia Foxx, promises to do her best to see that Western North Carolina receives its fair share of money
and attention from the federal government, and in return asks for common sense
solutions in plain language from her constituents.
Foxx made Ashe County
a stop on her "listening tour" this week as she heard from local
elected officials, community leaders and Chamber of Commerce members during a
Tuesday morning meeting at Frasers Restaurant in West Jefferson.
Several speakers addressed concerns of the area, and Foxx responded with a
promise to make her offices available and helpful.
Foxx was introduced to the group by Cabot Hamilton, president of the chamber’s
board of directors. "We’re dealing with someone who’s one of us," he
said of the congresswoman. "When Virginia Foxx was elected, I sent her an
email that said when you get to Washington,
don’t forget about us. And she sent me back a short reply that said simply,
‘Not to worry.’ She was a strong, strong voice for Ashe County
when she was in the General Assembly. And not just Ashe
County, but for the entire region, and
we hope that continues while she’s in Washington."
School Superintendent Donnie Johnson asked Foxx to assist the school system
with mandates regarding the No Child Left Behind federal program. The
requirements need to take into account, he said, students with disabilities and
those for whom English is a second language, as well as capacity requirements
and funding levels. Johnson also asked that universities step up their student
teaching programs and help school systems, especially Ashe County,
find qualified teachers. "There is a definite need in this area," he
said.
Foxx said with NCLB, the local school systems get a little bit of money and a
whole lot of regulations. She said she would like to see the federal government
get out of education issues altogether and let the states and local governments
make the rules, but that would mean making tough decisions on the part of local
governments. She suggested localities ask the federal government not only that
the education money comes down to the local level, but also the ability to make
decisions on how that money is used.
"I’ll go after
the money that’s available, and try to keep it as string-free as
possible," Foxx assured Johnson.
West Jefferson Town Manager Ken McFadyen brought up three issues important to
the town governments. He said the lack of a federally administered Internet
sales tax hurts a community’s ability to compete with distant providers and
depletes local budgets for needed resources. He also noted that the
Transportation Enhancement Act or TEA-21 is up for reauthorization and he asks
that this be funded so localities can benefit in improved transportation,
including the planned widening of US 221 from Deep Gap to West Jefferson. And
he suggested an update of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 which is obsolete
due to rapid advancements in technology. Local governments, he said, are
responsible for monitoring services, but the technology available is not
adequate. Congress can bridge the gap, he said, between the needs of the Act
and needs of communities.
Foxx said getting new money out of Washington
will be tough, but if money is to be had she will work hard to see that the 5
th District gets its fair share. She told McFadyen that Congress has promised
the country no new taxes during this term so she doesn’t think it likely the federal
government will institute an Internet sales tax. She said she thought the best
way to stimulate the economy is not to raise taxes but to keep the current tax
cuts in place. As for the new technology, she said things there are happening
so fast and government works so slowly she’s heard that trying to accommodate
the two is worse than trying to turn a battleship. "It’s wonderful,"
she said of the advancements in technology, "but difficult to figure out
how to deal with on a federal level."
Lansing Mayor Jason Ring addressed his town’s need for water and a new sewer
system. He said what is needed is a community system that would take into
account Lansing, Warrensville, Smethport and the surrounding area using water
from the New River. He said Lansing
also needs assistance in developing tourist areas.
Foxx said she would like comments and concerns addressed to her, in plain
language in two to three page reports, and she will take those concerns to the
respective committees.
County Manager Dan McMillan said one of Ashe County’s
greatest needs is assistance with Medicare and Medicaid costs to local
government. These payments are over two million dollars in the local budget,
and help is needed with rising costs. He also noted assistance needed on a federal
level with funding of education mandates, library expansion, parks and
recreation, construction of a new jail, airport runway expansion, and expanded
funding through the TEA-21 for restoring and preserving the 1904 Ashe County
Courthouse for a museum and visitor’s center.
Foxx said that Medicare and Medicaid budgets are going to break this country if
something is not done. With the federal government involved, she said, there is
a lot of waste and inefficiency with 25 to 40 percent of the budgets wasted on
paperwork. She predicts that if something is not done, pretty soon the country
will have no money except for defense, Medicare and Medicaid. "None for
education or anything else because all the money will be going to these
budgets," she said. "Control ought to be at the local level. Just
like the schools. And the president needs to take control of Social Security.
While there is no crisis expected for 40 to 50 years, we don’t have that long
to deal with it."
Foxx asked McMillan if
he thought they could get some Ashe
County cheese into the
White House. Folks in Raleigh are well
acquainted with this popular local product, but McMillan said he has yet to be
able to get it to Washington.
Perhaps with Foxx there, the task can be accomplished.
During a question and
answer period, Commissioner Gerald Price asked about health care issues
regarding illegal immigrants, and Foxx said that average citizens believe
illegal immigrants are receiving free health care, something they themselves
cannot get. The answer, she said, is to tighten the borders and tighten the
resources. "We want people to come legally and be part of the
system," she said, "but not reward those who come illegally."
She also said she does not support the president’s amnesty program, but would
like to see some sort of guest worker program.
Foxx also advised Ashe
County officials and
residents to contact their federal senators for assistance because bills can be
introduced and passed in the House but often bog down in the Senate.
Foxx agreed with Board of Education member Dorothy Witherspoon that disability
payments should not be taken out of veterans’ retirement pay. "I couldn’t
agree more," she said. "If we pay folks right and treat them right
when they come out, those are the keys to maintaining an all volunteer
army." She plans to have a person on staff who deals only with veterans’
interests, and is planning a meeting with veterans service representatives to
solve problems.
To Ashe County Youth Council board member Michael Bingham’s request that the
federal government help bring back jobs to the United States and stop allowing
them to be sent overseas, Foxx said education is the key to jobs and while it
would be difficult to bring back jobs in textiles and furniture manufacturing,
Americans need to find new niches and education is important for that.
"We should not wish for the past but ask what skills do we have and brains
to make things adapt for us," Foxx said. "That’s part of our freedom,
and we need to maintain that. I have faith in the people that we can find a way
to do those things."
Foxx said she is busy
setting up her offices in Washington
and in the district, and encourages people to send their concerns to her in
written reports. "Help us help you by telling us what you need and offer
some solutions," she said. "We’ll be pushing people and pushing the
envelope to make sure we’ve explored every possibility. The Lord’s given me
this energy, and I will use it on your behalf."
