Fairhope, Alabama
fairhopetimes@att.net
HOLDS TOWN HALL MEETING
Congressman Bradley Byrne met with constituents in the city council chamber last week -- answering questions for about an hour.
Byrne said he was usually home weekends, but worked from "10 to 10" during the week in Washington when in session. He lives in a small efficiency apartment on the Hill, has no car and "walk where I need to go."
Byrne: "Its hard work ... I've adjusted to it ... it suits me ... haven't had anybody trying to do anything with me I thought was remotely inappropriate."
"Its not like that TV show ... House of Cards."
PARTY LEADERSHIP CRITICIZED
A self-described lifelong Republican in the audience, who voted for Barry Goldwater, questioned the current leadership: "I am unimpressed . . . they are too timid ... won't fight for us."
Byrne replied that the House of Representatives has passed over 200 bills that are being held up in the Senate -- but conceded that "we don't have the unity we should have ... that is my biggest criticism."
He said there will be an election for new leadership next January, but "I don't have a candidate yet ... still getting to know people ... we'll see what happens."
He said he did not know if current Speaker John Boehner would run again.
Byrne offered that two things the House is doing but "you don't hear much about 'cause the media doesn't cover it" are providing oversight of the Executive Branch via "a dozen committee meetings a week" -- and by filing lawsuits to provide "a Constitutional check on the over-extension of power by the President."
"He has the bully-pulpit ... but we are doing some things ... fighting back."
SUPPORTS EQUAL PAY FOR WOMEN
A citizen observed that "its been said the Republican Party has been anti-woman ... (and) been making adjustments ... . How far can the Party go to make adjustments ... without changing the nature of the Party itself?"
Byrne replied that its "a big topic right now ... the strategy of the Democrats to win the mid-term election ... by urging women to vote against Republicans."
"That's nonsense! I have a wife ... 2 daughters who work. If, for no other reason, I expect them to be treated appropriately. I'm for equal pay for equal work."
Byrne said his Republican grandmother immigrated to Alabama from Indiana at a time when there were no (Republican) primaries here.
The Democrats' real objective is an amendment to an existing law that already requires equal pay "to essentially give more money to the Trial Bar ... so they can file more lawsuits." (See the Paycheck Fairness Act)
"Small businesses have enough lawsuits to deal with already."
"Republicans need to stand up for a thriving economy ... where women and men do better ... . The best way to stand up for women is make sure we have a good, thriving economy."
MARINA CHANNEL DREDGING ADDRESSED
Byrne confirmed previous reports that the Army Corps of Engineers will not have the funds to dredge the Yacht Club marina channel until next year, because of funding cutbacks forced by last year's "budget sequestration" legislation.
Byrne: "We've met with them ... have dredging issues all over the place ... a big squeeze on the Corps right now."
He said maintaining navigable waterways is "very expensive" and exampled the two Coast Guard tenders stationed in Mobile dedicated to replacing channel markers that are damaged by weather.
'Dredging is the most expensive to do."
He questioned the "mindless across the board cuts" of sequestration, favoring prioritization instead (military-related items should be fully funded).
"If the Alabama legislature can pass a balanced budget on time, why can't the Congress and President?"
OTHER ISSUES
* Called America is a nation of immigrants, but of laws as well; and those here illegally should be
required to go through the proper legal processs: no amnesty.
*Favored English as the official language
*Wants to repeal and replace Obamacare
*Favors a Balanced Budget Amendment
*Supports a new Veteran's Clinic in Mobile. (80% of the issues his staff handles are Veteran's issues.)
MAYOR'S COMMENTS
Byrne thanked "my good friend" Mayor Kant -- who arrived late due to prior commitments -- for the use of the council chamber: "Its great to be doing a town hall meeting in my home."
Kant called it nice to have our own Congressman: "I know you've been pulled a thousand directions ... don't forget us down here. Common sense sometimes gets lost in the debate."
Byrne said he gets a lot of common sense when he goes to the grocery store for wife Rebecca: "It takes an hour to get a loaf of bread ... just talking to people ... ."
"I hope people will always stop me ... tell (me) what they are worried about... ."
HOLDS TOWN HALL MEETING
Congressman Bradley Byrne met with constituents in the city council chamber last week -- answering questions for about an hour.
Byrne said he was usually home weekends, but worked from "10 to 10" during the week in Washington when in session. He lives in a small efficiency apartment on the Hill, has no car and "walk where I need to go."
Byrne: "Its hard work ... I've adjusted to it ... it suits me ... haven't had anybody trying to do anything with me I thought was remotely inappropriate."
"Its not like that TV show ... House of Cards."
PARTY LEADERSHIP CRITICIZED
A self-described lifelong Republican in the audience, who voted for Barry Goldwater, questioned the current leadership: "I am unimpressed . . . they are too timid ... won't fight for us."Byrne replied that the House of Representatives has passed over 200 bills that are being held up in the Senate -- but conceded that "we don't have the unity we should have ... that is my biggest criticism."
He said there will be an election for new leadership next January, but "I don't have a candidate yet ... still getting to know people ... we'll see what happens."
He said he did not know if current Speaker John Boehner would run again.
Byrne offered that two things the House is doing but "you don't hear much about 'cause the media doesn't cover it" are providing oversight of the Executive Branch via "a dozen committee meetings a week" -- and by filing lawsuits to provide "a Constitutional check on the over-extension of power by the President."
"He has the bully-pulpit ... but we are doing some things ... fighting back."
SUPPORTS EQUAL PAY FOR WOMEN
A citizen observed that "its been said the Republican Party has been anti-woman ... (and) been making adjustments ... . How far can the Party go to make adjustments ... without changing the nature of the Party itself?"Byrne replied that its "a big topic right now ... the strategy of the Democrats to win the mid-term election ... by urging women to vote against Republicans."
"That's nonsense! I have a wife ... 2 daughters who work. If, for no other reason, I expect them to be treated appropriately. I'm for equal pay for equal work."
Byrne said his Republican grandmother immigrated to Alabama from Indiana at a time when there were no (Republican) primaries here.
The Democrats' real objective is an amendment to an existing law that already requires equal pay "to essentially give more money to the Trial Bar ... so they can file more lawsuits." (See the Paycheck Fairness Act)
"Small businesses have enough lawsuits to deal with already."
"Republicans need to stand up for a thriving economy ... where women and men do better ... . The best way to stand up for women is make sure we have a good, thriving economy."
MARINA CHANNEL DREDGING ADDRESSED
Byrne confirmed previous reports that the Army Corps of Engineers will not have the funds to dredge the Yacht Club marina channel until next year, because of funding cutbacks forced by last year's "budget sequestration" legislation.Byrne: "We've met with them ... have dredging issues all over the place ... a big squeeze on the Corps right now."
He said maintaining navigable waterways is "very expensive" and exampled the two Coast Guard tenders stationed in Mobile dedicated to replacing channel markers that are damaged by weather.
'Dredging is the most expensive to do."
He questioned the "mindless across the board cuts" of sequestration, favoring prioritization instead (military-related items should be fully funded).
"If the Alabama legislature can pass a balanced budget on time, why can't the Congress and President?"
OTHER ISSUES
* Called America is a nation of immigrants, but of laws as well; and those here illegally should be
required to go through the proper legal processs: no amnesty.
*Favored English as the official language
*Wants to repeal and replace Obamacare
*Favors a Balanced Budget Amendment
*Supports a new Veteran's Clinic in Mobile. (80% of the issues his staff handles are Veteran's issues.)
MAYOR'S COMMENTS
Byrne thanked "my good friend" Mayor Kant -- who arrived late due to prior commitments -- for the use of the council chamber: "Its great to be doing a town hall meeting in my home."Kant called it nice to have our own Congressman: "I know you've been pulled a thousand directions ... don't forget us down here. Common sense sometimes gets lost in the debate."
Byrne said he gets a lot of common sense when he goes to the grocery store for wife Rebecca: "It takes an hour to get a loaf of bread ... just talking to people ... ."
"I hope people will always stop me ... tell (me) what they are worried about... ."
Comments
Thank you for understanding that requiring church affiliated institutions to directly or indirectly fund and/or provide forms of birth control that the Church believes are immoral is a violation of religious liberty and that the funding of birth control should be the responsibility of other parties--perhaps, the individual using the birth control.
Thanks also for your great support of our veterans!
As for women employment wages, I fear it will take a very long time before this is ever rectified. Employment position wages should be based upon the position and its complexity, NOT the person performing that position. Therefore equal wages would fall into place across the board.