Congressman Cliff Stearns (R) Holds Town Hall Meeting

On June 7, 2008 in the City Hall building of Belleview Florida, Congressman Clifford Stearns held the first of 4 town meeting for that day.

The meeting was scheduled to run from 9-10 AM. The congressman arrived 10 minutes early to a packed house. All 70 seats were taken, and the ones that didn’t get a seat, stood against the back wall of the room. The congressman was in a chipper mood as he greeted and shook hands with the folks that had turned out to speak with Congressman Stearns. They had a desk full of pamphlets at the front of the room and a projector set up to be used in the presentation.

Congressman Stearns started the meeting off with a short joke that had everyone laughing. He told of the story of a man that goes into a bank to rob it. As the man waits in line for his turn at the teller window, more people line up behind the robber. When the robber gets to the teller’s window, he pulls out a gun and tell the lady teller this is a robbery! She immediately starts to give him all the money in her drawer. As the robber gets the money, he turns to the man behind him in line and says “Did you see me rob this bank?” The man quickly replies, “Yes I did!” The robber shoots the man dead! He then looks at the man & woman couple who were next in line and asks them. “Did you see me rob this bank?” The woman quickly replies “oh no sir, I didn’t see anything, but my husband said he saw you rob the bank!”

That was the ice breaker joke. Everyone in the room started laughing. I believe the women laughed a little bit harder and longer then the men in the room. My first impression of Congressman Stearns was a good one.

He started off with a quick presentation of the things that he thought were our biggest concerns. Energy, the economy, the vets, immigration, and other issues we face on a day to day basis. As he did his presentation, he pointed out to us all, how he had played a part in several of the slides he was showing. Either he chaired or was on the committees of the things he was showing us. He talked about nuclear power in other countries, and how we were so far behind in the race to become less dependent on foreign oil. He spoke of turning coal into oil and how much we have here in our country. He spoke of wanting to drill 125 miles off the coast of Florida. Telling of large deposits of oil right in our own back yards, so to speak. He was all for drilling in ANWAR, stating that of the million of acres wilderness, they would only be drilling in 2,000 of those acres. That amounted to 1/10 of 1% of the area of concern. He was clearly for drilling in Alaska and said the people in Alaska were in favor of it too.

Congressman Stearns also spoke about the veterans in our country. He showed a slide of the new wing that was recently built on the VA hospital in the area. Telling us that now the vets wouldn’t have to travel far to get the help they needed. He was clearly concerned with issues of the veterans of America.

He talked about the illegal aliens problem that we are facing. With large numbers of people coming across our borders illegally ever day. That reminded me of the story about a trucking company in NY, that wants to train drivers from India to come over here on visa’s to take the driving jobs from the American trucker. That company is Gagan Global LLC of Garnerville NY.
If you haven’t all ready seen it, please check it out here.

After the Congressman finished with his slide show, he was ready to answer questions from the audience. He took and answered every question that was asked of him. Straight forward answers and not once his he try and skirt the questions asked. I was impressed. I can tell you right out, that I rate public officials right up there with car salesmen. I don’t believe or care to deal with either one of them as they look you in the eye and lie straight faced. Most often telling you exactly what you would like to hear. This man was different. Really different! Congressman Stearns has had over 500 Town Meetings. How many of your officials can say that? This man showed a genuine interest in what the people had to say and of their concerns about the future. He has served our State of Florida for over 20 years. He also has a good record of voting.

He is the exception to the politics as usual rule. He is honestly interested in how he can best serve the people that had elected him.

He took questions on immigration, and if he didn’t have complete info to answer it, he would ask one of his aides who were present in the back of the room. Not one time did a question go unanswered.

When I got my turn to ask a couple of questions, they were answered to my satisfaction. I had asked …
1. Would the congressman support or introduce a bill in Washington to roll back federal taxes on diesel to equal the federal tax on gasoline? His reply was a stern YES! He said he understood just how bad it is for truckers today with the high cost of diesel fuel. I told him my truck is parked in my back yard, because I can no longer afford the cost to fuel it and do my dedicated run for the company I was leased to. The first week I lost money, was my last week of work.
The rates are NOT keeping up with the fast rising cost of diesel. He told the people there how many of us are going out of business on a daily basis. He was well aware of the plight of truckers today. Congressman Sterns told the audience how everything they have and own, from the food they eat to their clothes have all been on a truck. He told of the importance of trucks in our nation, and how we had to keep them going to feed and clothe the country. He was well aware of the part truckers played in the economy and transportation industry.

My second question was…
#2 Would the congressman introduce a bill to stop companies like Gagan Global from by passing the H2B visa to bring in drivers from India? Again he gave me a quick YES! He said they are researching it, since talking with Dan Little, President and COE of OOU Inc. (Owner Operators United, Inc.) about the very same problem.

Congressman Stearns is a good man who is of the old school of politicians. People that we elected to serve OUR wants and needs. This man stays in touch with the people in his district by holding town meetings. He listens to each and every person that speaks to him. He speaks in a straight forward manner and never did he try and dance around a question asked. He is well aware of what is going on with every day people like you and me. Unlike the usual Politian that is so out of touch with the general public, congressman Stearns is not. I appreciated the time he took from his own busy schedule, and his Saturday off, to use that time to come and hear what the people are concerned about during these hard times. I am glad I had took the time to go to this town hall meeting in Belleview, Florida. I met a good man who is doing a great job of serving the people of Florida. I got the support and word from this man that he will indeed introduce and sponsor 2 bills that I consider important to the trucking industry. It was a good day In Belleview, and I am glad I went.

Pat