Chamber Brings Washington Here

Pictured (l-r):   Virginia Gibbs, Chamber President; Bob Reeves, Government Affairs Committee; Jack Smith, County Commission Chair; Congressman Lynn Westmoreland; Scott Hollowell, Government Affairs Committee

The Fayette Chamber of Commerce is committed to providing the community with up close and personal updates from Washington by hosting a series of briefings by our congressional representatives. Last week, U.S. Congressman Lynn Westmoreland spoke to a group of over 100 citizens interested in how changes in Washington will affect their businesses. Represented in the audience were financial institutions, utility companies, small businesses, nonprofits as well as private citizens. The Congressman spoke on a range of topics and then opened the floor for questions for an equal amount of time.

One of the key issues addressed by the Congressman was the need to have a better connection between the legislative process and the bureaus and agencies that administer the legislation. Currently, when legislation is enacted, the laws are interpreted by various agencies that create rules and regulations that are not reviewed by the legislators. This can leave room for a misinterpretation of the original intent of the legislation and cause negative impact that was not intended. Congressman Westmoreland urged citizens to pay close attention to what’s going on in Washington and stay involved in the process. In addition to domestic policies, he highlighted the serious nature of many foreign policy issues and stressed the importance of remaining diligent, keeping America strong, and supporting our troups.

There were a variety of questions from the audience on topics including the new healthcare legislation, immigration, Cap and Trade, Card Check and the Fair Tax. Many of these issues would have major implications for the business community and the economy. The Congressman stated that he believes the majority party is weighing the outcome of the November elections in deciding how many of these issues to push ahead now. In response to one concerned citizen’s question about how to pray for him, the Congressman replied, “Pray for wisdom and discernment.”

The Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee is in the process of planning another briefing from Washington in August with one of our U.S. Senators. Chamber members interested in getting involved with local, state and national legislative issues are encouraged to be part of this dynamic committee. For more information, contact the Chamber office at 770.461.9983.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter:  @GAFrontPage

Fayette High Student Takes Third in Art Contest

U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland congratulates Caleb Brown of Fayette County High School on finishing third in the 3rd Congressional District art contest. Caleb’s pencil sketch portrays two football players grinding it out against one another on the gridiron.

“You don’t have to be a sports fan to appreciate Caleb’s fine drawing,” Westmoreland said. “This contest included 68 entries from high school students across the district. That’s tough competition. I can’t recall a time when we had a freshman finish in the top three. That’s quite a tribute to the artist and to his teacher, Pamela Watkins.

“Every year, I’m amazed at the depth of artistic talent that we have in the 3rd District,” Westmoreland continued. “We’re lucky to have a distinguished panel of judges and I don’t envy their task of choosing between so many great works.

“Caleb’s eligible for three more years of competition, so we may see him come back as the winner who gets his art displayed in the Capitol for a year.”

Westmoreland gave special thanks to the judges: Bette Hickman of Newnan (executive director of Global Achievers), Vicki Turner of Fayetteville (director of advertising/marketing for AIS Computers), Mark Lucas of Columbus (Lucas Studios of Art) and Tim Williams of Greystone Power in Douglasville.

175 in House sign Westmoreland Pledge

Millions of Americans have signed petitions telling Congress to take action on energy prices. And U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland responded by taking the petition straight to the members of the House.

By Friday, 175 members of Congress signed the Westmoreland Pledge on the floor of the House this week. The pledge reads “I will vote to increase U.S. oil production to lower gas prices for Americans.” Westmoreland looks to add more members in the coming week and hopes more Democratic members will sign on to help Americans pay less at the pump.

“I made this simple so there would be no wiggle room for members of Congress,” Westmoreland said. “I pushed hard all week to get my colleagues to sign the pledge and I’m very happy that we’re closing in on 180 names. We are saying that supplying our energy needs requires ‘all of the above’: conservation, alternative energy development and increased supply of oil.”

Westmoreland’s petition aims to create momentum on Capitol Hill to open up new energy production offshore on the Outer Continental Shelf and on federal lands such as ANWR. Westmoreland further supports building new refineries for the first time in more than 30 years.

“With prices at $4 a gallon, families and businesses are feeling the squeeze. Higher gas prices lead to higher prices for food and every other product that has to travel to a store. Americans are cutting back. Unless Congress takes action, we’re going to erode our American quality of life and our economy is going to grow less and lose good-paying jobs.”

Public opinion surveys indicate that large majorities of Americans believe it is possible to drill for energy in untapped regions of Alaska and deep ocean areas far off the U.S. coast in an environmentally responsible manner, and they support reforms that would allow such drilling to finally begin.

“At least 175 members of the House are saying to the American people, we support ‘all of the above’ when it comes to solving America’s energy crunch,” Westmoreland said. “We need to continue to research and develop alternative fuels. We need to continue conservation efforts. But for right now, we also need more traditional energy sources to bring down the cost of gas to help our economy thrive as we transition into new forms of energy.

“We still have a way to go with our petition. Finding solutions for our energy crunch should be a bipartisan effort and I would like to see more Democrats sign. Their constituents are hurting just as much as mine are. So far, we have one Democrat, my good friend Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii. Neil said to me that he knows more oil production won’t solve the problem, but that it is part of the solution. I think a lot of his colleagues on the other side of the aisle would agree with that assessment, and we hope to get their names on the pledge.”

Westmoreland encourages Americans to sign petitions calling for more energy exploration and to call their members of Congress to ask that they sign the Westmoreland pledge to increase oil production to lower gas prices for Americans. Find the list of all the members of Congress who have signed at www.house.gov/westmoreland.

Brian Robinson
Deputy Chief of Staff