Vitter conducts local town hall meeting

Government spending, offshore commercial activity, health care and coastal restoration were among the variety of concerns tossed to Sen. David Vitter when he conducted a town hall meeting Thursday at the Municipal Auditorium in Houma.

Approximately 68 participants attending the hour-long session expressed their concerns regarding Congress and desire to get to the bottom of their issues.

“Folks are very upset, and rightfully upset with Congress because of Congresses action or inaction on a lot of different things,” Vitter told the friendly assembly. He said that matters of particular concern to him include pushing the domestic energy sector and growing a more secure domestic energy policy along with jobs.

“A lot of Americans don’t realize that we are the single richest country in the world in terms of energy resources,” Vitter said. “We are far richer than any middle eastern country. The reason a lot of us don’t think of us that way is because we are the only country in the world that takes 95 percent of those resources and puts it off limits.”

Vitter said that while coastal Louisiana thinks of oil and gas production primarily offshore, the U.S. resources are heavy inland as well.

“We need to change that policy,” the Republican Senator said. “We need to access those resources and lessen our dependence on places like the Middle East.”

Vitter added that opening domestic energy production would lead to the addition of secure and well-paying jobs, and would reduce the national debt. “Domestic energy is the second biggest category in federal revenue,” he said. “Second only to the federal income tax.”

A second issue of importance to Vitter is fighting illegal immigration. “We need to make strides to attack illegal immigration. I’m completely against amnesty. I think we need to enforce the laws on the books.”

The senator said the greatest challenge that is an issue for him is reigning in the federal debt. “It is a ticking time bomb that will lead to an economic crisis,” he said. “Out of every dollar the federal government spends, 40 cents is borrowed money. Think if you did that as a family? Think if you did that as a small business? We have to change that and have real cuts, and grow our economy.”

Vitter fielded a variety of questions and offered explanations on the workings of Congress and said he shared concerns of those present. He promised to look into tax reform, coastal restoration and protection, veterans’ benefits, and federal debt.

“I thought the questions were excellent,” Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet said following the session. “Sen. Vitter certainly displays tremendous knowledge of Terrebonne and Washington. His ability to relate and communicate with our residents was certainly displayed.”