Rob Woodall Speaks to Rotary Club and Chamber

Despite a very busy first term in office, Congressman Rob Woodall (U.S. House of Representatives, 7th Congressional District, GA), makes it a priority to connect with the people he serves. 

Woodall joined Rotarians of Lanier Forsyth and the Cumming-Forsyth Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday for breakfast and a chance to discuss the many facets of the debt ceiling agreement.

Woodall noted the significance of referring to the debt ceiling "deal" between the White House and Congress as an agreement. "It is an agreement, not a deal. Using the term deal can sound somehow sneaky, reaching an agreement means compromising," said Woodall who also explained that the bill cuts spending, but not enough.

"We can't grow our economy fast enough to get out of this debt hole, and the agreement on the debt ceiling is a small thing in the grand scheme of things," explained Woodall who strongly supports the Paul Ryan plan for less revenue and less spending. "I am a huge believer in the Paul Ryan plan because it puts the people back in control," said Woodall.

"In the fight for our county's future, the worst thing the left does, is to assume that our government should take care of us and that we are not responsible for doing it ourselves. That kind of thinking spells out the definition of allowing others to control your life."

Woodall answered questions from rotary and chamber members concerning the reasons so many people are able to utilize government health care programs despite not being a U.S citizen. One question in particular was of interest to many.

"How is it that a family can bring their grandmother over from another country to the U.S. and she has immediate access to all kinds of government health benefits and medical treatments that wind up becoming a tax payer responsibility?" asked Walter J. Paschall, M.D. Opthalmologist-CEO.

Woodall stated that for better or worse, our country has made the decision that we are caretakers in that way, but agreed with Paschall that a person who has never paid taxes should not be utilizing medicare or medicaid.

Rotary member Nelson Enwemadu says he believes the debt ceiling agreement is a good decision overall. "Hopefully it will benefit baby boomers and those who are getting ready to retire. People are living longer and our government does need to step up and help baby boomers because 80 percent of them need medicare and medicaid."

Discussions inevitably turned to the start of the economic downturn and subsequent stimulus package. Woodall described the package as a program that created plenty of government jobs while destroying private sector jobs. "We are educating risk takers right out of this country when we destroy private sector jobs, and that's not the way to grow the economy." said Woodall.

Congressman Woodall left Rotarians and chamber members with an encouraging message that he is genuinely interested in hearing what people have to say. "Please, pick up the phone and call me. We are in the business of serving and connecting people with the information and things they are entitled to be connected with."