by Lornna Bates, News editor
Staff photo by Alisha Loyd
U.S. Congressman Dan Boren (D) hosted a public town hall meeting March 24 in the Russell Building of Southeastern. Boren focused on the overall budget picture for the U.S. He also spoke of government expenditures, the state of the economy and the job market.
The Obama administration is proposing to raise the national debt limit to avoid government default on loans held by the public and owned by foreigners, Boren said. According to Boren, the national debt limit has already been “raised a couple times” by both President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama.
Boren cited a $1.65 trillion deficit on top of $14 trillion national debt as of 2011. Obama submitted a budget from 2012 and beyond, covering 10 years, of $28 trillion, Boren said. “We are moving in the wrong direction,” said Boren.
Boren said in 2010 the government allotted 55 percent of money to outlays, amounting to $2.2 billion. Government outlays include Social Security, veterans, defense, roads and bridges, foreign aid and interest on national debt.
Boren also criticized congressional legislative proposals for cutting and/ or eliminating expenditures allotted to non – defense programs such as education (financial aid and head start), health (Medicaid and Medicare), child nutrition (food stamps), roads, foreign aid and sciences (NASA). Boren said that a tax increase by the administration was, in his opinion, not the answer to solve our nation’s increasing debt.
Unemployment, Social Security benefits, disability, earned income and child tax credits were also mentioned among proposed funding to be reduced and/or eliminated. Boren noted that Oklahoma’s unemployment rate is 6.6 percent, one of the lowest in the nation.
Boren said there has been a 50 percent rise in the number of disability applications submitted by Americans in the past year. “It is a tough economy and people are looking for a way out,” he said.
Boren said he did support a proposed budget resolution which would have cut non-defense funds evenly across the board by $120 billion. The proposal failed and was pulled from the floor. According to Boren the resolution would have evenly spread the fund decreases rather than focusing on cutting and/ or eliminating specific expenditures.
The meeting marked number 20 of the 25 public town hall meetings scheduled for eastern Oklahomans represented by Boren.
“Town hall meetings are great opportunities for constituents in eastern Oklahoma to come together as a community and share their thoughts and concerns, as well as ask questions about legislation being considered by Congress,” Boren said in a press release issued by his office. “I hope these events are well attended as communication is a key part of my representation of the 25 counties in the Second Congressional District of Oklahoma.”
Boren has contributed favorable votes for “important oil-related bills,” according to SourceWatch. On The Issues cited that Boren voted “No” to tax incentives for renewable energy, investing in homegrown bio-fuel and for criminalizing oil cartels.
According to On The Issues, Boren also voted “No” to “enforcing against anti-gay hate crimes” and “Yes” to “Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman.”
When contacted about his personal and/or political preference regarding the above mentioned controversial issues, Boren’s Press Secretary Cole Perryman sent the following response from Boren:
“Since being elected in 2004, I have always tried to reflect the will of the people of the Second Congressional District. It should come as no surprise to the people of Oklahoma that I am a strong supporter of the oil and gas industry. It is the largest private employer in the state. Also, I have been a strong advocate for the use of clean, domestic natural gas.
“In addition, I have supported traditional marriage which is in line with the vast majority of the people who have elected me,” said Boren.
Boren comes from a distinguished line of political figures in Oklahoma. His father is former Oklahoma Gov. and U.S. Sen. David Boren and his grandfather is former U.S. Congressman Lyle H. Boren of Oklahoma’s Fourth Congressional District.
Congressman Boren and his wife Andrea invited attendees to join them for a complimentary barbeque held at the Choctaw Center Stage in honor of Boren’s constituents in Bryan County.
The barbeque event was also attended by special guests OU President David Boren and former Gov. George Nigh.
