Ninth District Republican Congressman Bill Shuster was the guest speaker at the Tyrone Area Chamber of Commerce monthly breakfast meeting at LaScalia’s Restaurant.
Shuster discussed an array of topics including the issues he thinks will be of the most significance for the 109th Congress which was sworn in earlier this month.
He said passing of a highway bill that Congress failed to pass last year would be important to the area.
Shuster said, “Tyrone will be ‘the epicenter’ when I-99 goes through,” as he detailed the importance of highways to the region.
Shuster said the three area of concerns for federal legislators will be social security, tort reform and tax reform. He said he expected a period of cooperation between republicans and democrats during the next year to 18 months prior to the mid-term elections.
“Senator (Edward) Kennedy (D-MA) is trying to scare people,” said Shuster.
The Congressman was referring to comments Kennedy made earlier this week in a speech.
The Associated Press reported Kennedy laid down markers for the coming congressional session, vowing to defeat President Bush’s efforts to revamp Social Security.
“The greatest risk is to do nothing,” said Shuster. “The changes will not affect current retirees or those soon to retire.”
Shuster also said the changes to Social Security will not be privatization of the system but rather a choice of using personalized accounts or staying in the system. Shuster explained the program would still be administered by the federal government.
Shuster also touched on tax reform, saying he favors a flat tax versus a national sales tax or consumption tax. He also said there is division on republicans on the issue.
On the issue of tort reform, the legislator said Pennsylvania was in a crisis with doctors leaving and insurance carriers pulling out of the state.
Shuster also spoke about Iraq and the “war on terror.”
“The people (in Iraq) are grateful for what we have done, they don’t want us to leave,” said Shuster.
He said Iraqis are concerned about issues such as lack of poor sewer and water systems and their own security. Issues not much different than ones Americans might be concerned about, according to Shuster.
He said the Jan. 30 elections in Iraq will go on as scheduled. Shuster explained that progress in Iraq is fundamental to the overall progress in stopping terrorism. He said he believed that hope in Iraq would spread to other areas in the Middle East and help in preventing terrorism.
Shuster also touched on his recent appointment to the House Armed Services Committee and how he plans on using the appointment to aid national security and help prevent the closure of the Letterkenny Army Depot and the Army War College in Pennsylvania. He noted being on the committee will keep him in contact with technology companies which could be courted for possible location in Pennsylvania to help bring jobs to the central and western Pennsylvania area.
Shuster also took questions from the audience after his remarks. The Chamber event Thursday morning was attended by more than 60 people.
