Photograph by Aimee Baldwin

Republican Congressman spins Democratic spending as November elections loom; public to cast referendum on D.C.

WOODSTOCK, Aug. 23 — The Board Room of the Government Center was full Monday evening for Congressman Bob Goodlatte’s “America Speaking Out” town hall meeting. The meeting was part of an effort for the congressman to learn what issues citizens want to see go to the Capitol next month.

There is also a Web site for the program (www.americaspeakingout.com) where anyone can submit ideas, vote on ideas and post responses to others. Goodlatte hopes this will help to increase the dialogue between Americans and Congress.

The Congressman showed a chart Monday evening of this year’s federal deficit of $1.5 trillion and a projected $1.03 trillion for 2011.

“Obama says he’s going to cut the deficit in half,” said Goodlatte. “My response is ‘so, what? It will be still be higher than any deficit in history.”

Goodlatte acknowledges the country is experiencing some economic growth right now, but say it’s not going to last. He also said the President’s plan would not work until 2062, more than 50 years from now.

The next chart Goodlatte showed was filled with dots and represented the new healthcare plan.

“All these dots are new agencies and programs that will have to be created,” he sa...

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