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Cleburne Times-Review: Williams talks about economy at Rotary meeting

May 6, 2013

U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, said he remains focused on America’s economic woes and called for the government to get out of health care during Thursday’s luncheon of the Cleburne Rotary Club.

“I still own a business and I think we need more Christian, conservative business leaders in Congress,” Williams said. “I’m focused totally on the economy. I employ more than 100 people. I’ve been through [other periods of economic trouble], but this is the hardest it’s ever been for small businesses. Because the government cannot get us out of the mess we’re in.

“With 7.8 percent unemployment, 15 percent of people living in poverty and 47 million on food stamps, I worry when I hear people say the economy is doing well. The stimulus didn’t work, 0 percent interest rates didn’t work. The only thing left is tax rates.”

Williams said the biggest surprise, since he took office in January, is the partisan division in Washington, D.C.

“People say, ‘Why can’t you compromise?’” Williams said. “For goodness sake, I’m a car dealer. I know all about compromise and making deals. But there are just some things where you can’t compromise and have to stand by your core values.”

Williams cited proposed budgets as an example. The proposed Republican House budget, Williams said, would balance the federal budget in 10 years, create no new taxes, strengthen the military and simplify the income tax code.

The Democratic proposal, Williams said, fails to balance the budget, calls for $1 trillion in new taxes, spending and fees and doesn’t strengthen the military.

“So that’s the division we’re looking at,” Williams said.

Returning to the economy, Williams called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, a job destroyer.

“The economy is what it’s about,” Williams said. “Putting people back to work is what it’s about, but we’re in a backwards economy right now. We need to get the government out of health care, let the private sector run it, let competition work.

Williams stressed the need for U.S. energy independence and called for an all-of-the-above approach including natural gas, wind, solar and nuclear. Williams added that approval of the Keystone Pipeline is critical and would create at least 20,000 new jobs.

Williams called for strengthening, not dismantling the military. Proposed cuts, he said, would reduce Navy ships to 1917 levels and put 100,000 soldiers out of work.

“And where are they going to go in this job market?” Williams said. “The world will implode if America does not remain the superpower. Our friends don’t trust us and our enemies don’t fear us.”

Williams also addressed illegal immigration and said he and fellow House members await the Senate’s proposals on the matter. Williams called securing the border and identifying those already here as top priorities.

The problem, Williams said, is not those who come to America seeking work but terrorists and drug dealers, many of whom gain access between America’s ports of entry.

Addressing partisan division, Williams said Republicans need to fight to gain control of the Senate and maintain control of the House.

“There are huge divisions in the paths people want to take this country,” Williams said. “One problem I think in the past is that conservatives gave up too much ground and now we need to stand firm.

“I think America’s great days are ahead and I truly believe America is the world’s greatest country and Texas its greatest state. But there’s room for improvement and this is our generation’s Valley Forge.”