By Bethany Adams, For The Tribune
CLAY— Citizens of Clay welcomed Alabama 6th District U.S. Congressman Gary Palmer Monday night when he hosted a Town Hall meeting at City Hall. The meeting was an opportunity for Palmer to update the community on the issues being faced by Congress and to give audience members a chance to ask questions and voice concerns.
The event was the first of seven which will take place in October throughout the area and which Palmer hopes will maintain the relationship between himself and local communities.
photo by Bethany Adams
“When I ran for Congress, one of the things I wanted to do was to not be an absentee member of Congress for you,” Palmer said. “I have a real soft place in my heart for rural communities.”
Palmer went on to discuss the bills which he has introduced to Congress, which include the Government Reform and Improvement Act, the Agency Accountability Act and a bill that would stop the overreach of the Environmental Protection Agency. The congressman has also co-sponsored 118 bills during the two years he has held his position.
“I want to do things that make a difference,” Palmer said. “I see problems, I want to find a solution, and I want to find the best solution I can.”
During the following Q&A session, audience members brought up a number of issues including concerns about the upcoming presidential elections.
“It’s not about what he said, or even what she said or did,” Palmer said of the accusations that have surrounded both candidates. “It’s about the future of the country.”
Palmer closed by addressing the claims that the Republican Party has accomplished little during the current administration.
“We passed several hundred bills, we have kept Obama from making the debt 25 trillion,” Palmer said. “We have stopped all kinds of initiatives that he has brought forth.”
In addition, Palmer explained that Speaker Paul Ryan initiated the formation of task forces designed to combat issues with the economy, healthcare, tax code and more.
“This encourages me, because we’ve come up with ideas that are coming from the members and coming from the bottom up, not the top down,” Palmer said. “And I’ll tell you, this tax reform plan that we’re working … is the best I’ve seen in my entire career. We just need somebody that will sign the bill to pass it.”
The times and locations of the next six Town Hall meetings are below:
Homewood Town Hall
Wednesday, October 12 – 6:00pm
Homewood City Hall
2nd Floor Council Chambers
2850 19th Street South
Homewood, AL 35209
Hoover Town Hall
Thursday, October 13 – 6:30pm
Hoover City Hall
Council Chambers
100 Municipal Lane
Hoover, AL 35216
Columbiana Town Hall
Friday, October 14 – 8:30am
Columbiana Senior Center
110 Mildred Street
Columbiana, AL 35051
Kimberly Town Hall
Monday, October 17 – 6:00pm
Kimberly Senior Center
8013 Warrior Kimberly Road
Kimberly, AL 35091
Pelham Town Hall
Monday, October 24 – 7:00pm
Pelham High School
2500 Panther Circle
Pelham, AL 35124
Graysville Town Hall
Tuesday, October 25 – 6:30pm
Graysville Public Library
315 South Main Street
Graysville, AL 35073
