Davis Tells Seniors 'The Needs of My Constituents are No.1'
By Clayta Richards
Crossville Chronicle
August 10, 2005

U.S. Congressman Lincoln Davis, 4th Congressional District, joined about 150 citizens of Cumberland County at the Fair Park Senior Center in a town hall meeting on Thursday. The stop was part of a 24-county swing through the congressman's district during his summer recess.

"The needs of my constituents are number one," said Davis, who had shared a handshake and a smile with everyone in the room by the time he reached the podium.

Beginning with stories about his hometown, Pall Mall, and family and friends, the congressman told the crowd his district is the fourth largest rural district in the nation and has the thrd largest number of blue collar workers. Those are facts he allows to carefully sway how he votes on bills, especially trade agreements.

Davis stated, "In the past two and a half years I have voted for three trade bills. They all allow American manufacturers and farmers to export their goods and produce to foreign countries."

He is opposed to trade bills such as H.R. 3045, known as CAFTA, which would allow free trade with six Central American countries. Davis feels CAFTA is designed to encourage American manufacturers to ship domestic manufacturing jobs to Central America to utilize their low cost labor source.

Several members of the audience were interested in an announcement made at the end of July regarding the passage of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) highway bill conference report which includes significant funding for Tennessee highway, transit and safety programs. Of particular interest to a contingent of residents from Fairfield Glade was the rather vague reference to the funding of "$6.4 million to widen state Route 101 in Cumberland from two to five lanes." They wanted clarification regarding what portion of Route 101 this item referred to, and they had clearly come to this meeting hoping it was for the busy Peavine Road portion which runs from Firetower Road through Fairfield Glade. They learned, instead, the money is earmarked for the Lantana Road widening project, which is the southern portion of Hwy. 101 and already funded on the TDOT priority list.

The congressman encouraged Fairfield Glade residents to continue to request part of the $168 million in surplus federal highway funds that come to the state each year in addition to the regular highway appropriation.

When questions regarding eminent domain were asked, Davis came out strongly opposed to the Supreme Court decision allowing governments to use eminent domain to force private property owners to sell their homes to private profit-making interests. He spoke of legislation he has endorsed restricting the federal government or any of its authorities from using economic development as a justification for exercising its power of eminent domain.

Regarding the high cost of medicine for seniors, Davis recommended citizens look to local agencies, such as the health department, for a full understanding of coverages, the new shortfalls and the new Medicare prescription drug program coming in January 2006.

Inevitably, with a crowd of at least 80 percent seniors, someone asked what he was going to do to fix Social Security. "You folks don't have to worry about your Social Security," said Davis. "It'll be there for you. It's the younger people that have to worry." The congressman indicated he favors "fixing" Social Security rather than the private investment accounts now recommended by the Bush administration and he will be working to that end.

Other issues Davis is working on include legislation aimed at cleaning up former meth sites, continuing to fund the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, better pay for military personnel and stimulating job growth in the district.

Congressman Davis, in addition to serving on the transportation and infrastructure committee, is a member of the committee on science and the committee on agriculture.

If you would like to contact your congressman, go to www.house.gov/lincolndavis and click on contact.