Renee Ellmers speaks to Cumberland County Republican Women's Club in Fayetteville
By Nathan Hardin
Fayetteville Observer
Tuesday, August 12, 2014

U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers hit the hot-button issues Tuesday as she looked to fire up the Cumberland County Republican Women's Club.

Ellmers, a Dunn Republican seeking a third term in District 2, bounced from Obamacare to border security to the U.S. Senate in a nearly 15-minute speech to a crowd of about 30 at Morgan's Chop House on North McPherson Church Road.

But the biggest concerns, Ellmers said, were constituents' worries about the lack of progress in Washington.

"Much of the frustration I hear when I'm out talking with constituents has to do with the fact that they just don't believe anything is being done in Washington," Ellmers said. "And I know you feel that."

Wearing a pair of Western-style boots, Ellmers said she's taking the phrase "getting boots on the ground" literally.

And if they're going to succeed, Ellmers said, they especially need cowgirl boots.

"I am convinced that women in the country are going to determine the next election and they're going to determine the next president as well," Ellmers said.

Ellmers told the crowd she hopes to see the House send two bill packages to the Senate next month.

One package, she said, will include about 40 bills related to job initiatives that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, and the Senate have not previously passed.

"We're going to put it in one large package - it's going to be a job initiatives package - and we're going to pass it again in the House," Ellmers said. "And we're going to send it to the Senate and we're going to say 'Harry Reid, look you have sat on these things all along and we have not grown as a country as a result of it.' "

A second legislative package will again target the Affordable Care Act and it's effects on small businesses, she said.

Ellmers said mandates from the new health care law have not yet taken effect for local businesses. When they do, she said, some will have to close.

"There are going to be many small businesses who have to close their doors as a result," she said.

Ellmers moved along quickly as she spoke about the country's issues with immigration border control - a problem she hopes to see remedied in the most efficient way possible, she said - and the situation in Iraq.

She also said she expects to see more legislation soon that will work to allow more drilling on federal lands.

Still, Ellmers said, to fix her concerns, Republicans are going to need to see more boots of support come November.

"For us to maintain what we have achieved as Republicans, this election is vital," Ellmers said.