U.S. Congressman Mike Johnson (R), Fourth District of Louisiana, House of Representatives, met with constituents from Allen Parish on Wednesday, July 14, to discuss national and local issues as well as answer questions on a variety of subjects.
Johnson’s message of faith included a visual of America as a young country, “still in its experimental stage” with a foundation that may be in jeopardy at this time in our lives due to its leaders’ refusal to work together on all issues. He said the country’s two sides, Republicans and Democrats, seemed to be moving farther apart in its policy of making decisions than at any other time in this country’s history.
Despite bringing this message of “bad news,” Johnson said he was still optimistic. He believed God has a great plan for this nation, and God is not finished with the growth of America. He asked constituents to continue to be “faithful patriots.” He said he would continue fighting for constituents and America’s fundamental values which this nation was built upon.
He described a “reality of what’s going on at Capitol Hill.” He said, “It’s the most bitter partisan perhaps since the Civil War.”
He discussed Donald Trumps presidency and Joe Biden’s position on issues today describing him as perhaps the “furthest left president” in history. He said within two months in office, Biden had a record number of 60 executive orders filed. In his opinion, Johnson said he thought Biden did everything to overturn anything Trump had signed into place. He said it was damaging to our country pointing out how Biden halted the construction of a wall between the United States and Mexico. He said materials, which were approved to be purchased under Trump’s presidency, are now sitting in the long grass rusting. He said Trump said immigrants could come into this country and abide by the laws and rules. Biden countered by opening the borders up once again.
He said Biden also stopped the pipeline on the basis it was damaging the environment. His thoughts were these resources were needed, and these resources would be bought from countries like Russia where they had no guidelines to protect the environment. This move also raised the costs of gas requiring Americans to pay more for the things they need.
“Who cares….they just do the exact opposite of Trump,” he said as he questioned Biden’s actions.
Johnson said the federal debt is $28 trillion and rising. He said the U.S. had more debt than the total economic input which made our number one creditor China very happy.
He believed when the Republicans re-gained control of Congress, Louisiana would be in a good place since it has six members in the House- five Republicans and two Democrats and said two of those members were in top leadership roles.
He answered a variety of questions from the audience focusing on the windfall act, the election investigations and military down sizing. He answered, “This is not the time to downsize. It’s a very dangerous time.” He did not think America should show weakness as quoted by former president Ronald Reagan and it was important to maintain our peace through our strength.
He also discussed the end of the unemployment supplement, which is September 1. However, he said Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards had already ended the program. The person asking the question responded it was time. He said these people, who were refusing to return to work because they made more unemployed, were part of the reason why the economy had not yet recovered positively.
Another question asked when Congress was going to put term limits into effect. “Are we going to set term limits to get rid of this trash?” Johnson responded it was hard to get a bill before a committee for debate much less on the floor. He said he had a colleague who has been in the house longer than he has been alive and he will be 50 in January.
The next question asked why the matter could not be put on the ballet. Johnson said it would take two-thirds of both houses at the U.S. level and three-fourths of the states to ratify presenting term limits to voters.
Visit the City of Oakdale’s Facebook page to see more of this meeting.
