Congressman Charlie Dent, (R) PA-15 answers a question from an AMAC member
by Amy Gerak –
Representative Charlie Dent (R) PA-15, met exclusively with a packed house of AMAC members at the Bethlehem Area Public Library in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on August 29. After welcoming members to the meeting and providing an update on AMAC’s activity in Washington, DC, Vice President of Government Relations Andy Mangione had the pleasure of introducing Congressman Dent to the local membership.
Congressman Dent made some opening comments and then spent the bulk of the 90 minute meeting answering questions from the audience. AMAC members asked questions on a variety of issues, including the conflicts in Egypt and Syria, the potential shutdown of the federal government over the funding of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), benefit cuts to Medicare, and the Farm Bill.
Congressman Dent answered them all and also shared some strategies he and his Congressional colleagues have regarding the forthcoming debt ceiling debate. Mr. Dent realizes that while Republicans do not have the votes for a full repeal of Obamacare, they can use the debt ceiling negotiation as a means to strip the more egregious parts, including the Independent Payment Advisory Board, the medical device tax, and the employer mandate, out of the ACA. Representative Dent has instructed House Speaker John Boehner to include these provisions in any discussions surrounding the debt ceiling. The Congressman also wants to include the construction of the Keystone pipeline (and the 20,000 new jobs the project would create) in the debt ceiling deliberations as well.
AMAC members also asked questions regarding their perception of a leadership void among Republicans and voiced their concern that the party was becoming splintered. Congressman Dent reassured the membership that Republicans are more united than they are being portrayed; however, there is a strong debate among them over which tactics to use to combat the President’s more controversial policies like the ACA.
Congressman Dent thanked AMAC members for taking the time to meet with him and requested that we hold future meetings both in Bethlehem, as well as other cities throughout his district. A special “thank you” to AMAC Delegate Prudie Potter for organizing and coordinating the meeting. Prudie made all the telephone calls and visits to Congressman Dent’s office to schedule the meeting and she even baked the shortbread snacks and lemon squares that were enjoyed by the attendees!
AMAC’s Delegate Program continues to grow and we now have Delegates in nearly 145 Congressional districts! If you’d like to serve as an AMAC Delegate, please contact Amy Gerak at 888 262 2006, ext. 1035, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.amac.us.
AMAC members packed the house at a Town Hall meeting with Rep. Charlie Dent
AMAC Delegate Prudie Potter with Congressman Charlie Dent (r) and AMAC’s Andy Mangione (l)
These meetings would be even better if they were held in the evenings so that I could get to them. The working person can’t always get off. Again the working person is left out.
I, too, am a new member; have not yet received my AMAC package. While I think holding these events is a good idea, I am a little amazed that Rep. Charlie Dent advocated “stripping the egregious parts” of ACA–Obamacare! Since some codes and regulations still have not been finalized, how can anyone think there are parts that are NOT egregious?
And if Mr. Dent also thought the voting on the Pain Capable Act “was stupid,” he surely sounds to me like a squishy representative who should be voted OUT of office. Like Sarah Palin said, all these issues are American Issues and it is really anti-American sentiment to call out certain people for “hate crimes,” and LGBT bullying issues. I think all real Americans find these acts offensive, and it doesn’t matter who commits them.
Did anyone ask Charlie Dent about the bill he is co-sponsoring? The LGBT bullying act in schools.
Also, is this the same Charlie Dent that told the New York Times back in the summer after Congress voted on the Pain Capable Act to stop abortions after 20 weeks:
Republican Rep. Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania bluntly told The New York Times that the vote is “a stupid idea.”
“The economy is on everybody’s minds. We’re seeing stagnant job numbers. Confidence in the institution, in government, is eroding,” said Dent, a moderate whose southeastern Pennsylvania district only narrowly voted for Romney last year after voting for President Barack Obama in 2008. “And now we’re going to have a debate on rape and abortion”…..
So LGBT bullying act is more important. First, we have a no bullying act, PERIOD. This applies to everyone and if enforced properly, includes everyone.
It “is stupid” to vote on preventing abortions after 20 weeks, when pain is felt by these babies where their spinal cords are severed and preventing future Gosnells, and saving at least 15,000 unborn lives at the hand of late term abortions then it is to co-sponsor an LGBT bullying act in schools.
There is no prejudice or judgement on my behalf with lesbians, gays, bi-sexuals, or transvestites, but really, Charlie Dent, what crowd are you really playing to?
To call the severing of a spinal cord of a late term abortion when the pain is felt to LGBT bullying in schools when there is already a no bullying act is immature, ill logical, and more important to use Charlie Dent’s words, then the economy.
One bullying act in school protects all and if not, then you need to go after those who do not enforce it rather then co-sponsor a bill for a specific group.
Shame on you Amac and shame on you Charlie Dent.
Jeanne
It does not sound like he’s in favor of voting to defund Obamacare. He should be primaried. There’s just no point in nibbling around the edges of such a bad bill.
I hope there will be more meetings like this, where the people’s representatives are willing to hold open communication, and answer questions without dissembling.
I am a new member of AMAC I haven’t even received my materials but I paid my diues It is so refreshing having an association that isn’t like AARP on the tank for Obama. Obama and AARP stole $716 billion from Medicare to start Obamacare. Befoer he died Obama paid Andy Griffiths some 750,000 to sell seniors on Obamacare. Thanks AMAC for being here for us. Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Did anyone ask Rep. Dent, why if the ACA is not good enough for Congress, Unions, and big bussiness it is good enough for the folks in his district?
Be sure and read Mark Levine’s new book, The Liberty Amendments.
May God bless you all
Mike
Very good event. I’m glad that AMAC was able to get the congressman there for us. Shows their influence and growth. The range of questions was very broad and Congressman Dent answered each one very well. Hopefully there will be more of these type events.
Most members of Congress spent their time off in August hiding from their constituents. Good to see a few actually took the time to get feedback from the people who actually sent them to Washington.
Their hiding should tell the people not to vote for anyone more than twice, PaulE.
Hardly puts a Dent in it!