AMAC Member Meeting with Congressman Diane Black (TN-06)
From AMAC VP of Government Relations, Andy Mangione:
Nearly 25 AMAC members and guests filled the City Council chamber in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, for a member-only meeting with Congressman Diane Black (TN-06) on August 18. Rep. Black welcomed her AMAC constituents and provided an update on hot-button issues including the out of control spending by the Obama Administration, VA reform and the border crisis.
Congressman Diane Black (TN-06) addresses attendees at an AMAC member-only meeting in Mt. Juliet, TN.
Rep. Black expressed her concern over the flood of people who are entering the United States. She feels that the border crisis represents a national security issue and, citing her experience as an emergency room nurse, a health issue given the lack of immunizations for the majority of people who are entering the country at the southern border. Congressman Black is also concerned about the safety of younger people entering the country as a result of the reports of drug cartel recruitment and human trafficking.
Rep. Black fielded many questions from AMAC members on topics ranging from the economy, ObamaCare and Social Security. Regarding the economy, Rep. Black was quick to point out that although the national unemployment number may have recently ticked down slightly, a more accurate indicator of the employment status in the United States is the work force participation rate, which according the Congressman, is the lowest since the Carter Administration.
Congressman Black also spent time after the meeting speaking with AMAC members personally. AMAC Delegate Wade Burt organized the meeting and AMAC Delegate Reid Pranka was also in attendance. Congressman Black expressed her appreciation for meeting with AMAC members and looked forward to scheduling another gathering in the near future.
AMAC Delegate Wade Burt (L), who organized the meeting, with Congressman Diane Black (R).
AMAC Member Meeting with Congressman Tom Price (GA-06)
From AMAC Delegate Coordinator, Caroline Rayburn:
Fifty-two AMAC members gathered at the Cobb Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta, Georgia, for an AMAC member meeting with Congressman Tom Price (GA-06). Speaking from his medical experience as an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Price spoke with expertise and credibility regarding ObamaCare and his ideas for quality health care reform based on free market principles and ideas. In addition to health care, Dr. Price answered a number of questions from AMAC members – including questions about the ending the export-import bank and crony capitalism, the financial status of Social Security Disability Insurance, immigration and the need for a Republican takeover of the U.S. Senate. Dr. Price also painted a contrasting picture of the conservative vision for the country – with an emphasis on individual freedom – versus the liberal vision. AMAC Delegate Ron Yurick was also able to strategize about how AMAC members in GA-06 can meet and communicate on a more regular basis – with a goal of remaining active and engaged in politics at the grassroots level. A few days following the meeting, Dr. Price sent a personal note to AMAC expressing his appreciation for inviting him to speak at the town hall meeting and having an opportunity to share his experiences as a Member of Congress.
Congressman Tom Price (GA-06) (L) with AMAC’s Caroline Rayburn (C) and Delegate Ron Yurick.
AMAC Member Meeting with Congressman Dan Benishek (MI-01)
From AMAC Representative, Connor Martin:
Twenty AMAC members gathered at the Grand Traverse District Library in Traverse City, Michigan, to meet with MI-01 Congressman, Dan Benishek. The intimate, small group setting allowed for a very cordial dialogue to take place regarding the key issues facing American seniors today. Many of the questions from AMAC members centered on the Congressman’s area of expertise – health care. A former general surgeon and a current member of the GOP Doctors Caucus, Dr. Benishek gave a thorough overview of the future of ObamaCare and his ideas for health care reform. The conversation between the Congressman and AMAC members was often lively, humorous, and spirited, while at other times, the tone was much more serious given the nature of the issues facing our country. Dr. Benishek was very pleased to have an opportunity to interact with the AMAC members in his district and continues to stay up-to-date on AMAC’s priorities in Washington, D.C.
AMAC Member Meeting with Congressman Mike Kelly (PA-03)
From AMAC VP of Government Relations, Andy Mangione:
Over 30 AMAC members and guests in Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District spent quality time with their representative, Congressman Mike Kelly, on a beautiful summer morning in picturesque Conneaut Lake. AMAC Delegate Tom McFate made the arrangements for this meeting, the second one Representative Kelly has held for AMAC members this year.
The questions were free flowing and members’ concerns centered on law enforcement issues, term limits for Members of Congress, ObamaCare’s effect on Medicare and the treatment of America’s military veterans.
Congressman Mike Kelly addresses AMAC members in Conneaut Lake, PA.
Congressman Kelly stressed the importance of getting together with peers, family and friends to discuss the issues facing America. Stressing that communication and dialogue are keys to advancing conservative principles, he encouraged AMAC members to pick one or two issues, and research and learn them well in order to hold intelligent conversation with folks who hold the opposite opinion. The purpose, according to Rep. Kelly, is to win hearts and minds, and that process starts in neighborhoods, on front porches, decks and across kitchen tables. In addition to knowledge of the issues, Mr. Kelly emphasized that any issues-based discussion should commence with respect and courtesy toward those individuals who holding opposing views.
Congressman Kelly spent a good amount of time speaking with AMAC members individually when the meeting’s question and answer session had ended. AMAC Delegate Tom McFate is already planning the next event in for AMAC members in PA-03 and ultimately would like to see events like these take place on a quarterly basis.
Rep. Kelly speaks with AMAC members at an exclusive meeting in August.
Rep. Mike Kelly (L) with AMAC veteran Delegate, Tom McFate (R).
AMAC Member Meeting with Congressman Phil Roe (TN-01)
From AMAC VP of Government Relations, Andy Mangione:
Nearly 30 AMAC members met with Congressman Phil Roe (TN-01) in the auditorium of the Kingsport Center for Higher Education in Kingsport, Tennessee, on August 25th.
After reciting the Pledge of Allegiance with AMAC members, the three-term Congressman provided an update on the goings-on in Washington, including a presentation highlighting the out-of-control spending of the Obama Administration.
Rep. Phil Roe makes a presentation for AMAC members at a member-only meeting in Kingsport, TN.
AMAC members were particularly concerned about the Veterans Administration (VA) wait lists and Dr. Roe, who sits on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, among others, acknowledged those concerns. Dr. Roe detailed the current problems at the VA, including hearing of VA employees receiving bonuses for denying veterans medical coverage. He called woes at the VA a “management problem, not a money problem.” He then discussed the bipartisan work he and his colleagues have engaged in to introduce more accountability into the VA and give veterans private-sector options to alleviate the backlog and eliminate waiting lists.
AMAC members listen to Rep. Phil Roe’s statements during a member-only meeting in Kingsport, TN.
According to Representative Roe, the press that the House of Representatives receives regarding their perceived lack of activity is far from accurate. According to Dr. Roe’s count, there are 354 bills that the House has passed, many of them bipartisan, just sitting on the desk of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s desk waiting to be brought to the floor of the upper chamber for a vote. The real lack of activity, contends Congressman Roe, is in the Reid-led Senate.
AMAC members voiced their concerns about issues involving immigration, the Affordable Care Act’s components like the Independent Payment Advisory Board, and President Obama’s abuse of executive orders. Dr. Roe spent nearly two hours at the meeting and met with AMAC members personally when it ended. He capped off the evening by joinig AMAC for five years!
Rep. Phil Roe (L) with AMAC Delegate Bob Greeson (R).
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The height of hypocrisy was reached the other day when Saudi Arabia King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz lectured the U.S. and European nations on the (gasp) ghastly impending threat to them of ISIS, the terroristic jihad mongers now ravaging much if not most of Iraq and Syria. The major thrust of the threat involves homegrown U.S. and European Muslims or converted Muslims joining ISIS and after bloodletting enough to establish the grand Islamic caliphate “over there” returning home to terrorize civilized Caucasians into submission.
The fat king’s nation shares a 600-mile border with Iraq but he has no stomach for battling the butchers. Instead, he attempts through scare tactics to goad the West into fighting a war to protect his oil, similar to the gulf-war of 1991, in which President Bush 41 managed a UN-sanctioned 100-hour war to save his bacon, throwing Saddam out of Kuwait, who actually was just testing the waters for taking over the entire Arabian peninsula, using his 400,000-man army to throw the fat princes into the Red Sea.
The Saudi troop-strength stands at 233,500 boots that can be on the ground in Iraq in a matter of hours. The Saudi capital, Riyadh, is only some 300 miles from the Iraqi border and ISIS strength is said to number only about 10,000 fighters, giving the king an advantage of 23 to one. The king also has 1,095 tanks; 7,202 armored fighting vehicles; multiple rocket-launch systems and 652 military aircraft, 229 of which are deadly, modern jet-fighters secured from the U.S. and Europe. Muslims prefer killing Muslims only secondarily to killing Americans. The West should demand that the Saudis protect their own since ISIS, if successful, would throw the king (or his head) into the Red Sea and take his oil.