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CONGRESSMAN:
Shays gets earful at Ridgefield meeting
Apr 16, 2008
Congressman Chris Shays got an earful on earmarks, immigration, Iraq and other issues April 11 during a community meeting in Ridgefield.
The 4th-District Republican held the meeting at Founder’s Hall at which he told an audience of about 45 mostly senior citizens, “some of you may agree me, some of you may not. The more important thing to me than convincing you I am right is telling you what I am doing.”
The 10-term Congressman stepped into a political minefield as he fielded questions on earmarks and farm subsidies. Earmarks are essentially pet projects the House pays for with part of the federal gasoline tax. Mr. Shays said he supports the idea of earmarks, but believes in “transparency.”
“My impression of earmarks is why would somebody in Oklahoma or Nebraska care about a project in Massachusetts?” Mr. Shays said. “I don’t believe any earmark should go into a bill without debate.”
It did little to placate a number of those in attendance who called Mr. Shays’ defense of earmarks, “Doubletalk.”
“It makes sense because everyone likes it,” said one man who declined to give his name. “I’m surprised you’re trying to justify earmarks.”
Mr. Shays pushed back, saying he obtained funds for Route 7, brownfield reclamation and other projects through earmarks.
“I think ‘doubletalk’ is an unfair comment,” he said. “I don’t think I should decide on funding for a transport issue in San Francisco. What I believe in is transparency. We should allow any member of the House to object to an earmark and call for a vote on it.”
Energy policy
Mr. Shays also found opponents to his stance on energy policy and subsidies. Although pleased to tell the audience New York officials shot down the proposed Broadwater liquid natural gas, he said Fairfield County residents must change their tune on electricity.
“There isn’t a limitless supply,” he said. “You can’t keep saying no to transmission lines and generation plants and then complain about the cost of electricity.”
It wasn’t enough to placate a group of mostly fixed-income constituents.
“Why are we giving subsidies to ExxonMobil?” fired off Peter Casagrande. “They have billion-dollar profits and we’re giving them subsidies. That doesn’t make any sense.”
Mr. Shays said he agreed with the criticism, but also said ending the $8-million-per-year subsidy to the oil company “isn’t a high priority. We have to get something moving on the Senate floor.”
The GOP lawmaker was also quick to point out many retirees — as well as the town itself — contributed to the huge oil company profits.
“The real bottom line to Exxon is look at who owns it,” he said. “Retirement programs, mutual funds, pension plans — we’re all invested in Exxon.”
Although Mr. Shays took many questions from his audience, the 21-year incumbent also reviewed his House voting record in which he took great pains to portray himself as a centrist who doesn’t always support the Republican Party or President Bush.
Mr. Shays, who is seeking his 11th full term in the House, faces a challenge from Jim Himes, a former Wall Street investment banker from Greenwich.
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers