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Printed From Acorn-Online.com Weston Forum
by Patricia Gay
The audience that was gathered in the Town Hall Meeting Room represented a wide range of the community, from children to senior citizens. They told the congressman they wanted to hear more about his stand on the environment, energy, the FAA, and senior health issues. Mr. Shays is involved in a hotly contested congressional re-election race this fall against Cos Cob Democrat Jim Himes and Richard Duffee, who is running on the Green Party ticket. At the outset of Sunday’s discussion, Mr. Shays acknowledged and welcomed the presence of Mr. Duffee, who joined in at times on environmental issues.
Iraq and wiretaps Before the start of the discussion, Mr. Shays explained that he recently returned from his 20th trip to Iraq since the war began five years ago. He said progress is being made and he believes Iraq can find unity, despite years of violence. “I support the President on Iraq,” Mr. Shays said.He acknowledged that polls claim two-thirds of Iraqis want Americans to leave. But Mr. Shays said he has never gotten that sense from any of his visits. He said his desire is to set timelines for troop withdrawal that would see a gradual drawdown of U.S. troops at a pace of 5,000 a month until there was a level of 50,000 to 60,000 left in Iraq. Mr. Shays said this would motivate the Iraqi government to take bolder efforts to stabilize the country. “We shouldn’t be there as an occupier, we should be there as an invited guest,” he said. Mr. Shays said he also supports the Homeland Security and Patriot acts. “I agree with critics that say the Patriot Act should not be called that. What it should be called is the ‘Wiretapping Act.’ I do agree with the act though,” he said. Another issue Mr. Shays said he supports is capital punishment. “I’ve changed my position on this issue,” he said. Once opposed, he said he is now a supporter in light of an incident involving a young girl who was raped and murdered. “I found myself more in tune with the victims,” he said. Referring to himself as a moderate Republican, Mr. Shays said a poll showed Hillary Clinton agreed more with President Bush on issues than he did. “That came as quite a surprise to me,” said First Selectman Woody Bliss after the discussion.
Environment and energy Eli Carter, a sixth grade student, who was with his father, and friend Dashiell Roblotto, started a discussion about the environment. “I’d like to talk about the things we waste in the world. We are running out of resources,” he said.Dashiell asked, “How can we help with the environment and be more efficient?” Mr. Shays said the current generation will someday be asking his generation why they weren’t better stewards of the environment. Until the 1970s the country was not concerned with environmental issues, he said. That changed with the publication of the book Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson, which raised awareness of the hazards of pesticides. “We have grown as a country,” he said. Mr. Shays said he is concerned about global warming, as well as the effects on Connecticut and the Northeast from prevailing winds that carry pollution from coal-burning facilities in the Midwest. “We can’t separate the environment and energy,” he said. He said he supports alternative energy initiatives such as wind and solar power, and he also supports the use of nuclear power. “I think we will find more success in alternative energy resources. I am also in the forefront in trying to get the country to conserve more,” he said. One of the goals he sets for the next U.S. President is to strive for energy independence. “We may have to compromise to get there, though,” he said. When asked about the Broadwater Energy plan to bring liquefied natural gas across Long Island Sound, Mr. Shays said he would prefer liquefied gas to coal. “But on the whole, the plan needed to be stopped,” he said. Someone in the audience pointed out to Mr. Shays that he had provided the audience with handouts that were made from virgin paper, not recycled. Hal Mathews also noted that the handouts were printed on only one side, wasting a lot of paper. An aide for Mr. Shays responded that the congressman’s office used recycled paper, but copies of the handout had been done by an outside printer that did not use recycled paper. “This is why I am running against you,” Green Party candidate Mr. Duffee said.
FAA Faith Bertini started a discussion about the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and its plan to redesign flight paths over Fairfield County.“Weston will be significantly impacted,” she said, noting there could be negative effects on the environment and, in particular, on limestone, which is prevalent throughout town. Mr. Bliss, who has taken an active stance against the redesign plan, said the FAA has been arrogant toward him and others who oppose the plan. “It’s a disgrace. I’m very frustrated with the bureaucrats in the federal government,” Mr. Bliss said. Mr. Shays said the FAA was insulated from the public’s comments. “Right now the FAA is only offending a few members of Congress. There is not a lot of political support against the flight paths. Most people just care about getting to the airport as quickly as possible. The route doesn’t matter to them. You need 218 members of Congress, and they aren’t there. I hope we can unite on this,” he said. In a discussion about senior health issues, Mr. Mathews, a senior citizen, said he had a difficult time getting Medicare to cover the expense of a vaccine shot to prevent shingles. “My doctor told me to get the shot, but the health district said Medicare wouldn’t pay for it,” he said. Mr. Shays asked Mr. Mathews to speak with him afterwards and he would try to help him. After an hour and a half, the discussion came to a conclusion, and many in the audience, even those who did not agree with the congressman’s positions, thanked him for coming. Eli and Dashiell got Mr. Shays’ autograph.
Clemens hearing After the meeting, Mr. Shays was asked about his manner of questioning during a congressional drug use hearing in February involving Major League baseball player Roger Clemens.Mr. Clemens was named in the Mitchell Report as someone who had reportedly purchased steroids. He denied the claim. During the hearing, Mr. Shays did not ask Mr. Clemens any questions, and appeared to some to badger Brian McNamee, a former trainer who admitted to supplying Mr. Clemens with steroids. After the hearing, Mr. Shays came under fire by Chris Russo, a New Canaan resident, and co-host of the Mike and the Mad Dog show on WFAN radio. Mr. Russo told his audience that based on Mr. Shays’ actions at the hearing, he would not vote for him in the upcoming election. On Sunday, Mr. Shays explained that he believed the crowd at the hearing wanted to destroy Mr. Clemens, and he didn’t want to play to the crowd mentality. “Roger Clemens destroyed himself. I wish I started out by saying that Roger Clemens committed perjury,” Mr. Shays said. He said that since Mr. McNamee was a former police officer he wanted him to come to grips with the seriousness of what he had done. © Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers |
