Pinch-Hitting for Rep. Ann Buerkle
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James presents Mr. Drum with a HHS shirt and water bottle as a token of our appreciation for meeting with us. "Please tell Mrs. Buerkle that I hope she runs and wins a rematch in 2014."
Rep. Buerkle was called away at the last minute but Tim Drum, her Chief of Staff did a fine job in her place as he responded to questions from US/Va Government students. This meeting took place in the Cannon Building on December 6th, 2012.
MacKenzie (2nd left) -My boss suffers from an autoimmune disease. I want to thank Rep. Buerkle for introducing legislation to raise awareness and combat those diseases. What is the status of that legislation? ANSWER- We are working to get it through a committee and we hope that takes place before we leave office.
Tremon (2nd right)- Rep. Buerkle voted in favor of extending the Bush tax cuts. Since she didn't want to raise tax rates what does she see as the appropriate way for the wealthiest Americans to help reduce our deficits and pay down our debt? ANSWER- She would like to see us grow our way out of the deficits and cut spending, not by raising taxes.
Marianna- Our class had a tough time voting on whether to stop funding for Planned Parenthood. We read that stopping funding of Planned Parenthood would reduce the number of abortions. We also read that stopping funding would mean more abortions because women would not have access to inexpensive contraception. She voted to stop funding but would it make sense to Rep. Buerkle that more abortions would result from stopping that funding? ANSWER- Rep. Buerkle is not a fan of Planned Parenthood. If they self-funded it would be just fine.
Zeena- What do you think American achieved by attacking Iraq? ANSWER- That's a tough question. I don't know if it was worth it. That is something the Iraqi people have to decide but I hope the Iraqi people saw benefits.
Noe- We read about the medical device tax resulting in the loss of jobs in your district and legislation Rep. Buerkle co-sponsored which would get rid of that tax. What is the status of that legislation? ANSWER- The House has passed it a couple of times, the last time being July. The Senate has not taken it up.
Jessica- When Rep. Buerkle conceded her election a month ago, she made nice comments toward the Green Party candidate but not the Democrat who defeated her. Is it fair to say there are bad feelings between her and Dan Maffei? ANSWER- Ha, ha, ha. She thinks often times 3rd parties are not given much of chance. She also thought the Green candidate would take votes away from Maffei. Yes, she was a little mad at Maffei.
Eric- In June of 2011, Rep. Buerkle voted against funding American military efforts in Libya. Since the U.S. helped get rid of the dictator Khadafy, would you say things turned out ok there? ANSWER- Rep. Buerkle would say it was a military conflict we should not have engaged in. We should not care about such leaders.
McJerson- What would Rep. Buerkle say is the most enjoyable part and least enjoyable part of being a congresswoman? ANSWER- She likes helping people with problems like Medicare and Social Security. The least enjoyable part would be her schedule.
Kaitlynne (2nd left)- Rep. Buerkle voted to limit funding for the Endangered Species Act. We looked at that issue as it related to wolves in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Do you have any endangered species in your district and did it concern Rep. Buerkle that she might vote on something doesn’t have anything to do with your district? ANSWER- Well we don't get to pick and choose what bills we vote on. I'm not sure if there are endangered species in our district, are bald eagles still endangered? As a member of the House she votes on issues that affect all Americans.
Greg- Mitt Romney said Americans voted for Obama because they received “large gifts” from Obama. Why do you think Obama won a majority of the vote and the election? ANSWER- The Obama campaign had a much better grassroots organization. They were much more skilled in contacting voters. An example being how they used Facebook to get their voters to the polls.
Lukas- Last May Rep. Buerkle voted against removing American troops from Afghanistan. Since President Obama’s plan is to remove troops from Afghanistan in 2014 is it fair to say she is in agreement with President Obama’s Afghanistan policy? ANSWER- Rep. Buerkle wants troops there on hand in case anything happens. She doesn't know for sure what the plan is to do with them but she wants them in place for safety.
Nick (at Lukas' right)- Rep. Buerkle voted in favor of placing a statue of President Gerald Ford in the U.S. Capitol. Mr. Graney mentioned his mother admired President Nixon but hated what he did regarding Watergate and thought he should face consequences for breaking the law . President Ford made sure that did not happen, so why honor him with a statue? ANSWER- When Ford granted Nixon that pardon, it was a way to heal the nation. He was a great President.
Manuel (right)- We’ve heard how Republicans and Democrats can’t seem to work together in Congress. Is it as bad as the media makes it out to be? Also what Democrats has Rep. Buerkle been able to work well with? ANSWER- She has worked well with Rep. Carolyn Maloney on different issues.
Allie (left)- Regarding whether taxpayers pay for abortions in the Obamacare law, we saw Pro-Life Congressman Dale Kildee say he would not “jeopardize his eternal salvation by voting for something that pays for abortion. This law does not do that.” Pro-Life Congressman Chris Smith replied that law would “open the floodgates to taxpayer financed abortion.” Who is right? ANSWER- Rep. Buerkle is against abortion and has been a pro-life activist in the past. She does not approve of Obamacare as it relates to abortion.
James- We read about how your congressional district was redrawn to favor Democrats. That seems unfair. Is there anything that can be done about gerrymandering? ANSWER- It was a fair process. Almost 80% of the district was still the same. Things were pretty fair before the redistricting.
Jorge- Rep. Buerkle voted to repeal the Obamacare health care law. Mitt Romney favored the same thing but later said he would keep parts of it. Is there anything in that law she would like to keep? ANSWER- Yes. We like having kids stay on their parents policy until age 26. She also likes having different health care plans for different states. North Carolina has many young people, Florida has many old people. Those states should have different choices in health care.
Cameron- Who do you think would be a good Republican candidate for 2016? ANSWER- I think Sen. Marco Rubio would be a good candidate. He appeals to a lot of voters and would help Republicans attract Latino votes.
Alan- Is there one vote Rep. Buerkle made in Congress where she now wishes she voted opposite of what she voted? ANSWER- I was talking about this with Rep. Buerkle last night. She stands behind every vote with no regrets.
Diana- Regarding Susan Rice, do you think she was lying about Libya or just repeating bad information? ANSWER- She wasn't saying all the information. She wasn't lying but she also wasn't repeating bad information. The White House may have altered some of the information.
Maria- Now that Rep. Buerkle is leaving office, what do you think her "dream job" would be? ANSWER- I know she loves working on behalf of veterans so maybe something involving veterans.
Justin- A year ago Rep. Buerkle voted to encourage “In God We Trust” to be displayed in public schools. In a school like ours where there are followers of many religions and those that don’t follow any religion, is it appropriate for something like that to be displayed? ANSWER- That is a tough question. I don't know.
Viet- If Congresswoman Buerkle does not run in 2014, will you? ANSWER- I don't think I would want to because you work from 7 am to 10pm. Wherever you go people recognize you. Plus my wife wants me to stay home more.
Eric (right)- Rep. Buerkle must have been happy when President Obama signed her legislation (HR 1627- Honoring Veterans) into law. Was she able to discuss this legislation with President Obama? ANSWER- She was ecstatic when the legislation was passed. Her brother had experience in war, but she did not meet with President Obama.
Estivan (2nd right)- If Juan Williams never made those comments about Muslims in airports would the vote have taken place to stop funding for National Public Radio? ANSWER- I'm not sure. Before those comments there discussions on whether to fund NPR.
