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Congressional Republicans go home to mixed reviews Roswell Daily Record
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Freshman Rep. Daniel Webster was armed with a rainbow of graphs and pie charts, ready to make the GOP’s case for budget cuts before his own constituents. He was barely a minute into his prepared remarks Tuesday when the yelling started. The first heckler shouted his doubts about the Florida congressman’s promise to do what is right in Washington. From there, the hour -long meeting in Orlando was filled with a constant stream of boos and questioners in the crowd of 300 shouting over each other. Twelve minutes into his remarks, Webster couldn’t be heard over the shouting on both sides. He tried to continue but then stood quietly for a minute smiling, his hands clasped together in front. The Republican plan to fundamentally restructure Medicare and cut social safety net programs like food stamps and Medicaid has at times been a raucously tough sell as its supporters head home and meet with their constituents, including Democrats organized against them. Even the architect of the plan, Rep. Paul Ryan, has been booed, though many of those attending four meetings Tuesday in his home state of Wisconsin were supportive. The GOP plan passed by the House this month envisions cutting government deficits by a total $6.2 trillion over the next decade. One of its most contentious provisions calls for eventually transforming Medicare into a voucher-like system
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
AP Photo
Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Fla., right, answers questions from constituents during a crowded town hall meeting in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday. in which private insurance plans, not the government, pay medical bills. The plan has drawn scor n from Democrats, including President Barack Obama, who want wealthier Americans to pay higher taxes to help reduce the deficit. The plan follows a bruising budget battle that nearly produced a government shutdown, and comes as the stakes have been raised on the nation’s burgeoning debt. Republicans and Democrats are at odds over must-pass legislation to allow the gover nment to borrow more money, and last week the Standard & Poor’s credit agency lowered its long-term outlook for the federal government’s fiscal health. Democratic activists made up much of the chorus of critics at Webster’s event and elsewhere. The reactions echoed the larger
angry crowds who met Democratic supporters of Obama’s health-care overhaul in the last Congress. Webster defended the Republican plan. “We don’t have a tax problem. We have a spending problem,” he said to wild applause from supporters. “We put forth a proposal to cut spending. If we keep things the way it is, you pick your country, which one you want to borrow from,” Webster added, displaying a pie chart of countries that hold U.S. debt. “Is this your new scare tactic?” shouted Maria Reynolds, a 52-year -old real estate agent. “Be quiet!” shouted a man sitting by her. “Let the Bush tax cuts expire,” shouted James Callahan, 52, a Democratic precinct committee member. Supporters then began to
chant “Let him talk!” Reynolds started chanting, “Let him lie!” After the meeting, Webster said he welcomed the debate. “There is nothing wrong with a clash of ideas,” he said. “To me, the more policy we can make based on discussions like this, the better the policy is going to be because it reveals the blind spots people have, including me.” R yan faced more civil crowds in Wisconsin, where some thanked him and expressed support for his dedication on the issues. But he also had his critics. Sandra Lepisto, 65, a retired elementary school teacher from Racine, said she was concerned about Ryan’s Medicare plan. She held a sign that read, “We use up the voucher, and then what?” “R yan’s numbers don’t
make sense. If something catastrophic happens and your voucher runs out, what are your options then?” Lepisto said in Kenosha. Ryan criticized Democrats for attacking his plan, but acknowledged the GOP has responded similarly to Democratic proposals. He said honest discussion is needed. “Look, scaring seniors comes out every two years, and this time it’s the Democrats trying to do it,” Ryan said. R yan drew standingroom-only crowds at all four of his Tuesday meetings. Two were so full that dozens of constituents, along with press members, were denied entry. The only venue that drew obvious protesters was Kenosha, Wis., where about 80 people stood with signs such as “Ryan Hood Steals From
US And Gives To The Rich” and “Paul Ryan Stop Lyin’.” Jim Johnson left the Kenosha meeting early, telling a reporter outside he and his wife were among a small group who booed when Ryan entered. Johnson, 63, said he voted for Ryan in years past but had grown increasingly disgusted. “He says Medicare is unsustainable. I’m thinking, ’Yeah, it’s because medical costs are out of control,”’ said Johnson, a retired Navy captain. “Why isn’t he attacking it at that level?” Ryan also was booed last week at a meeting in Elkhorn, Wis. So was freshman Republican Rep. Lou Barletta, at a meeting in his Pennsylvania district. The Mor ning Call of Allentown reported that the dispute began with a woman chastising Barletta for his support of the GOP budget plan. Two men shouted at the woman, who was defended by a third man. He was removed by police after the trio exchanged angry words. Kelly, a Shawn spokesman for Barletta, said the woman who interrupted the meeting was president of a Democratic group, and that that meeting got rowdy not because of anger over the budget plan, but because of people who refused to give up the floor. In upstate New York cheers and a smattering of boos greeted freshman Rep. Chris Gibson, whose town hall meeting Tuesday in Malta, north of Albany, drew about 150 people.
Endeavour begins countdown for next-to-last shuttle launch
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The astronaut husband of wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords arrived at NASA’s launch site Tuesday for this week’s flight of space shuttle Endeavour, and said his wife would be following him “pretty soon” — in plenty of time for liftoff. Endeavour is set to blast off Friday afternoon on its final voyage. It will be the next-to-last space shuttle mission. Navy Capt. Mark Kelly and his crew flew into Kennedy Space Center early Tuesday afternoon. The countdown began about an hour later. Speaking on behalf of his five crewmates, Kelly expressed pleasure at seeing the astronauts’ wives and children, who flew in a little earlier and gathered nearby. Giffords was not in the crowd. She has been in Houston, where she is undergoing rehabilitation for a gunshot wound to the head. She was attacked Jan. 8 in her Tucson, Ariz., hometown. “I’m personally looking forward to my wife, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, getting here pretty soon, to be here in time for our launch on Friday,” Kelly told the crowd of family members and journalists. “It’s something she’s been looking forward to for a long time,” he said. “She’s been working really hard to
make sure that her doctors would permit her to come. She’s more than medically ready to be here, and she’s excited about making this trip.” Kelly was joined Tuesday by his identical twin, astronaut Scott Kelly. Both wore turquoise “Gabby” wristbands. Her staff said Giffords’ travel for Florida would be provided by NASA. President Barack Obama and his family also will attend the liftoff. NASA test director Jeremy Graeber said the presidential visit — and Giffords’ presence — will not distract the launch team. It’s exciting, though, to have so many people coming for Endeavour’s final takeoff, especially first-time guests, he said. Forecasters put the odds of good launch weather at 80 percent. Launch time is 3:47 p.m. Endeavour will carry a $2 billion particle physics experiment to the International Space Station along with a load of spare station parts. The 30-year shuttle program will end this summer with the flight of Atlantis. This will be the 134th shuttle mission overall and the 25th for NASA’s youngest shuttle. It first flew in 1992, as the replacement for the lost Challenger. “We’re going to take Endeavour out for a couple
AP Photo
STS-134 crew members, from left, Mission Specialists Greg Chamitoff of Canada, Drew Feustel, Commander Mark Kelly, Pilot Greg Johnson, Mission Specialists Mike Fincke, and Roberto Vittori of Italy, wave to the media after arriving at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Tuesday. more, probably about 5 or 6 million more miles,” Kelly said. It already has logged
116 million miles. “After 25 flights, we will hopefully land here on
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this runway and then Endeavour is done with its service to the country.”
Endeavour will retire to the California Science Center in Los Angeles.