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Westmoreland ducks question on onion-odor illnessesTue, 04/10/2007 - 4:14pm
By: Ben Nelms
The meeting room at the Fayette County Commission was full April 3 as Congressman Lynn Westmoreland fielded questions and comments during a scheduled town hall meeting. Topics at the meeting ranged from Iraq to immigration and the Fair Tax to Darfur. Amid the many questions and comments by Fayette residents, there was one comment in particular that had purely local significance. Notably, it was the only question or comment for which Westmoreland gave no response. Sitting near the back of the room with hand raised during the entire meeting was South Fulton/Fayette Community Task Force Chairman Connie Biemiller. When recognized at the end of the meeting, Biemiller made her request. Representing more than 700 residents of both counties that suffered illnesses in 2006 from what they claim were emissions from the Philip Services Corp. waste treatment plant on Ga. Highway 92 in south Fulton County, Biemiller said the task force was aware that Congress would be holding hearings on the inadequacies of federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and wanted Westmoreland to stand with local citizens with regard to how EPA had failed them. Biemiller said that many Fayette and Fulton residents might not be sick today if EPA had responded and worked to protect the health and welfare of these communities. At the end of her statement, Westmoreland stood silent for a moment, then ended the meeting, turning to speak with others near the front of the room. It was the only question or comment posed by constituents during the town hall meeting for which he offered no comment. “This is not a Republican or Democrat issue,” Biemiller said later, noting that several people approached her at meeting’s end to express concern for the illnesses of so many and to apologize for Westmoreland’s behavior. “This is about real people and real harm and it is time for Congressman Westmoreland to make a public stand for what is right,” Biemiller said. “I really fear not only for our community but the other communities that he represents because this is not a man who is willing to serve for a higher purpose, but one that serves for his own welfare and benefit. Our task force has met with his staff via phone and in person to make him aware of the dangers to the people he represents and yet he will not defend us. He has a real opportunity and is in a position of power to make a positive impact but that would mean he would have to step out of his comfort zone. We are all called at different points in our lives to step out of our comfort zones.” Earlier in the meeting, Westmoreland had opened the discussion with his thoughts on the situation in Iraq. He referenced a recent trip there, reiterating his support for American forces on the ground. “Going to Iraq was a life-changing experience. Those guys became my heroes,” he said. “Those men and women are putting their lives on the line every day.” Westmoreland complimented the Iraqis for taking the steps necessary to form a government, but had strong words for those bent on destroying that fragile government and killing American soldiers. “They don’t just hate us, they hate our way of life,” Westmoreland said, comparing the religious practices in the United States to the adherents of Islam that call for the destruction of the West. “As for us, we don’t take RPGs to other churches and shoot out their windows.” Westmoreland likened a premature pull-out in Iraq to the debacles in Vietnam, Somalia and the Marine barracks bombing in Lebanon. “We’re going to show this world that we’re willing to stick by our friends,” Westmoreland said emphatically. Also in the forefront was illegal immigration. Referencing his stand for strong borders, Westmoreland was asked about his views on amnesty and other issues. “We don’t know how many people are here. Reagan gave amnesty in the ‘80s, but we’ve got to come up with a program to identify those who are here today,” Westmoreland said. “Until we secure our borders and until we know how many how many people are here we can’t address the problem. This didn’t just happen. It’s been going on a long, long time. We need to seal the north and south borders, then take a census of those who are here to find out who they are so we’ll know what we’re dealing with and how to deal with it.” Others at the meeting surfaced questions and concerns about the Fair Tax, with several speaking in favor of transitioning to what they believed to be a more equitable method of taxation. “We don’t think it would pass, but we couldn’t convince the leadership to have a vote,” Westmoreland said. “We’re on a withholding system. The Fair Tax would be pay as you go. Some have a fear of how it would affect them, so we need to educate people.” Responding to questions on the lack of effectiveness of Congress and the outlook for the future, Westmoreland said the efforts of individuals across America are required to make Congress accountable and responsive to the people. “It’s going to take people to make the real change,” he said. “We are a self-governing nation. If the people aren’t involved in the process it’ll be broken. Without 218 votes all you’ve got is a good idea.” Fayette residents were at no loss for surfacing other concerns. Some of those included the line item veto, the victimization resulting from identity theft and the status of the healthcare system. Also at the meeting, three students asked Westmoreland about his stance on the genocide in Darfur and why his voting record indicated he was against providing aid for the region. Westmoreland said the United States had attempted to work with a weak United Nations to help resolve the issue, noting that the United States cannot right all the wrongs in the world. “We look at the facts and the funding of the United Nations and the countries that vote against,” Westmoreland said. “If you look at my voting record, I vote to have the U.N. make countries more accountable.” login to post comments |