On his way home from Washington, D.C., U.S. Rep. Mike Ross stopped at the Clark County Democratic Party Headquarters to inform citizens how national issues affect Arkansas’ Fourth Congressional District.

Ross told those in attendance that he is “excited about a fresh start” in the 111th Congress, but there will be many challenges ahead.
Economy

“The economy is going to get worse — not better,” he said. With the $700 billion bailout in October, Ross said, “None of us wanted to do what we did, but had we not acted we would be in much worse shape than we’re in now. We didn’t bail anyone out. The government is getting preferred stock — a 5 percent return on each CD.”

He said that, after the government’s aid, there will be more rules and regulations on the financial sector. He said the economy will get better, but only after it gets worse. “We’ll come out of it.” With the downturn, “There are some things we as a government can help, and there are some things we can’t.” He said he does not believe in borrowing money from China for economic stimulus checks. “I’d rather give people a job.”

One important factor in improving the economy in the district is improving infrastructure. “We have great infrastructure needs.” He spoke of a “rescue package” for improving the district’s infrastructure.

Though the federal government has yet to bail out the auto industry, Ross said the decision is not an easy one to make. “If we bail them out, the airlines are going to be next.” Twenty-thousand people in the district work in the auto industry, manufacturing parts or servicing vehicles. Congress has asked leaders in the auto industry where concessions could be made were the government to step in. Helping the auto industry will require extensive research and planning, Ross said. “These are uncharted waters.

“We are going to see the greatest economic downturn in our lifetime. But we’re in America, and we’ll come through.”

Energy

With prices having dropped from $4 per gallon to less than $2 in a short period of time, Ross said there is less concern about the future of energy manufacturing and consumption. “We do not need to let up because prices are down.

There are still going to be 8 million cars on the roads in the next few years.  While prices are low today, they will be higher in the future.” He noted that record-high gas prices “are probably what got us into this economic mess.”

Ross said he still wants America to pursue alternative fuel. Finding an alternative will require research. Though this research calls for money to be spent, “The reality is that we’ll spend more in Iraq in 10 days than we would in 10 years of researching alternative fuel.”

Iraq and Afghanistan

“It is time for responsible deployment,” he said. The goals for going into those countries have been achieved. No weapons of mass destruction were found, Saddam Hussein’s power was overthrown and he was “brought to justice,” Ross said. “We’ve fulfilled our purpose (in Iraq), bringing them democracy. There is a civil war there now. No one fought our civil war for us. It’s time for them to step up and make their own future.”

Ross said more action is necessary in Afghanistan, one of the poorest countries in the world.

He said no child has been educated in Afghanistan for two years.

The Afghan people are a “united people. They just want their country back.”

Ross explained that Afghan troops will stand behind an American troop any day, but the country’s military lacks money and supplies.

“All they ask for is three things: ammunition, supplies and food.”

Climate change

“Global warming is real,” he said. “We’ve got to do something, and we’ve got to be leaders.”

One thing the government has to be cautious of is the policies imposed on the citizens. “We can’t let our laws get ahead of our technology — that’s the No. 1 priority right now.” America also has to “bring the rest of the world with us. This is a world-changing issue.”

Healthcare and education

There’s something wrong when 48 million people are without healthcare,” he said. Ten million of those without healthcare are children. “We’ve got to find a better way to provide affordable healthcare.”

He said health care used to be competitive among states, but that now America is competing against other nations.

Ross said employers have an unfair advantage when the U.S. has to compete with other nations.

Obama’s inauguration

To witness the historic presidential inauguration of Barack Obama in January, one must receive a “ticket” from his congressional representative — not a state representative. Ross was given 197 “tickets” to hand out, and received 2,000 requests.

Most people in attendance will have to stand blocks away from the Capitol and watch it on a giant projector.

To send Ross a request to attend the inauguration, visit his Web site: www.ross.house.gov.