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Congressman Comer Talks Health Care, Tax Reform, Deregulation, More in Hickman County

Matt Markgraf, WKMS

U.S. Congressman James Comer described the status and goals of Republican-led health care reform, 'hyper-partisanship,' tax reform and infrastructure plans on the horizon, achievements in deregulation and 'business-friendliness' and other topics at a town hall in Hickman County on Thursday. 

Comer addressed a room of about 40 people at the Hickman County Extension Office in Clinton.

Washington Update

Congressman Comer began the forum, as he traditionally does, with a briefing on his latest experience in Washington. Comer said he has seen more hyper-partisanship in his nine months in D.C. than in his years serving in Frankfort. He noted reaching bipartisan agreements in Frankfort amid the shifting of power over the years between the major parties.

Comer said he usually wakes up and checks the latest tweet from President Donald Trump, as many do. Trump’s tweets offer a candid insight into his thoughts and are often subject to scrutiny and controversy. Describing support for the Trump administration, Comer reminded the audience that Trump overwhelmingly won Kentucky’s first district, a point he has personally made to the president. (The left-leaning website Daily Kos assembled a chart detailing results by districts, which shows Trump won by a statistically-significant margin every county in the first district). 

Health care has been a consistent subject in Comer’s meetings, sometimes to heated debate with members in the audience. Comer said despite recent setbacks the issue is far from dead in Congress. He said ‘something has to be done’ and credited Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for leading the GOP majority despite ‘high egos’ and ‘competing personalities.’

Comer referred affectionately to former Republican Senate President David Williams as a “larger-than-life personality” and “one-of-a-kind” in Frankfort. He pointed out that Williams had gained a reputation from some in both parties for being somewhat of a “bully.” Comer said there are at least 200 people like Williams in Washington. “You’re not going to tell David Williams ‘you’re going to vote this way, period.’ He would do right opposite if you told him to do that. So, I use him as an example.”    

Credit Matt Markgraf, WKMS

Regulations

Comer said despite not being able to push some legislation through Congress, “The greatest accomplishment that this Congress has had and this president's had is from a regulatory standpoint.” He said two pieces of legislation will allow the president to review regulations from the Obama administration enacted by executive order for possible repeal. Comer cited the proposed REINS Act and a somewhat obscure law from more than 20 years ago:

  • REINS - or "Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2017" sponsored by Senator Rand Paul is moving in the Senate. A similar measure passed in the House. The legislation would require Congressional approval of every new "major rule" proposed by the executive branch before taking effect, according to Paul's website.
  • The Congressional Review Actwas passed by Congress in 1996 and allows lawmakers with a simple majority to overturn regulations imposed by previous administrations in their final six months.

“The goal in Washington now is to have a more friendly business climate. Because the mentality now is different than the mentality in the previous administration. The previous administration wanted to say ‘well if you’re in need of help we want to create more government program and provide a safety net for you.' That was in the Obama administration. The Trump administration attitude is 'if you need help we’re going to try to improve the economy and create jobs to where you have access to a good paying job.' 'Where if you’re in poverty instead of being on Medicaid and receiving food stamps and public assistance, we want to do something different. We’re not going to try to grow government. We’re going to try to shrink government. Reduce taxes and try to be able to create a climate to where new jobs are being created that pay living wages and provide health care benefits.' That’s the new mentality. And that’s what our goal is.”
Comer said job creators in the first district say the number-one issue they had with Washington is “excessive regulation.” Comer said there is now a ‘business-friendly’ attitude and points to stock market gains since Trump’s election and a renewed confidence in the private sector. He noted recent tours of businesses in west Kentucky where he said positivity was expressed for the way things are going. He added that there will still need to be regulatory 'watch dogs' like the EPA, though in a reduced capacity, so that people don’t “pollute the streams.”

Health Care

On the topic of health care, Comer reiterated issues has has explained before with regard to the lack of options on the private market, citing Anthem being the only private insurer in most of the first district. He also pointed out with regard to the Medicaid expansion that states will see a 10% increase in costs by 2020. Comer said this increase will bankrupt Kentucky and involve cuts to education, doctor reimbursements and road fund money. "Everything's going to get cut to pay for Medicaid in the state,” he said. Comer touched on Bevin’s proposed state Medicaid overhaul that would have work requirements and preclude certain people deemed ‘able-bodied.’

“It’s an emotional issue. When you’re talking about health care, next to our food supply, that’s the most important thing we have in our lives. We all want good, quality health care. Affordable, good quality health care. Health care is one sixth of our economy. So it’s a big deal. And this is a serious issue,” Comer said. 

He said while some people have benefited through Obamacare, others have suffered - and he wants to see a system that is 'fair.' He said this is the hardest issue he’s had to deal with in his 16 years of holding a public office position. He said this can’t be an issue that is walked away from.

Comer said he supported Senator Rand Paul's proposal for a complete real of the ACA, but explained that he understood why there was opposition. He said people were concerned with protecting pre-existing conditions and help for people who are scraping by but can’t afford to pay private insurance. “If you’re working and doing everything right and you’re not on government assistance. You’re working at McDonalds and you’re working at a gas station and you’re barely making above minimum wage. It’s almost impossible to pay those health care premiums. So people were wanting kind of a bridge to help subsidize… the people that are trying to do it right. The people that are trying to work and working two jobs, 25 hours a week each, to be able to have health care.”

Credit Matt Markgraf, WKMS
Congressman Comer reads his health insurance card, which he says is a form of Obamacare on the D.C. exchange.

A member of the audience said he doesn’t want government involved in health care at all. He asked Comer what his health care is as a Congressman. Comer said his was a form of Obamacare on a D.C. exchange. (and had Anthem prior to taking office). Comer then pulled his insurance card from his wallet: “I have a family plan. I have a wife and three kids... $940 a month.”

Another person in the audience suggested Congress go after smaller, more specific measures before taking on a sweeping reform, like reducing consumer costs of medicine and hospitals. Comer agreed with finding ways to reform drug companies. He said rising hospital costs are due to issues with Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements. He said going to the doctor should be like ordering off the menu at a restaurant, with transparency in costs.

Tax Reform & Infrastructure

Congress is expected to take on tax reform in September. Comer said he wants to focus on lowering payroll and working-class taxes. “I’ve always felt like people take it on the chin - average people take it on the chin - when Congress does tax reform. They always say ‘well let’s cut corporate taxes’ - which I’m okay with - ‘but it will trickle down to everyone else’ - well that doesn’t always work.” However, he said cutting business taxes will also be a part of the goal.

Comer said getting people out of poverty and into the workforce, earning a living wage with health insurance, will help them get off of Medicaid is "a two-step goal.”

Comer said he hopes an infrastructure bill will tackle the rural broadband issue, “Because it’s going to be impossible to get advanced manufacturing jobs into these rural communities if we don’t have high-speed internet and good quality wireless.” He also wants to see more investment in Interstate 69 (a major road project in west Kentucky) and in the waterways, specifically the locks and dams. He praised the WAVE initiative for bringing the westernmost Kentucky river counties together.

A member of the audience pointed out that Mayfield is an ideal location for a major industry. Graves County has a large ‘megasite’ awaiting business.

Other Topics

A member of the audience expressed frustration over a feeling that the current administration is preoccupied with erasing President Obama’s legacy and are “on this kick of making Obama look like a cancer on society.” Comer said Republicans spend “a lot of time in Washington just bashing Obama and Hillary Clinton.” He said he didn’t vote for either of them, but said blaming everything on them is "a waste of time” and that Trump is in office and it’s “time to move on.” He said Democrats also spend too much time ‘voting no’ on things Trump wants to do. He added that media doesn’t focus on the job growth since Trump’s election. He said he wants to give Trump a chance and to see him succeed. He reminded the group that Trump had no previous Washington or government experience, which he said is 'what people wanted,' referring toan anti-establishment trend in American politics

A member of the audience is a farmer in Fulton County and said he is struggling with issues related to Dicamba drifting onto his farm and damaging his crops. This is a controversial weed-killer produced by Monsanto that has reportedly damaged soybeans in some areas of the country. Comer said he wasn’t aware of this issue but suggested he would try to find a way to help as the next farm bill starts to takes shape.

Comer is on a mission to hold town halls in each of the counties in Kentucky’s first district. He said town halls are a “great display of democracy.” He joins a congressional visit to Israel next and will speak at a public policy luncheon in Paducah later this month.

Matt Markgraf joined the WKMS team as a student in January 2007. He's served in a variety of roles over the years: as News Director March 2016-September 2019 and previously as the New Media & Promotions Coordinator beginning in 2011. Prior to that, he was a graduate and undergraduate assistant. He is currently the host of the international music show Imported on Sunday nights at 10 p.m.
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