Harlan Kirgan
Conservative town hall message: Rep. Johnson speaks at meeting here
U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, right, speaks a town hall meeting in the Eunice council chambers on Wednesday as a German television crews documented the event for a story about divisions in American politics. Seated in front of Johnson are Don Reber and Roger Veillion, both local VFW post members. (Photo by Harlan Kirgan)
By Harlan Kirgan
Editor
U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson brought his conservative message to Eunice and found an hour-long town hall audience mostly on his side of the political aisle.
But after faulting Democrats for blocking or stalling the Republican agenda, Charles Renaud, of Opelousas, challenged the 4th District Republican from Benton.
“Let’s go back and look at (Sen. Mitchell) McConnell. On inauguration night 2009, you remember what I’m talking about, he said let us meet to make sure Obama is a one-termer,” Renaud said.
Johnson nodded in agreement and acknowledged both parties play a blocking game.
In his second term in office, Johnson may be in a position to change the trajectory of politics. He is now chairman of the Republican Study Committee, the largest caucus in the House of Representatives.
The caucus is reliably conservative and opposed a budget deal that stripped away restraints on spending.
Johnson said as head of the caucus, he received a call from President Donald Trump about the bill.
Trump opposed a government shutdown before the 2018 elections and signed the bill.
Johnson’s group maintained its opposition.
The national debt is an issue that seems to fire up Johnson’s concern for the future.
The debt is going to swallow the country, he said at the town hall meeting held Wednesday at the council chamber in the Eunice Municipal Complex.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that within 12 to 15 years every dollar of revenue will go toward Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and interest payments.
There will be nothing left over for national security, he said.
Career politicians of both parties who look no further than the next election are to blame for the ever-growing debt, he said.
Johnson said the Republican caucus has a plan to balance the budget within six years.
Democrats, he charged, want to print more money to balance the budget.
While Johnson spoke most about national issues, Eunice City Marshal asked the congressman to see about doing more than cleaning mold from the Eunice post office.
The post office is not accessible to the handicapped and the front steps are challenging to the elderly, Darbonne said.
The building is historic, but Darbonne pointed out by contrast Lawtell has beautiful post office.
Johnson pledged he would look into the issue.
Other topics addressed by Johnson included:
— The economy is doing great under Trump, which should give him a “pretty good shot” at getting reelected.
— Politics have reached a point where the two sides are sometimes unwilling to have a dialogue.
— Infrastructure needs are at a crisis point, particularly in Louisiana. “We have shovel-ready projects,” he said, but doubts if the state has enough money to match federal funding.
— Gave State Rep. Phillip DeVillier a pat on the back. “We need some more Phillip DeVilliers,” he said.
— Border security is a crisis due to illegal drugs, criminals and terrorists.
— Impeachment of Trump has been on the agenda for Democrats since he was elected. “They told us very clearly early on, I mean basically right after Trump took office ...”
— As the impeachment process moves forward, Johnson, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, vowed to make sure the rules are followed.
“We’ll follow the truth where it leads,” he said.