20090217 Rep. Chaffetz Update

I arrived late to this meeting, but what I was able to get was worth the time spent. I appreciate Representative Chaffetz providing this update with insight in to what he has observed as some of the problems in DC. I look forward to seeing what changes he is able to help bring about.

2/17/2010 7:34:19 PM Question We get water that is funded by federal government for growing crops. Are we going to sacrifice our subsidies for water and crops?
2/17/2010 7:35:28 PM Answer Jason Chaffetz “I don’t know that the federal government is funding all of our water. You look at the local and municipals and they don’t do anything. We have smaller water issues in the smaller communities. I don’t believe that federal is doing all of it.
I believe that we should not be subsidizing the crop growing so much.”
2/17/2010 7:36:53 PM Question I admire you wanting to clean the mess, but do you really feel that you can do it?
2/17/2010 7:37:12 PM Answer Jason Chaffetz “I am optimistic and will give all the energy that I have. It is good that if I lose energy, then we will need someone else. Hopefully it won’t be this year because I am running for re-election. I have demonstrated that I can reach across party lines. I was able to get limitations on body scanners with a lot of democratic support.
I was alos able to get immigration resolution passed with democrats. We have 54 cosponsors. It is called the “”Bridge”” resolution.
When the Republicans had control they didn’t reach out. The Democrats are falling in that same trap. They are beginning to realize that they have to reach out.
Quick story on the Scott Brown election. At 7am I am in the gym with a freshman Democrat came up to me the next morning and said, “”hey, maybe we should do something together . . “”
There are a lot of things that we do agree on that would help us.”
2/17/2010 7:41:34 PM Question How do you feel about the Constitution.
2/17/2010 7:41:42 PM Answer Jason Chaffetz Sacred document and tells us what to do and what NOT to do. I was sitting next to Tom from Florida. He was writing a resolution and he showed it to me. He said that it was embarassing that we had to say that we would support the 10th amendment. I was the first co-sponsor.
2/17/2010 7:42:53 PM Question I am grateful that as a freshman you articulately took on the President. We need clear speech.
2/17/2010 7:43:17 PM Answer Jason Chaffetz “Leader Boehner has been good to me. It was nice that they let me ask a question of the President at the Q&A. After the session I said, “”that was fun. But I am not hear to take shots.”” He responded, “”Phil said that you are good to work with.”” I want to hold him accountable to principles.”
2/17/2010 7:44:41 PM Question “Thanks for coming. The things I have found in Nationwide is that we don’t care about global warming. We don’t have national healthcare on our agenda, but we do care about size of the budget. We need to get rid of federal reserve.
We need to recycle, all incumbents.”
2/17/2010 7:45:50 PM Question As an american I want to say that I think there is a growing fear that we are losing control of our freedoms. I don’t want us to become all little soldiers for the people on top. What can we do to get our voices heard?
2/17/2010 7:47:20 PM Answer Jason Chaffetz “Great question and good point. We need to re-examine and challenge the proper role of government. Because we can we maybe shouldn’t. Most opinion polls say that we are on the wrong track. The people don’t believe that the policies and principles are resonating with the country as a whole.
Staying involved and participating is the key. The single most important thing to do is run as a delegate. A fraction of our population does it. These are the delegates who will select who the nominees are. That is the most critical part of the process.”
2/17/2010 7:49:22 PM Question Have you come to any conclusion on the top 10 issues facing us as a country? Which ones can you effect change?
2/17/2010 7:49:46 PM Answer Jason Chaffetz “The reality is that we have 80 fiscal conservatives. This is the only number of people who will put the country before politics. When there are bills that are appropriations that actually put the money on the table.
Jeff Flake tries to take ear marks out one at a time and does not succeed.
Ed Whitfield ( R) put forward an ear mark, I don’t. It was a 250,000 money for a new farmers market in Kentucky. Jeff tried to strike that ear mark. I stood up and helped out and said that we should not fund the market. It came up for a vote. 80-90 of us voted to get it out. The rest of the body won’t vote against because they don’t want to lose theirs. It is an unseen deal that we all make.
Our party needs to take the tough stand and do the right thing to help the reform for earmarks happen. This has put us in to a problem. Hatch says I am not doing my job and my response is that we are in debt. I won’t move forward.
Senator Bennett says that it is working just fine. It is not!
Neil Cavuto is fascinated that I do this. Kentucky shouldn’t be helping with our markets here either.”
2/17/2010 7:55:50 PM Question Recycling return. Who would you like to have serving with you from Utah?
2/17/2010 7:56:13 PM Answer Jason Chaffetz “I promised that I would keep my powder dry with the Senate race. It was interesting that I had Bush, Hatch and others coming against me. I got more votes because of it. I like Hatch and Bennett, they have done some great things.
Rob Bishop is a good man. He gets the work done. I learn a lot from him. Getting to know him has been a pleasure.”
2/17/2010 7:57:32 PM Question I understand that 60% is owned by federal government. What can we do to help get the land back?
2/17/2010 7:57:57 PM Answer Jason Chaffetz “I don’t think that we can sue our land back. We should make sure that things like Red Rock act should not get passed. There is a bill that we are going to do. The BLM has some land that says it does not serve federal purpose. I am trying to get 3.9 million acres back from BLM. I am concerned about the amount of private land that has been acquired by the federal government. That is not the direction our country should be going.
We are also not funding PILT (payment in lieu of tax). If you don’t have property tax because you don’t have enough land. The federal government should be compensating the counties for the land they have. We want to get some of the land returned. We would like to lay the foundation.”
2/17/2010 8:01:32 PM Question I have realized that I am a small business owner (employees of congressmen). Why do we allow congress to write their own paychecks.
2/17/2010 8:02:28 PM Answer Jason Chaffetz I don’t know that Utah should pay their congressmen. In the past a COLA just automatically raised the income. I voted for a bill that would stop auto pay increases.
2/17/2010 8:04:17 PM Question “I am a state delegate. There is a lot of power in that position.
What do you notice about our state’s government keeping the federal government out?
Bob Bennett is asking for delegates to run for him and it bothers me.”
2/17/2010 8:05:11 PM Answer Jason Chaffetz “If Utah is going to get out from under the federal government then they need to review what they are receiving. Roughly 8% of our education budget is from the federal budget. I would suggest now is the time to review that.
Bishop and I are working on trying to get the federal money to stay more locally like gas taxes. We will need to bond together with some other states. We have to cut the cord ourselves.
As far as Bob Bennett asking for delegates to run I don’t know the details.”
2/17/2010 8:07:08 PM Question Warren It seems that Cap and Trade and medical bill are things that are coming from the people and not from congress. Is there some way that we can get more information ahead of time.
2/17/2010 8:07:56 PM Answer Jason Chaffetz “I said that Global Warming was a farce when I ran two years ago. The ideas do percolate up. I am trying to highlight the challenges that we have through Twitter and Facebook. I do National things so that I can move forward the Utah thoughts. I am trying to get on CNN and Glenn Beck so that I can get focus on these things.
I want to bring you up to speed on a new thing you have not heard of possibly.
I am the ranking member on the federal workforces subcommittees. As the base compensation we moved 30,000 people to over 100,000 dollars. We have been tightening the belts as a country while the federal employees are making more.
The turnover rate on the private and public sector. If you have no turnover in the public sector then perhaps you are paying too much.
Over 400,000 people earning more than 100,000. We will need to make some dramatic changes.
We need to become a greater information source. We are trying.”
2/17/2010 8:12:38 PM Answer Jason Chaffetz “It is an honor to be in this office. I still get a chill walking down the halls. I love the job that I have. It is a passionate feeling. I spend about 150 nights/year in DC and that is hard.
My heart is in the right spot. I will do my best to respond. We get about 10,000 email/month. I do personally sign all the documents.
Thank you for being here.”

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