McClintock shares his beliefs with the people
By Kathryn Reed
TRUCKEE – Federal spending, government regulations, banking, the economy, carbon emissions, immigration and the Auburn Dam dominated the discussion Thursday night between Rep. Tom McClintock and his constituents.
At times it was a bit argumentative between the congressman and those in attendance, as well as between attendees – but nothing like what is heard on talk radio.
McClintock, R-Granite Bay, was at the Truckee Tahoe Airport on May 2 for a town hall meeting. He represents Truckee and the California side of the Lake Tahoe Basin in Congress.
As chair of the House Water and Power Subcommittee, McClintock has some pull in getting the Auburn Dam project through; despite many thinking the issue was dead in the water. It’s a project that has been discussed since the late 1960s, was started, but has been on hold for decades because of seismic and political reasons.
Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Granite Bay, talks May 2 to constituents in Truckee. Photo/Kathryn Reed
One woman got in a bit of back-and-forth debate with the congressman about the benefits of the dam. She believes the value of today’s natural resources need to be weighed before a vast area is flooded to create what would be Lake Auburn.
McClintock believes the state needs another area to store water, that it would provide recreation and flood control.
The constituent said the money would be more wisely used to develop better irrigation for farmers who want to use Northern California’s water.
When it comes to the greater disconnect in Washington, McClintock said, “The government is divided because the people are divided.” He said the people need to resolve their differences and then lawmakers will follow their lead.
He is fine with sequestration, especially because it is getting people to the table to talk.
“At this moment in time it is the only tool we have to get the federal budget back to solvency,” McClintock told the nearly 50 people in the room.
But he is not usually for across the board cuts that are equal in nature.
“That’s the lazy man’s way to budget cutting,” he said. McClintock said that way of thinking doesn’t allow for thoughtful analysis of whether something should be funded more or less. He doesn’t want all things to be treated equally because their importance is not of equal value.
McClintock wants changes in Medicare and Social Security, saying the former will be bankrupt in nine years and the latter 10 years later.
One person responded, “I’m entitled to that. I paid into that.”
The congressman said with people living longer, people taking out more than they paid in and the ratio of those contributing compared to those withdrawing diminishing, the two funds are not going to have money for everyone who is paying in today.
When it comes to banks, McClintock believes people should know what their banks are doing – saying that if you have your eggs in one basket, you better keep an eye on that basket. The audience was a bit taken aback, wondering how they were supposed to know what big banks were doing with their money after it was deposited.
“I think the bailout was one of the worse, (most) corrupt mistakes ever made,” McClintock said.
But he is for personal accountability.
While he sympathizes with people who came to this country illegally as children, he doesn’t have an answer for what to do with them.
He believes in the path that exists to become a U.S. citizen, but does not want to allow those who are in the country illegally to have the right to become a citizen.
“If we are going to support illegal immigration, then there is no point to have legal immigration,” McClintock said.
He got in a bit of debate with a woman who said the system is not working for her. She has hired people from other countries with advanced degrees, but when their visa ran out the person had to leave. She believes the workforce is not educated enough to fill all the jobs on U.S. soil and that immigration laws need to change.
McClintock said if the recent gun control law that failed in the Senate had made it to the House, he would have voted against it.
“We are taking increasingly Draconian steps to disarm the law abiding population. That is not going to end well,” McClintock said.
Sounds like Rep. Tom McCintock has a handle on things. Thank you, Tom.
“The government is divided because the people are divided.”
Where to start with that statement….
They want us divided because under a 2 party system. It makes it easier for corporations to control the government.
McClintock wants to resurrect the zombie Auburn Dam project but forgets to mention where the $5-6 Billion for it might come from, he’s fine with sequestration as a budget tool to cut spending but he’d rather have “thoughtful analyses” about cutting funding… just as long as everything involves cutting funding, huh?, he doesn’t want change in Medicare and Soc. Sec. he wants to eliminate them and privatize them just like every other GOPer has since they were passed by FDR, He hated the bank bailout like 99% of Americans did but other than that not a clue on that subject, likewise immigration reform although he sympathises with some groups he doesn’t have an answer as to what to do about it, and he apparently opposes any sort of reasonable gun safety legislation because the gubbermint is coming to take every single gun from people’s homes. That’s a stupid conclusion but plays well with the Skeeters I guess. Yea, thanks for nothing Tom.
And in response to the woman who hired immigrants with advanced degrees to work for her because the American workforce is not educated enough for her needs… BS, there’s plenty of highly qualified, well educated people to do those jobs… they just won’t work for the 3rd world crap compensation you want to pay.
Tommy Boy is the worst Rep we have ever had. He is out of touch and simply tows the party line. He has all the seniors on the west slope terrified Blacky Mac Black is coming for their guns. They vote aganist their own best interest as is the case with Social Security. El Dorado County is a red county so these tea party types prevail. Wake up and vote this man out of office.
Thing fish, so how does the corporate control thing actually work? Was the Supreme Court correct that corporations are living entities with self determination? Or, more likely, corporations are owned by and controlled by….you. I assume you have some retirement savings. Blaming corporations for the worlds problems is exactly like worshipping idols. Its just throwing stones at the other religion’s idol.
How did this guy every get elected. Sequestration was not ever intended to be a solution to the budget that is why it was across the board – was he sleeping or something. It was meant to be painful to get our elected officials to the table to make a budget so I suggest they get to the table and make one. As for Social Security, I have no idea where he is getting his figures as from all I have read it is just fear mongering and it is not in trouble. As for the Auburn Dam – forget it. He wants to cut the budget but try and get the dam. I guess government spending is ok as long as it is in his district.
Those of you here who whine and complain that McClintock is out of touch with his constituents and has no answers should note how silly that sounds. Especially the bigoted comments from AROD.
He isn’t doing what YOU want him to do. Thank goodness. Apparently more people in the county like how he’s doing the job. He still has a bit of a grasp of what the Constitution says and what the law requires, unlike the man (your man) who currently resides in the White House.
Yeah, McClintock doesn’t have all the answers. At least he admits to it instead of going off half-cocked and voting for extremely bad bills that are put together by self-serving lobbyists.
We have to pass the bill to find out what’s in the bill? Not from McClintock.
The ability to translate cluelessness and teabagger code word obfuscation into a political and personal virtue is common among Tom M’s political base because they suffer from chronic cranial rectal inversion syndrome.- This guy is useless.
” Or, more likely, corporations are owned by and controlled by….you. ”
That is more ridiculous than the pet psychic.
What should I do next? Practice ‘The Secret’?
Please, I am not that dumb. Nor can I afford a controlling interest in a corporation big enough to affect change. Let’s say that I do, I buy a controlling interest in Rio Tinto. And I say I want to use half of the profits to clean up the mines that used to be operated by companies we now own, and break down the protective corporate shell.
Might as well just believe in ‘The Secret’
Thing Fish, so lets take a look at Rio Tinto if that suites you. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/mining/9871225/Rio-Tinto-CEO-promises-change-after-miners-first-yearly-loss.html
So we have a bit of a problem here. We quite obviously have a business that is only making 5% on capital. Strip that out and the stock price will tank. Investors would flee because Rio Tinto is not a growth stock. If they cant pay dividends then they go out of business.
So what? Well congratulations your idea of stripping the money out of Rio Tinto actually vastly increases the costs of medical equipment, cell phones, computers…basically everything that is enabling emerging countries to sustain economic growth and lift people out of poverty.
Thing fish, you have a holier than thou attitude about people posting ignorant thoughts about science….well you be the pot.
My point was that I can’t affect change through a corporation.
Thanks for the support.
(Also this is science. In fact it is quite the opposite)
I wonder if it has ever occurred to these conservative politicians and economic geniuses that their trickle down reaganomic theories have been terribly WRONG and have had catastrophic global effects and that corporatism has ruined our country. I doubt it. As long as they have a comfortable life they will continue to pompously blather on.
‘pompous blather’?
Have you listened to Harry Reid or the president lately? Two of the biggest fish reeled in by the corporates in a long time.
TeaTotal,
Your phrase, “cranial rectal inversion symptom” was perfect! I’ll be using that in the future to describe the conservative right wing teabaggers that I have the misfortune to encounter. Keep up the good fight, progressives!
Don’t let the ultra right destroy our country. Often backed by large corporations, that often pay no taxes and buy off politicians to be used as mouthpieces for whoever gives them the most money. Exxon, BofA, GE, Boeing and so many others pat ZERO in income tax yet they are some of the most profitable company’s in the world.
Old “liberal lefty” Long Skiis
TeaTotal. Fine, whats the alternative. Please include a little calculus describing supply and demand.
Dogface, you and Tom are two peas in a pod.
You know when they start insulting you (dogface? really?) that you’re winning the argument.