Letter to the Editor: Hultgren Contradicts Himself During Recent Town Hall Meeting

I recently attended the town hall meeting that our congressman Randy Hultgren conducted by telephone.

During that call he continually reinforced his position that he wishes for “government to get out of the way” in order for our economy to improve. Yet I found it interesting that our congressman often contradicted himself on the many pressing issues that we face in our country where he represents us all back in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Hultgren complained that President Obama was cutting too much funding with respect to Fermilab in Batavia. How ironic to hear Randy complain about President Obama cutting spending when he said just before this topic on the call that he spends too much money.

Randy also went on to explain that we need to offer drought relief for our family farmers who are suffering badly due to the severe drought. Randy has explained to us all that he is against government assistance of any kind. He also made remarks that he is part of the transportation committee and he was proud of the current transportation bill that will hopefully include funding for the new Metra station to be built in Oswego, along with roads and bridges to be improved so that our businesses can use them to transport their goods efficiently and safely. Randy said he was disappointed about President Obama’s statement on how we need each other in both the private and public sector to work together to be successful. This was stated as Randy was explaining he is pushing for a new transportation bill that will ironically help our local and national companies grow and provide an updated transportation system for them to use.

Of course Randy went on to explain how bad “Obamacare” is for our economy and that government mandates are bad with respect to health care. Ironically, Randy and his family enjoy great health care coverage offered by the federal government or you and I that is, the taxpayers.

It’s easy to take the generic stand that all things are bad about our government today as Randy and his party does so often. Yet when issues come up that directly affect our district and the local voters, Randy better be on the right side of these issues for the sake of us all and ironically himself. After all, if Randy cannot find ways to support his constituents and businesses through the federal government that he represents us all on back in Washington, only one simple question would be left to ask then. And that is, of course, what do we all need Randy Hultgren for as our congressman if he does not fight for us on these issues that affect us all one way or another that ultimately involves the federal government directly interacting with the local people and private enterprises?  

David R. Edelman, Oswego