Columns

By Congressman Robert Hurt

Central and Southside Virginians have made it abundantly clear that the most important issue facing the people of the 5th District is job creation, and the disappointing May unemployment report highlighted the critical need for real change in our nation’s Capitol.

    In the Virginia legislative elections for this year and in next year’s presidential race, we haven’t seen the end of the “tea party” thing. Not yet, anyway.

    It seems their candidates are popping up everywhere and their alleged influence is under scrutiny at the national level.

I will be at the Moneta Library from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on June 4 for my quarterly Town Meeting.  I hope you will come by to talk about any topic you wish.  

    The bigger topics might be the budget, real estate assessments and tax bills.  The budget has been passed and the funds will be allocated at our first meeting in June.  It was a difficult budget year, as you probably saw in the papers.  We are not anticipating an easier year next year but there will not be the added complicating factor of the reassessment.

Today, the American people are facing one of the most challenging times in our nation’s history.  Our economy remains sluggish, people fear losing their jobs and their homes, and many are worried about the future their children and grandchildren will inherit. They are deeply concerned about the outlook for our great country and wonder if their children will grow up in the same America they did.  People are looking for real solutions to the problems we face.