Rep. Byrne touts gains during town stops

U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne brought his 'Better Off Now' tour to Escambia County Tuesday with stops in Atmore and Brewton touting economic and military improvements under the Trump administration and said a new workforce development initiative signed by the president will continue the positive move in the country.

While addressing the crowd in Brewton, Rep. Byrne said a 'Better Way' initiative was created two years ago in Congress. He said with tax cuts, tax reform and lifting regulations off of businesses and the private sector have paid great dividends.

He said the American economy was growing at a rate of 2 percent, that only kept up with the population growth, but now the economy is growing at 4 percent a year due to cuts in taxes and regulations. He said while it's not enough, it has doubled the past growth.

He said prior to the regulations cuts, the United States' corporate tax rate was the highest in the world, which was sending business overseas.

Those initiatives have also created an environment where more and more new jobs are being created. However, there is a problem.

"We now have more jobs available in America than we have people looking for jobs," Byrne said.

He said the problem is getting people trained to do those jobs and added that a bipartisan bill passed by Congress and signed by the president to send some $1.2 billion to states to develop new workforce develop initiatives through education.

Rep. Byrne, who serves on the Armed Services Committee, also touted improvements made to the military, saying more American soldiers were being killed in training exercises than in combat.

He said a 10 percent increase in the military budget was the most since the Reagan administration and also touted it was a bipartisan move.

"We're a lot safer than we were a year ago," Byrne said.

Once the congressman opened up the forum to questions he addressed a variety of issues from the fate of rural hospitals, tariffs and mental health to securing federal lands for disabled hunters.

Concerning rural hospitals in Alabama, he acknowledged the state's refusal to expand Medicaid was one issue, but the federal government's reimbursements for Medicare was another.

On Medicare, the he said the problem lies with the wage index formula used by the federal government to reimburse doctors and hospitals, noting the amount was different depending on where someone lives.

He said hospitals in metropolitan areas like Pensacola receive about 20 percent more than the rural hospitals in Atmore and Brewton. He said that's a discrepancy he has been working to change.

John Barnett asked the congressman if the 'Better Off Now' movement has gained bipartisan support in Congress.

Byrne said it has been better, especially in the area of defense spending. However, he said in terms of economic legislation it has been falling along party lines. But he did say as the mid-term elections approach there are some Democrats out there who wish they had voted for tax reform.

Virgil Armstrong and Gene White, who head up Wheeling Outdoors to help handicapped residents have better opportunities to hunt and fish, asked the congressman for help in setting aside some land in the Conecuh National Forest for handicapped hunters.

White also said disabled hunters have to fill out tons of paperwork to get a hunting license.

Armstrong said the federal government owns 73,000 acres in the Conecuh National Forest and he would like to see a section of about 4,000 acres set aside for disabled hunters only.

Escambia County Judge of Probate Doug Agerton said he spent many years in the timber business and agreed some land needed to be set aside.

"Give them a couple of thousand acres where they can go out there without worrying about somebody coming in on top of them," Agerton said.

Byrne said he would have his staff look into that immediately.

Agerton also addressed the congressman about the lack of mental health care and the effect it has on everybody. He noted the current outpatient program is not working and people with serious mental health issues are right back on the streets and standing in line at the grocery store.

"Mental health is a public safety issue," Byrne said. "It puts everybody at risk, it puts school children at risk."

Byrne did add that he feels the state needs to put more money toward the mental health issue.

Barnett also asked Rep. Byrne about the recent tariffs initiated by President Trump and the congressman said "I don't think they are good".

However, Byrne said the president likes to negotiate and create bargaining leverage. He said he would like to see the president strike an agreement with Mexico, Canada and Europe, adding that China is the biggest problem.

"We need to focus on China," Byrne said. "An all-out trade war will hurt Alabama."

Jackie Gay asked about the proposal to house illegal aliens in Baldwin County and Byrne said he didn't think it would happen.

Byrne said the land in question is nothing more than abandoned military air fields and there's nothing out there; no buildings, no power, no water.

"It would be a nightmare," Byrne said. "My guess is it's not going to happen."

Byrne also addressed Medicare and Social Security saying both programs are running out of money. He said he felt the 'baby boomer' generation will continue to receive those benefits but there may be problems for the next generation.