Herald Star - Johnson Stops at City Hall

News Article

By David Gossett

U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Poland, Tuesday called upon President Obama to address the Congress on the United States' involvement to the "no fly zone" in Libya.

"Moammar Gadhafi is an evil man. He is a killer. And for him to attack and perpetrate violence on his own people is totally unacceptable. I would have preferred direct action several weeks ago. But now the American people need to know what exactly is our mission in Libya. I don't think the American people know what the president's plans are. The American people and the Congress needs to know who is going to pay for the military mission and who is going to lead the mission," Johnson said during an hour-long visit to City Hall.

"The president has not addressed the Congress on Libya and it is time for him to meet with us," added Johnson.

Johnson was in Steubenville to participate in a town hall meeting at Eastern Gateway Community College and requested a tour of the 1-year-old City Hall and meeting with city leaders.

The freshman Republican congressman met with City Manager Cathy Davison and 4th Ward Councilman David Fortunato and 6th Ward Councilman David Lalich.

During an interview with the Herald-Star, Johnson discussed international and national issues and said the nuclear disaster in Japan should not stop nuclear power plants in the United States.

"What happened in Japan was a natural disaster. My prayers and thoughts are with the people of Japan. They are a strong ally of the American people. And I pray they get their reactors under control soon. It is a serious, serious problem" Johnson stated.

"But should what happened in Japan cause the United States to stop our own nuclear energy programs? No. Should we evaluate the safety of our nuclear plants? Absolutely. We need to learn lessons from what has happened in Japan," Johnson said.

He noted he is concerned certain members of the Obama administration want to "marginalize our country as far as our natural resources. I see it in the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of the Interior and the Army Corps of Engineers. I see fewer permits being approved. That concerns me," Johnson commented.

He also said it is time for steel to make a comeback in Ohio and the United States.

"Ohio is the second largest steel producing state in the country. We have 100,000 people employed directly or indirectly in the steel industry. I have talked to officials at Renco (the company that purchased Severstal plants in the Ohio Valley as well as in Warren and Sparrows Point, Md.) and hope to see the local plants start back up. There is absolutely no reason why we can't operate the local mills," declared Johnson.

"As I have said in the past there are two countries in the world who produce the steel needed for nuclear plants and the propellers used by nuclear submarines. The United States does not produce that type of steel. And there is a 10-year waiting period for that special steel in Japan. It is a very strong and lightweight steel," said Johnson.

He also said plans to cut Community Development Block Grant funds is necessary.

"We all want to see Steubenville receive the CDBG funds. But where is that money coming from? America is broke and we all need to sacrifice. I am all for economic development but we also have to be practical," according to Johnson.

"We need to return to the philosophy that has worked in this country for the past 230 years. Once the economy turns around and business development is taking place we won't be looking to the federal government for those funds," Johnson said.

A district staff aide said Johnson is preparing to move to Marietta in order to be living in the center of the 6th Congressional District.

Source