“My house seat is the office of the people of the third congressional district,” Charlie Melancon, U.S. Congressman, said to his constituents in a town hall meeting held in the Talbot Hall auditorium on Aug. 16. In attendance were residents of the Thibodaux community and surrounding areas as well as local business owners and Nicholls students, faculty and staff members.In the education field, Melancon has voted for more funding of the No Child Left Behind Act, which he believes is currently under funded. Melancon also voted to increase the number of college students eligible for Pell grants to make college more affordable for more people.
Bonnie Fortson, government junior from Thibodaux, asked Melancon where he thinks things are going in this country as the Bush administration handles the investigation of Karl Rove and talks about invading North Korea.
“We are the most hated country in the world. I’m strong for defense, but I’m not for invading a country over oil,” Melancon said. “I don’t know where it is going. I hope that eventually enough like-minded people will join together.”
Fortson finds the current situation in the country frustrating because she believes she has no one to talk to about the issue.
“It’s nice to have one-on-one conversations with someone in government,” Fortson said. “It seems that by talking with him that he’s much more than a politician. He serves the people.”
Third congressional district members asked Melancon a variety of questions on issues ranging from social security, coastal erosion and the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).
Melancon does not support President Bush’s current plan to change social security.
“I’ve tried to stay out of partisan politics, but I disagree with the administration on this issue,” Melancon said. “The proposal on the table with privatization would account for a 40 to 50 percent immediate reduction of social security benefits.” If Social Security stays the same, it would see a decrease of 20 percent in benefits.
Melancon is concerned that if the government reduces the amount of money current retirees receive in social security benefits that they will not be able to pay their bills or afford the costs of their prescriptions.
“If we take away benefits from current retirees, it makes a difference,” Melancon said.
The entire Louisiana congressional delegation has been meeting together every two months via conference calls to discuss the problems facing Louisiana and work to resolve them. The meetings are coordinated through Governor Kathleen Blanco’s office.
Melancon told the audience that he is not an engineer; therefore, he does not know what is the best approach for reversing coastal erosion. However, Melancon said he is a representative in Congress and it is his job to make sure that the money goes to the people who can get the job done.
Convincing enough members of Congress about the importance of rebuilding Louisiana’s coast is the challenge Melancon faces in getting the money appropriated to South Louisiana, but Melancon said that he will do everything it takes to get the job done.
“Even if it is one member of Congress at a time that I inform about our problems on the coast, then I will do it,” Melancon said.
Melancon believes that Congress’ power to regulate commerce has been taken away with the passage of CAFTA. Melancon voted against CAFTA.
“They (Bush Administration) are having a tough time on such a small issue that I don’t see how they can get anything done,” Melancon said.
