Monday's Internet Edition, October 06, 2008.
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| U.S. CONGRESSMAN Chet Edwards is presented with an Exchange Club coffee mug by club member Annabelle Smith at Wednesday’s meeting. – Photo by TERRY BEEKMAN |
Edwards broached the subject of redistrricting, saying, “No state in the past 50 years has ever faced redistricting twice in a decade as we are right now.” He said the focus should be on education instead of redistricting.
“Representative Tom DeLay has made redistricting his mission,” said Edwards. “This is going to cost around $5 million after all is said and done. That money should be going elsewhere,” he said.
Edwards said that the one common bond that all five maps have is they all treat Central Texas as if it didn’t exist. Said Edwards, “If you want to beat me, do it the old fashioned way — get more votes.”
Edwards also said how rewarding it is doing things for the individuals in his district. He said he is thankful for those who serve and have served in the Armed Services. “No matter how hard I work, I can’t repay the debt of gratitude for those that serve and have served our country,” he said.
The congressman said he’s learned more about what’s good in America from a Washington D.C. taxicab driver. Edwards said the driver told him how he came to America from Pakistan. For 20 years, the Pakistan man would work for 10 months out of the year in America, then return to Pakistan for two months.
The immigrant told Edwards the reason he worked that hard was so he could bring his family here to live, ‘where there is freedom of religion and beliefs and an ability to live freely.’. Said Edwards, “The thought of that conversation, two months ago at midnight, still brings chills to me.”
Edwards also spoke of other area concerns. He said the House put the money back into the Impact Aid Program, which will maintain the level of education in the area and increase the money by the level of inflation.
The Highway Bill is designed to improve traffic flow between here and Fort Hood, he said. However, there will be a study done before anything will happen, he said, and as of this time, there is no intention of funding improvements to local highways.
Edwards said the largest house improvement in military history is going on at Fort Hood right now. “6,000 renovations and brand new units have been installed, bringing the living standards up drastically from what they have been in the past,” said Edwards.
Edwards spoke of changes to military widow pay, saying it has been increased from 35 percent to 55 percent. Which is “where it used to be, and where it should be,” said Edwards. “It’s not fair that these widows are punished twice.”