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By TOM YANCEY
Staff Writer
U.S. Rep. David Davis, R-1st, of Johnson City, took advantage of the Presidents Day congressional break this week to visit around the First Congressional District, including several stops in Greeneville on Wednesday.
Davis breakfasted with supporters (Please see related article on Page A-1) and visited the Greene County Courthouse, the county school system central office, and the county office annex before heading to Hawkins County.
At his Greeneville stops, Davis went from office to office, introducing himself and offering to help in any problem regarding the federal government, said Margaret Rodefer, receptionist at the school system office.
Accompanied by several members of his staff, Davis walked through the courthouse and annex as well, frequently taking time to introduce himself and chat.
The firt-term congressman who is running for re-election also met with constituents in the annex conference room.
Retiree Walter Thompson and his wife, Karen Thompson, M.D., who moved here from Maine this past fall, said they "wanted to meet our congressman."
"We're not having problems, but we're concerned about some of the goings-on in Washington," Dr. Thompson said.
Davis told the Thompsons that he values contacts with constituents because, after talking to enough people, he can get a better idea of what is on the minds of "average folks" in his district.
"Too many members of Congress talk to lobbyists," Davis told the Thompsons. "If they'd go home and talk to Amercans," he said, more representatives "would understand that gas is too high, and that people need jobs" and are concerned about secure borders.
The Thompsons seemed pleased that Davis wants to find ways to use oil resources in the U.S., as well as coal.
Ronnie Clark, of Greeneville, said he expressed his concern to Davis regarding discussions about raising the federal gasoline tax by 40 cents.
Primarily, though, Clark wanted to learn more about Social Security. Clark arrived with a typed list of Social Security questions that Davis was able to answer.
County Commissioner Margaret Greenway and her husband, Billy Greenway, came by the annex mostly just to say hello, and tell Davis they support him. Davis spent several minutes visiting with them, and with his Greene County campaign manager, Billy J. McCamey.
Donna Blevins, a former county commissioner, told Davis, "I think you're doing a great job, and we appreciate it."
Ben Thompson, like Blevins an active Republican, visited with Davis for several minutes.
Davis said that wherever he has gone this week, he has found people who were "frustrated with hearings on baseball," referring to those held on the steroids scandal in professional baseball, when Congress could be focusing on more important issues and problems such as energy prices, affordable health care.
"People want to know, 'Can I change jobs and keep my health care coverage?' " Davis said.
Davis said several people mentioned being concerned about "this mentality of change" in presidential politics coming from the leading Democrats. "Change can be good, and change can be bad," he said.
Davis said he thinks the current economic slowdown is a function not only of energy prices but of business owners and executives "worried about the next election," and the policies of the next administration.
Uncertainty about what kind of tax packages may be in place next year, depending on the outcome of the election, can make a business owner or human resources manager contemplating hiring someone "wonder if they will be able to afford" the new hire, Davis said.
But he noted, "We've overcome things in the past, the Great Depression and World Wars, and we can overcome this slowdown, too."
Copyright © 2008, The Greeneville Sun
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