Shelby talks shop in Troy

Staff

Published Sunday, February 20, 2000

Staff Writer

Feb. 19, 2000 10 PM

Not wanting to forget constituents, U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R.-Tuscaloosa, returned to Troy to get contacts and perspectives on Alabama. Steve Flowers introduced Shelby Friday at the Troy Country Club.

"You shouldn't go to Washington and stay there," Shelby told the crowd of about 70 guests at the luncheon sponsored by the Pike County Chamber of Commerce.

Shelby's four main topics ranged from national debt to information privacy.

"The American people started last year paying off the national debt of $5.6 trillion," said Shelby. Shelby pointed to a chart which showed 48 percent of federal tax dollars come from individual income taxes. Shelby also noted 11 percent, close to $200 billion, is spent on the interest of debt.

"With the help of Republican representatives in the House and Senate of 1999 we were able to create disciplined spending in congress," said Shelby. Shelby explained the goal of the future is to be debt free so eventually there can be some tax reform or a flat tax rate and generations to come are not under a heavy tax burden.

An interest of growing concern was the selling of financial and medical information. "It is strongly discouraged as approximately 80 percent of voters want information to remain private," said Shelby. Legislation is being proposed, Shelby said, to remedy the sale of personal financial information from banks and other institutions to third parties.

Shelby continued education and strong roadways are key components of economic development.

"Economic development will follow two things," Shelby said. "The first is education. The second is infrastructure."

Infrastructure spending has increased due to a change in the formula for distribution of tax money, Shelby said. This means that there is more money for roadways in the country.

"I want to work to it to see that the people of Alabama have a top-notch road network," he said.

Shelby also stated his belief in getting the best teachers into school systems to ensure better education.

"We should encourage the best and brightest to be teachers," said Shelby. "Education is something you have to earn." Shelby also added he believed teachers should be paid corporate wages, but also tested on knowledge of subjects.

As questions were answered from the public, Shelby said paying off of the national debt will indirectly benifit Social Security. The stronger economy would result in government tapping into Social Security funds to provide other programs less often. Currently, Shelby said, the government can spend Social Security funds because those funds are not specifically earmarked.

Although Shelby considers U.S. healthcare the best in the world, he does not believe the country can afford another entitlement to debt, which would result from a socialized health care system.

He noted that residents of European countries who have medical problems often come to the United States for care despite their national health care system. Shelby believes this is the result of poorer quality of service in those countries.

Other topics included a commission created to look into Internet sales tax. There is a concern that Internet shoppers may be paying too much tax or not enough tax on their purchases. There is a concern that may one day hurt physical existing sales from local businesses, driving them out of business and having a negative economic impact.

National security was discussed last where as developing relations in the southeast Asia community, including India, depended on political stabilty in the region.  

 

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