U.S. Congressman August Pfluger, representing the Texas 11th District, stopped in Brownwood Tuesday morning at the Newbury Family Welcome Center on the campus of Howard Payne University for a Town Hall meeting.
The later half of the hour-long event saw Pfluger field questions from those in attendance.
One person voiced concerns about wind and solar energy, and what can be done at the local level for someone who opposes both.
“Each county in Texas decides if they want to allow these things, so talk to local county commissioners because they determine wind and solar,” Pfluger said. “I would rather see it done at a local level because I disagree with federal subsidies involved with sources of energy. I’m not opposed to wind and solar, if it works use it, but don’t subsidize it because that means we’re all going to pay for it.”
A question regarding the Farm Bill and electronic identification for cattle was posed to Pfluger.
“It’s not only cattle, but it’s sheep and goats as well, and it’s not in the Farm Bill,” Pfluger said. “For those who don’t know, this involves putting tags in their ears to track them, and doing it for disease-related implications. It puts a massive burden on the sale barns. Nobody is against safety, but this favors big corporations versus small producers, and you won’t see that in the Farm Bill.”
Another question was asked in regard to clarification on FISA – the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
Pfluger stated FISA was developed in a post 9/11 world to track terrorists outside the United States.
“It was never for a domestic or foreign American citizen, an American citizen outside the United States,” Pfluger said. “It’s for foreigners outside the United States.”
An attendee mentioned a scenario in which people own property in multiple counties, yet are only allowed to vote in one county, and how Pfluger felt.
Pfluger sympathized with the prospect of paying taxes in a county and having no say in terms of voting, but added, “Every person gets one vote, so you should choose where your domicile is.”
Prior to the conclusion of the Town Hall, Pfluger introduced the Brownwood Lady Lions 4×200 relay team of Icess Hall, Aniah Hines, Kaya Phillips and Kate Tindol, who set a new school record of 1:42.79 at the UIL Class 4A state championships where they placed seventh overall.
All four members of the team were presented certificates by Pfluger.