U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn.100 DAYS IN
7,633 incoming constituent letters, emails and phone calls100 events in 3rd District’s 11 counties249 roll call votes150 constituent meetings in Washington officeSource: Office of U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann
A little more than 100 days into his first term, U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., avoided the question of whether he’ll run again.
“The issues of 2012, as far as running for re-election, will take care of themselves,” Tennessee’s 3rd District congressman said during a media briefing Monday afternoon.
As he recited a variety of conservative positions, Fleischmann, a Republican, sometimes gave the impression that he still is adjusting to his new role, sitting inside his sparingly decorated district office and blinking as cameras flashed.
But he sounded like an old pro when it came to discussing two issues he and most of his fellow Republican representatives recently voted to overhaul – Medicare and President Barack Obama’s health care reform law. During the briefing, he often used “Obamacare” and “unconstitutional” in the same breath.
“We needed health care reform,” he said. “The bill that was literally crammed down the throats of the American people … was one of the worst things we could have done to this country.”
In subsequent remarks, Fleischmann pointed out that two federal judges, one from Florida and one from Virginia, deemed Obama’s health care reform law unconstitutional, leaving out that several federal judges have ruled in support of the legislation.
“I think this issue will get resolved in the Supreme Court,” he said.
Fleischmann also talked about last week’s vote to reform the way Americans pay for Medicare, the health care program for the elderly and disabled.
A proposal enacted by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., would give people now 54 or younger health insurance subsidies rather than regular Medicare coverage, which directly funnels federal money toward hospital bills.
The GOP-dominated House passed Ryan’s proposal 235-193. The idea was to force fiscal responsibility so the programs “can still be there for young people like you and me,” said Fleischmann, 48.
“What we want to do is reform it, not on the backs of senior citizens and those getting benefits now,” he said.
Tennessee Democratic Party spokesman Brandon Puttbrese said Fleischmann is missing the point.
“This isn’t fixing the system; it’s eliminating Medicare,” he said. “We need a plan that fixes the rising costs for health care in America.”
Obama has said the changes to Medicare would reduce tax rates for the nation’s richest while costing seniors thousands in out-of-pocket expenses and making Medicare “into a voucher program.”
Contact Chris Carroll at ccarroll@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6610.