Congressman Rob Bishop said he would support term limits for Congress and federal judges and said border security must be the first priority of immigration reform during town hall meetings Wednesday in Davis and Weber counties.
While he echoed the idea of term limits extending to the bench, Bishop spent most of a two-hour session held in the Farmington Council Chambers listening and soliciting input. He specifically sought input on five core topics: jobs and the creation of jobs, spending, national defense, process reform and health care. The topics are part of a Republican effort dubbed America Speaking Out.
Speaking to a mostly partisan crowd, the former teacher looked at home as he listed on a whiteboard ideas and input from the assembled crowd.
At a later meeting in the Riverdale Senior Center, Bishop apologized for his handwriting and joked that he only had used a chalkboard in his teaching career.
In each meeting, Bishop asked people to prioritize the two most important suggestions in each of the five topics. The voting and constituent participation at AmericaSpeakingOut.com will be used to gauge the intensity of interest within each area and formulate an agenda for House Republicans to advance after Labor Day, he said.
Bishop mixed little quips on some of the issues percolating in Washington, even as he fielded an array of comments ranging from one woman who asked the congressman if he had some way he could keep Michelle Obama home, to concerns about illegal immigration, and the concern from one resident as to why Bishop wasn't a co-sponsor on any of the five bills currently before Congress to deal with immigration.
In Weber County, Bishop said none of the problems created by illegal immigration can be resolved until one issue is dealt with first.
"If we do not control the border, which is the first thing, nothing else will happen," Bishop said.
Bishop said federal rules that keep border patrol agents from pursuing illegal immigrants on certain public property are preventing the borders from being secured and said the same rules that apply to private land should apply to public lands.
Bishop also criticized President Barack Obama's proposal to privatize the space industry, a move that threatens jobs at ATK in Box Elder County. The same industries that produce space technology produce missiles needed for defense, Bishop said, and costs for defense would skyrocket 40 to 100 percent.
"You can't turn the workforce on and off," he said.
The Senate and House have passed a bill telling NASA to reverse course on its plan to scrap the heavy-lift launch vehicles.
"To be honest, I think ATK is the only one that can do it," he said.
Bishop admitted the input did not generate any new ideas, but a staff member said the approach has helped the congressman keep his finger on the pulse of what is really important in the district.
Peter Jenks, the congressman's district director, said the new format in soliciting input on five topics has become a solid gauge to know what is important to people. He suggested the gauge changes from time to time.
Not everyone was thrilled about the format used by Bishop to gauge public concerns.
"None of this is new. Surely everyone in Washington, D.C. knows none of this is new. You guys know that's what we're concerned about. Why is nothing getting done about it?" said Catherine Johansen, of Bountiful.
Gerhard Thompson, of Farmington, walked out of the Davis County meeting as Bishop did his best to solicit as much resident response as possible on the five issues on the program format.
Thompson was fuming, as he suggested the four-term congressman was simply placating residents by soliciting input.
"It's totally wrong. It's his ideas from us. It's nothing new," Thompson said. "We want Frank Capra's 'Mr. Smith Goes To Washington.'ââ"
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