Alexander discusses Iraq, energy with constituents

Published 12:00 am Sunday, August 14, 2005

FERRIDAY, La. &045; Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-Quitman, talked to Concordia Parish residents about some bills of importance to central Louisiana recently passed by Congress

and spoke to citizens about their concerns.

Those concerns ranged from farm subsidies to the war in Iraq to turtle farming regulations and alternative energy.

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More than 50 Concordia Parish residents attended the town hall meeting Thursday in the Concordia Parish Community Center just outside Ferriday. Alexander represents Louisiana’s Fifth District, which includes Concordia Parish.

&uot;We wanted to come by and talk to you about things that have happened in Congress and how they might affect you,&uot; Alexander said. &uot;I can do a better job representing you in Congress if I know what you are thinking.&uot;

Local dignitaries at the event included Concordia Parish Sheriff Randy Maxwell, Louisiana Rep. Bryant Hammett and Ferriday Mayor Gene Allen.

Alexander spoke at some length about the energy and transportation bills recently passed by Congress as well as the Central American Free Trade Agreement. He said all three bills should have important impacts on the state.

&uot;There’s not anything more important than improving our infrastructure,&uot; Alexander said. &uot;We’re 25-30 years behind where we should be on that.&uot;

Alexander said that four-laning U.S. 84 across the state is an important project for him.

Alexander also tried to explain how CAFTA will help Louisiana, which is the fourth-largest exporter among the states to the five Central American countries included in the agreement.

Maxwell expressed his concern that money is being taken away from law enforcement programs in rural areas like Concordia Parish for Homeland Security projects in larger cities.

Allen told Alexander about the high amount of money his town has to spend each year &045; $300,000 in chemicals and equipment, Allen said &045; on water treatment and implored him to help the town get more grant money and repay loan debt on the water system.

Teresa Dennis, executive director of the Concordia Economic and Industrial Development District, told Alexander she hopes money in the energy bill intended for alternative fuel sources will help local business Ferriday Oil and Seed, which produces biodiesel fuel from soybeans.

One elderly Concordia Parish resident expressed his concern about the future of Social Security, something Alexander said the Congress would be taking up this fall.

Alexander also said he expected some troop withdrawal from Iraq before the end of this year.