Senator Pryor tells ‘headline’issues Friday

by Rachel Howard

Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., talked to Cabot business people and political figures about their concerns at a breakfast on Friday, April 16, at Western Sizzlin’ in Cabot.

“I want to listen to what you want,” Pryor said.

Two big issues are seen often in the headlines, Pryor said. The war in Iraq and the job market seem to occupy people’s minds.

“In Iraq, it’s very dangerous and unstable,” Pryor said. “About 4,000 troops are from Arkansas. The 39th Infantry Brigade has only been there one week, and they’ve already lost two [soldiers].”

The people of Arkansas – and all Americans – need to rally around the soldiers, sailors and airmen in Iraq, Pryor said.

Jobs are also a concern of many Americans, Pryor said.
“Since Bush has been in office – not to pick on him – we have lost manufacturing jobs every month,” Pryor said.

One good way to evaluate the economy is to talk to car dealers, Pryor said. If people feel good about the economy, they buy cars. Agriculture prices are also an indicator.

The Jobs Act will offer a five- percent permanent tax cut to U.S. manufacturers, to encourage them to keep jobs in the country, Pryor said.

“When we look at jobs and Iraq, in order to get out of those and move forward, you need leadership and unity,” Pryor said.
Cabot has such leadership and unity, Pryor said.

“It’s such a great community,” he said.

Community leaders and business people talked to Pryor about their concerns for Cabot, Arkansas and the United States.

One person asked when the federal government might do something about Wal-Mart, like it addressed the monopoly held by Microsoft Corporation.

“There is no doubt that Wal-Mart is an amazing retail store and that they’re hard-nosed competitors,” Pryor said.

Some states have sued Wal-Mart with various complaints, but there doesn’t seem to be a federal move yet, Pryor said.

Pryor serves on the Senate Small Business Committee, the Governmental Affairs Committee and the Armed Services Committee.
Another person commented that taxes are high and the United States needs to consider alternative forms of energy, other than fossil fuels.
Some presidents are tax-cutters, like Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, Pryor said. However, when the federal government cuts taxes, the state, county and city taxes increase to make up the difference.
Regarding energy sources, the United States does need to research alternative forms of energy.

“Sen. [Blanche] Lincoln and I, in the Senate, have supported the Energy Bill,” Pryor said. “Part of the goal of the Energy Bill is to lessen our dependence on foreign oil.”

In about 35 years, the world will have used 50 percent of its oil reserves, Pryor said. The price of oil will not decrease after that point.
“I want the U.S. to be the world leader in hydrogen [research and development],” Pryor said. “Unfortunately, the Germans are ahead of us.”

Part of the hydrogen energy-making process requires nuclear reactions, Pryor said.

“After you figure out what to do with the waste, it’s very safe,” Pryor said.

Another concern of several people was the future of Social Security.
As the Baby Boomers age, more and more people are moving into the Social Security-eligible group, Pryor said.

“The Medicare trust fund [will be] solvent for only 13 years because of the Prescription Drug Bill,” Pryor said. “We’re going to have to get our fiscal house in order.”

The Prescription Drug Bill prevents the government from negotiating for discounts, Pryor said.

This means the consumer will pay more money out-of-pocket in 2007 when the benefit package begins than they do now under the current plan, according to a news release from the Consumers Union, publisher of “Consumer Reports.”

A Medicare recipient, who currently spends $2,318 per year in prescription drug costs without prescription coverage, will pay $2,911 out-of-pocket in 2007, if drug costs continue to increase, according to the news release.

The pharmaceutical companies have a huge lobbying force in Washington, D.C., Pryor said. Lobbying in general is a huge industry.
“Why don’t we export them?” Cabot resident Rick Meadows asked.

From: http://www.cabotstarherald.com/Pages/04-21-04/Senator%20Pryor%20tells%20headline.htm