Norman discusses health care, veterans issues in Union County

Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, SC)

Aug. 05--In between sips of sweet tea and bites of barbecue chicken, U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman listened to the concerns of Union County constituents Friday.

Norman, elected in June to fill the 5th Congressional District seat formerly held by Mick Mulvaney, had lunch with local voters and veterans at Midway BBQ. The conversation revolved mainly around helping small businesses, health care and efforts to reform Veterans Affairs.

"Government doesn't create wealth, private businesses do, that's why I'm visiting these businesses today. My main question is 'how can we help you,'" Norman said. "I want to hear how Washington can help them. No action is not an option for me. We're going to take action and try to make a difference."

Norman's district includes part of northern Spartanburg County and all of Union and Cherokee counties. The stop at the well-known barbecue restaurant in Buffalo was Norman's third Union County stop of the day.

Norman said the inability of the Senate to advance efforts started in the House of Representatives to repeal the Affordable Care Act was frustrating.

He said health care is the first, and most important, piece of legislation for President Donald Trump. Without repealing or replacing the ACA, little else can be done, Norman said.

"The three (Republican) Senators that cast dissenting votes, I don't understand," he said. "People aren't happy with their premiums. People aren't happy having one provider, if that."

Cindy Fore, service officer with Union County Veterans Affairs, wanted to talk to Norman about issues facing the VA both statewide and nationally.

"We have close to 4,000 veterans in Union County, and close to 75 percent use the VA for health care," Fore said. "They still have a ways to go" in making changes at the agency.

Beyond health care and tax reform, Norman hopes to work with fellow Freedom Caucus members to reduce the federal deficit. He said he had a "major problem" raising the debt ceiling, an issue likely to come up later this year.

"We don't have an income problem, we have a spending problem," he said. "The public is tired of politicians kicking the can down the road on issues of fiscal responsibility. I'm not willing to do that."

An ardent supporter of the president, Norman said Trump is working to accomplish campaign promises he made.

"My role in Congress is to look at his agenda and to help tell the story out in the community, the Unions of the world, about the good things he's doing. Immigration reform is one of the good things he's doing," he said. "This country is $20 trillion in debt, we've got North Korea, we've got Syria, we've got ISIS. He's trying to address those problems."

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