Rep. McHenry chews the fat on health care reform during dinner with Gaston residents

Kings Mountain, Jan 8 -
Corey Friedman

KINGS MOUNTAIN — Universal health care wasn’t on the menu when a group of constituents sat down to dinner with U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry on Thursday.

The Republican from Cherryville met with about 50 people from Gaston and Cleveland counties at the Mountain View Restaurant to seek input on national issues. The congressional health care reform plan backed by President Barack Obama topped the list of resident’s concerns.

“They want to see this health care bill defeated,” McHenry said. “When you have limited choice with more government intervention, there’s less personal ownership and control. It’s really a concern for the next generation as well to make sure they have the same health care options we have.”

For three hours, area residents quizzed their congressman on health care, unemployment, tax reform, environmental issues and illegal immigration. McHenry said he met many people whose engagement in the political process is a recent phenomenon.

“It was a great group of folks — a group really focused on improving our future,” he said. “We had a very positive discussion on what we can do to improve our country.”

The idea for Thursday’s dinner grew from McHenry’s town hall meetings, which have drawn standing-room-only crowds and hosted fiery speeches from conservative constituents distraught with the Obama administration’s direction.

“People have great ideas,” McHenry said. “I do all I can to make sure that people’s voices are heard and make sure they know that I’m listening.”

Initially, 35 people were invited to the dinner, said organizer Carol Anne Weaver, who leads the Gaston Tea Party tax protest. While most in attendance live in the 10th Congressional District, one person made the two-hour drive from Chester County, S.C., to speak with McHenry.

Weaver said McHenry thanked his fellow diners for their passion and their willingness to hold elected officials accountable.

“He basically was just giving us kind of a pep talk to keep doing what we’re doing, keep letting the Congress and the federal government know how we feel and make them understand that we’re their boss and they work for us,” Weaver said.

Other local leaders, including state Rep. Pearl Burris-Floyd, R-Gaston, state Rep. Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, and Gaston County Commissioner Tracy Philbeck, attended the dinner.

McHenry “answered every single question” asked of him during the event, Weaver said.

“It was just a really good one-on-one session with some of the people he represents,” she said.

Weaver and McHenry said they are planning another public event to be held outdoors so that more people can attend. It will be scheduled in the spring or summer.