Rockport High students quiz their congressman

ROCKPORT — Congressman John Tierney told an auditorium full of Rockport High School students that he would like to see the president take a clearer stand on certain issues; that the most important piece of legislation he's helped to pass is health-care reform; and that he currently has no plans to pursue Scott Brown's Senate seat.

The comments came in response to questions posed by juniors and seniors at a special assembly in the auditorium Tuesday morning.

The students, all of whom will be old enough to vote when Tierney seeks a ninth term in 2012, questioned the congressman on a wide variety of issues — from the ongoing protests in Egypt, to the president's job performance and State of the Union address, to health care, the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and federal regulation of the fishing industry.

Tierney said the "broad section" of topics raised by the students helped validate Tierney's belief that young people are not disengaged from politics or important nation and international events.

"I found them to be very engaged," Tierney said after the assembly, which ran from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. "Their questions covered the gamut, from international affairs to health care and education; it shows they're thinking."

Asked about what has been done to help Cape Ann fishermen and the fishing industry as a whole, Tierney said he and his congressional colleagues from Massachusetts have been working to help Gloucester fishermen for more than a decade.

Tierney pointed to the fact that conservationists, environmentalists and the fishermen cannot agree on fish stock data.

"The fishermen think there's more fish than do the environmentalists and vice versa," Tierney said. "Data has been collected, but nobody agrees it was done correctly."

Tierney added that there is now a strong push to put new rules in place.

On Obama's performance

Keady Segel, the high school boys' soccer goalie, asked Tierney for his thoughts on the State of the Union address and whether or not the president needs to be more aggressive, given the influence his opinion can have on any given issue.

Tierney admitted there were some areas in the address that he "had hoped (Obama) would've been a little more assertive," including issues largely absent from the speech, including gun-control.

In light of the Arizona assault on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, Tierney thought Obama missed a good opportunity to discuss the importance of gun control.

"If you want to get things done, you have to break some eggshells," Tierney said. "Obama needs to be better/more clear in where he stands."

On the health-care overhaul

Asked about Monday's ruling by a federal judge in Florida that Obama's entire health-care overhaul is unconstitutional, Tierney had some harsh words for the judge.

"I think he's wrong," Tierney said, adding the ruling was "very political" and that the judge "doesn't understand the Constitution."

The ruling by the Florida judge, a Republican appointee, placed provisions of the law under a cloud in a broad challenge that seems certain to be resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Tierney didn't express much faith in the Supreme Court, saying its recent rulings have been in favor of "large, transnational corporations" and not good for the "average Joe."

Facing a major legal setback, the White House called the ruling by U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson "a plain case of judicial overreaching." That echoed wording the judge used to describe the law as an example of Congress overstepping its authority.

The Justice Department quickly announced it will appeal Vinson's ruling, Two judges — both of them Democratic appointees — have upheld the law.

Tierney told the students that, ultimately. the health-care overhaul was the "morally correct thing to do."

On Bush, redistricting

Tierney said the drawing of new legislative and congressional districts as a result of the 2010 Census is taking "a lot of time and attention."

Because of population loss, the state is losing one of its seats in Congress, throwing the existing 10-district map in the air.

Asked by a young man if the state had determined whose seat would be eliminated, Tierney said that determination is currently at the "embryonic level" in the state legislature.

Tierney indicated that voters have the opportunity to impose a term limit on any congressman every two years, and that not having term limits for members of Congress is "true democracy" as it allows the people to make the decision, not some "arbitrary" rule.

While several serious issues were discussed at length Tuesday, one question made Tierney laugh.

Asked why he thought George W. Bush was elected twice after his first term "showed him not to be very bright," the congressman chuckled, but was also quick to defend the former president's intelligence.

"He wasn't the most articulate person in the world, but saying he wasn't bright isn't a fair thing," Tierney said. "(Bush) is a decent guy, I didn't agree with his politics one iota, but he's not stupid. I'm not sure why he was elected twice, but (only) because his policies weren't working."

Prior to leaving Rockport, and in honor of the start of Black History Month, Tierney signed a copy of a book he brought to donate to the school's library about the history of African-Americans in Congress.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report by Jonathan L'Ecuyer, L'Ecuyer can be reached at 978-283-7000 x 3451 or jlecuyer@gloucestertimes.com.

CongreSsman's Q & A

Highlights of Congressman John Tierney's Tuesday morning exchange with juniors and seniors at Rockport High School:

Student: Do you plan to challenge Scott Brown for his Senate seat?

Tierney: "Right now I'm focused on my job and plan to run again; that's the standard political answer."

Student: Did you know Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, and who did you sit with at the State of the Union address?

Tierney: "Yes, I do. Gabrielle is a friend ... she's a good woman, smart, articulate and she certainly didn't deserve what happened to her, nor did any of the others who were shot," he said. "It's disturbing for all of us."

Tierney said he has a pretty good relationship with Jeff Flake, a Republican congressman from Arizona. While Tierney was chairman of the Oversight Committee on National Security, Flake was the ranking Republican. The two agreed to sit together in front of the seat left open in honor of Giffords as part of the effort by Democrats and Republicans to display civility for the night.

Student: Thoughts about the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (the military's ban on openly gay servicemembers)?

Tierney: "I was in favor of the repeal. Whether it's a teacher, doctor, or member of the armed forces, we have a gay community. 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' was ignoring that and making people lie. It takes time for society to catch up."

Student: What is the government doing about Egypt?

Tierney: "Walking a very fine line right now," between promoting true democracy while also preserving interests abroad such as keeping the Suez Canal open and the area around it as peaceful as possible.

Student: Thoughts on America falling behind in education?

Tierney: "We're doing pretty well," he said. "I think we pressed the alarm button because we're not doing as well as we want to do. Other countries began realizing education is huge and when they figured that out, they started investing in it and they have gotten better."

Local News

Search Results

Related Photos

Discussion

Site Map

Contact Us