U.S. CONGRESSMAN BILL JOHNSON Proudly Representing Eastern and Southeastern Ohio

By Michelle Miller
Gallipolis Hometown Herald
Published: April 17, 2012

On Wednesday, April 11, Congressman Bill Johnson, joined by BTS Managing Director Jodie McCalla, spoke on a number of issues currently facing the U.S. House of Representatives, including the passage of a budget, the new health care system and passing jobs legislation. 

Focusing on “Accountability, Responsibility and Honesty”, Johnson said it was time for Congress as a whole to do what is right for the country. On the topic of jobs legislation, stating 88 million citizens have given up on finding a job, Johnson touched on the country needing a national energy policy. 

Johnson pulled from John F. Kennedy’s race to the moon, saying JFK’s vision spurred economic growth and opened up new doors for business and jobs in the country.

“With a national energy vision of making America energy independent over 10 years, we can put American exceptionalism back in play and we can renew the American dream for those 88 million Americans that have given up hope,” said Johnson.

On the new health care system, Johnson said it was too complicated and that it is holding small businesses back from growth and expansion. Johnson added it would bankrupt America as it stood.

As far as the budget is concerned, Johnson said the House of Representatives has already passed a budget at that the Senate has no intention of following suit.

“We can’t pass legislation without both chamber of the Congress working together,” said Johnson. “We have a Senate that’s derelict in its duty.”

McCalla gave a brief overview of the future of BTS in Gallipolis, upcoming projects and the steps already taken to revitalize the downtown area, both by BTS and the Digital River Project. 

Following their talks, the floor was opened to questions from those in attendance; two of which revolved around the Environmental Protection Agency.

Gallia County Commission President Harold Montgomery expressed his concern over growing EPA restrictions and regulations being placed on power plants and its future impact on jobs in the area.

“Regulations right now, today, cost our economy about $1.7 trillion a year. Last year alone, this administration implemented over $100 billion in new regulations that resulted in 118 million man hours of additional compliance work on the backs of businesses,” said Johnson. 

Johnsons said he received a call from one of the nation’s largest coal operators who said contracts were being cancelled “left and right” and that regulatory agencies needed to be reeled in by the administration.

“I want to make it clear. I am not a no-regulations person,” said Johnson. 

“Where public safety and public health and national security are concerned, I’m very supportive of common sense regulations, but I think the President of the United States should be telling the regulatory agencies, ‘If you don’t have a national security, public safety or public health concern today and if the regulation is going to cost the American people more than it’s going to save them and if it’s going to cost more out of the American taxpayers pockets, then we shouldn’t do it’,” said Johnson.

Johnson discussed a piece of legislation called the Reins Act (Regulatory by the Executive in Need of Scrutiny) that has been passed by the House and is currently sitting with the Senate, that would require congressional approval for any regulation that would cost more than $100 million in a single year.

Commissioner Joe Foster also asked an EPA focused question, regarding the removal of the term “navigable waters” from the Clean Water Act. 

According to several sources, the term has allowed certain areas to avoid EPA oversight because the waterway in question is not considered navigable.

“As the EPA moves forward with the rewrite of the clean water rules, there’s a big push to take the term navigable out of that language,” said Foster. “That, in effect, would have a devastating impact on Gallia County. Is there anything you can do to keep that from happening?"

Johnson said that issue was actively being discussed amongst his colleagues.

“We’re fighting that,” said Johnson. “I do not sit on that particular committee, but I have heard a lot of discussion and we are aware they are trying to do that. We’re fighting that.”

McCalla asked Johnson if there was anything his office could do in regards to difficulties Southeastern Ohio faces when attempting to tap into State resources.

“As we’ve gone through this project, we’ve tried to tap into our State’s resources,” said McCalla. “My main frustration with that is, they seem to be geared toward Columbus, Cincinnati or Dayton. There’s not a lot of room left for small communities---not a lot of resources.”

While Johnson said, as a federal representative, there is not much he can physically do at the State level, he did say, if there are grants being pursued, his office would be happy to look at it and see if their support could help in anyway.

“But, I encourage you to meet with your State Rep., with your State Senators. Let them know the problems you’re having,” said Johnson. “I hear it all the time from all up and down the Ohio River and people generally feel that Eastern and Southeastern Ohio is in the back of everybody’s mind in Columbus and, often times, in the back of nobody’s mind in Washington. We’re trying to change that.”

Johnson said, with the Shale and Energy business moving into Eastern and Southeastern Ohio, the area has a chance to change that view. 

“Now everybody wants a piece of Eastern and Southeastern Ohio. It’s going to change the way we live. It’s going to change the way we look in a positive way,” said Johnson.

Another attendee asked Johnson about rumors he had heard of an impending mandatory National I.D.

“Something like that would have to come through the intelligence committee in the House of Representatives and it would have to be vetted there. To my knowledge, that has not happened. I’m not going to sit here and tell you it’s not true. I won’t do that, but I’ll look into it,” said Johnson.

During the meeting, McCalla also unveiled a promotional video for the Digital River Project.