For around 90 minutes, U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards told Franklin-area residents about his freshman term in Washington, D.C., and his ongoing tour of the area during an “unplugged” tour stop on Thursday, Aug. 15, at the Robert C. Carpenter Community Building.
The town hall-style meeting was part of Edwards’ trip to the western part of his district, NC-11.
“I would say that I was just so heartened by meeting small businesspeople that are working to provide goods and services to people here in western North Carolina, to provide jobs, and that are really having some hardships because of the inflation that they’re experiencing today,” Edwards said afterward. “Every single one of them had stories of how inflation was making it difficult for them to survive.”
Edwards spoke on the frustrations of getting the federal 2025 budget passed, calling the process “unbelievably broken.” So far, Edwards said five of the 12 spending bills are across the U.S. House floor but told the crowd the rest won’t pass. This, Edwards says, is due to ultra-conservative and ultra-liberal members of the House who say “no” to everything. Because of the thin Republican majority, three to five “no” votes can derail an entire bill.
Edwards said there’s a belief out there that if the U.S. House says “no” to everything, that’ll make sure certain factions get their way. Edwards believes that line of thinking to be unrealistic and doesn’t believe it’s a good idea to shut the government down, citing potential national security threats.
Edwards had a busy week before arriving in Franklin on Aug. 15. His week-long WNC trip had to be rearranged due to former President Trump’s Asheville rally, which Edwards was invited to speak at. Hours later, Edwards partook in the Bryson City parade for Olympic bronze medalist kayaker Evy Leibfarth. Earlier in the day on Aug. 15, Edwards met with Graham County residents about the shuttered Cable Cove Campground near Fontana Dam, toured an abandoned plant in Robbinsville then visited downtown Dillsboro and downtown Franklin.
“I was shaking hands and talking with real American people,” Edwards said, explaining that as a small business owner, it’s where he felt most comfortable.
The last 30 minutes or so consisted of Edwards taking questions from the audience. Some were specific issues that Edwards said he would follow up on.
One question was about the National Parks and whether the entrance fees are being re-invested into the parks. Edwards said he’s met with the Forest Service, Park Service and park superintendents, telling the crowd he was “convinced” the money is being put back in.
Answering another question, Edwards said after the federal budgets, he intends to “drag federal agencies” into hearings, saying the U.S. House doesn’t do enough of that.
Responding to questions about Secret Service failures in the July 13 assassination attempt against Trump near Butler, Pennsylvania, Edwards vowed to get to the bottom of it. Edwards said the U.S. House committee looking into the attempt was recently created in a unanimous vote. That committee won’t come to answers quickly, Edwards said, explaining it’s important to get it right, and that committee will make recommendations “to the next president.”
On another question about the national debt, Edwards said he’s disappointed fiscal responsibility is no longer on the Republican national platform and said it’s most certainly a national security threat, as future generations could face a financial crisis or world war and not have the ability to fund it.
On the lack of affordable housing, Edwards believes every level of government is responsible, and that local governments are the worst offenders. Edwards called on local “watchdogs” to keep track of how many times local governments say “no” to developers.
Edwards said the 1946 Administrative Powers Act was a mistake and it gave the president and the federal agencies all the power to make their own rules. Edwards wishes they could repeal it, but the “political will isn’t there.” Edwards said the low-level officials in these agencies who write the rules their bosses sign off on without review and are passed up the chain of command are “the real swamp.”
One of the final questions had to do with the CDC, NIH and Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation’s political initiative that would reshape the federal government. Edwards said he’s never read Project 2025 and it’s just a think tank’s ideas, saying Congress is tackling real issues.
“I’ve been criticized for supporting it despite having never read it,” Edwards told the crowd.
Afterward, Edwards said that WNC is not immune to problems seen in the rest of the county.
“For so many years, we felt that we were exonerated from many of the problems that we see,” Edwards said. “I’d like to say that national politics starts right here at home, and I hope that they recognize that me being here and having an opportunity to hear them, and to speak with them, to take their ideas back to D.C. is where politics begins.”