Politics

Most people think of Washington D.C. divided sharply along political lines. But Republican Congressman, Jim Gerlach thinks there is opportunity for some bipartisanship during the months ahead.

“We might see some bipartisanship coming sooner than later on a new farm bill and we may see some cooperation on a up coming transportation bill.”

Gerlach says, Republicans in Congress and the Democratic Administration might be able to find common ground on tax reform.

With the State in need of transportation funding, local State Rep. Marcy Toepel say, she’ll likely support increasing the State’s wholesale gas tax.

“Our transportation and our transportation infrastructure is in need. The roads and brings need attention.”

Toepel was a guest Thursday on WNPV’S Comment Please By Univest.

Republican Congressman, Jim Gerlach says, the Obama Administration is still bobbing and weaving when it comes to questions about last year’s attack on Benghazi. The 6th  Rep. says, It’s been that way since day one.

“It’s pretty darn clear that both the intelligence people and the military people and Department of State people all knew very quickly when this attack occurred that this was not some ginned up protest that went wrong. It was a direct terrorist attack.”

The Administration is now denying reports that some government witnesses have been pressured not to share information with congressional investigators. Gerlach was a guest on Tuesday’s edition of Comment Please By Univest with Darryl Berger.

Budget talks are going on in Washington. Local Congressman, Mike Fitzpatrick says three very different visions have been laid out.

“The House budget that passed, comes to balance in ten years. The Senate budget, which was passed subsequent to ours, increases taxes by about a trillion dollars. It doesn’t reform any of the spending programs of the Federal Government and never balances. President Obama’s budget raises taxes and increases spending. It adds over eight trillion dollars to the debt and never balances.”

The Republican Rep. voted for the House Budget and says he hopes the final spending plan looks more like that than the other two.