BENTONVILLE -- Congressman Steve Womack dropped a quick joke and then delved into the business of Washington politics on Friday.
"I just wanted to use this public forum to publicly disclose that I am not running for president of the United States," Womack said referring to the more than a dozen Republicans who have entered the race so far.
The Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce hosts a Business Matters Breakfast quarterly. Each event focuses on an important issue relevant to the community.
Source: Staff Report
Womack, R-Rogers., addressed about 90 people at the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce's Business Matters Breakfast at Avondale Chapel. He was elected to Congress in 2010 and is in his third, two-year term. He said Friday he will run for re-election.
Highway funding and the "flavors of the day" that Congress stops to deal with were among the topics for the 3rd District U.S. representative.
Dealing with whatever is in the headlines on a given day is why the country is in debt, can't make meaningful reforms or get many things done, he said.
"We've got our work cut out for us," Womack said. "These are big issues. We struggle for time and attention. We get sidetracked by social media and the 24-hour news cycle, but somewhere along the way Congress has to step up to the plate and do its job."
Womack mentioned the federal Highway Trust Fund and its inability to produce long-term revenue.
The House recently passed the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2015 that will extend funding through Dec. 18. A long-term solution is needed, Womack said, adding that the gas tax hasn't raised since the 1990s. It wasn't indexed for inflation when it was.
"I'm not going to stand up here today and tell you that's my answer for what we have facing us today, but I got to tell you we have to pay for this stuff somehow," he said.
Dick Trammel, Arkansas Highway Commission chairman, thanked Womack on behalf of "all the highway departments in this country" for his stand on highway funding.
"If you read the news lately, they passed a bill to keep it going," Trammel said of the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2015. "Steve stood up and said, 'This won't work. We need a long-term plan.'"
Womack also plugged the Remote Transaction Parity Act, which would "grant state authority to enforce state and local sale and use tax laws on remote transactions," the bill states.
Local brick-and-mortar stores can't compete with online merchants who ship items in state, but don't have to charge state taxes.
Local, county and state governments will start to lose enough revenue to where they will have to find other sources, which likely will result in higher taxes if the issue is not addressed, he said.
Attendees inquired about transportation funding and poverty in Northwest Arkansas during a short question-and-answer time.
Delia Haak, executive director of the Illinois River Watershed Partnership, said having Womack speak was a draw for her because he was able to provide a behind-the-scenes look into Washington politics.
NW News on 07/18/2015