Senator Corker Visits Union County

On Monday, June 15, 2009, Senator Bob Corker attended a breakfast and town meeting held at the senior center in Maynardville. The event was hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and had several volunteers from the Maynardville Public Library. The boy scouts started the event by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. After a brief welcome by Mayor Larry Lay, Senator Corker stepped up and made a few introductions into ongoing discussions such as health care. A mixture of community leaders, elected officials, and business owners had the floor as they began a question and answer session with Senator Corker. Many questions were based on the health care issue. Dr. Bob Swisher brought up local issues of how high speed Internet could not be accessible to everyone and good roads. ”In schools,” he said, “it sets up discrimination because half of the class has the advantage of high speed Internet while the other half is at a disadvantage. ” Senator Corker responded to this by stating he was aware of this fact and that he would contact agents in the area who have contracts in the county and see what he could do about resolving these issues for Union County. Hazel Erickson asked how he (Senator Corker) felt about President Obama always apologizing for our great country. Ronnie Erickson asked how our health care system measured up to the European system and if the European system would be better in the United States. Senator Corker replied that he does not feel that the European system is better, but those countries use less of their GNP (Gross National Product) to fund health care.  Senator Corker answered questions with poise and confidence and if he could not answer the best way he said he would get more information on it and contact you later about it. Overall, the meeting and breakfast with Senator Corker went extrememly well.