Vitter hosts Town Hall meeting

Before a standing-room-only crowd at the LSU AgCenter Tuesday afternoon, U.S. Senator David Vitter discussed topics ranging from deep-sea fishing to restructuring the state tax code during a Town Hall meeting.

But the vast majority of the questions submitted by the audience dealt with the Affordable Care Act and President Obama’s perceived disregard for the U.S. Constitution.

Vitter, who has already announced his candidacy for the Louisiana governor’s seat in the upcoming elections, reiterated his opposition to the Affordable Care Act and vowed to continue to fight against it as long as he remains in the U.S. Senate.

He said he feels one of the main goals of the Affordable Care Act is to limit the choices available to Medicaid recipients across the nation.

“I will vote to end Obamacare tomorrow and I will continue to fight against it in Washington, D.C.,” he said.

Asked if he thinks President Obama is abusing his powers and if the senator would consider litigation to curb that action, Vitter said he not only supports such litigation but is “actively involved in the very type of litigation you’re talking about.”

He specifically spoke of Obama’s “recess appointments,” which Vitter claimed were unconstitutional.

“We’re pursuing this and other avenues,”  he said.

“Every president has faced and pushed the boundaries of office, but I think this president is on another planet in crossing the lines he’s crossing,” Vitter added.

Concerning executive orders and Obama’s desire to raise the minimum wage nationwide, Vitter said he doesn’t believe Obama can unilaterally raise the minimum wage for everyone through executive order.

“On the other hand,” he added, “I don’t think he can legally do what he did to raise the minimum wage for government contractors.

“It’s clear to me that he doesn’t have the authority to raise the minimum wage on his own — but I don’t know what he’ll try to do.”

The state’s junior senator said he supports efforts to establish a full-service Veterans Administration clinic for the Lafayette-Lake Charles area.

He also spoke in support of the nation’s military, quoting President Ronald Regan, who said, “It’s nice to be liked, but it’s better to be respected.”

“President Obama has bent over backward trying to be liked around the world ... and we’re not for the most part,” he added.

On other topics, Vitter:

• Supports school choice programs as a method to help children “trapped in failing schools.” However, he acknowledged that some “common sense” regulations should be in place to lessen the threat of overcrowding in the “preferred” schools.

• Supports a federal mandate to require photo identification both at the voting booth and when using food stamps.

• Is in favor of toll roads “for new capacity infrastructure, not for something we have already.”

• Favors increasing the redfish limit for recreational fishermen.

• Would consider restructuring the state’s tax system, but would not repeal the state income tax by replacing it with a higher sales tax.

• Vowed to continue his statewide Town Hall meeting sessions if elected governor.