Roe expects short-term fix on payroll tax cut - again
JONESBOROUGH — U.S. Rep. Phil Roe said Monday he’s “hacked” at congressional leaders for playing politics with an extension of the payroll tax cut and delaying scheduled reimbursement cuts to Medicare physicians.
Roe, while filling out documents at the Washington County Election Commission to run for a third term in office, expressed frustration with a conference committee charged with finding a legislative solution to both issues.
Short-term extensions of the payroll tax cut and so-called Medicare “Doc Fix” expire at the end of February.
“We have both sides of the aisle, Republicans and Democrats, who for political purposes didn’t get this problem fixed...” said Roe, R-Tenn. “I told you we wouldn’t do anything in January. We had a conference committee assigned. ... They had one organizational meeting in January. The Senate has brought forth no ideas whatsoever. ... We’re going to come right up to the deadline again. You’re probably going to get another short-term fix. That’s not the way for doctors’ offices to run and patients to be able to get in and see folks. ... It is very frustrating to see that process.”
When asked if he really expects the election-year political environment in Congress to change, Roe said: “I would expect people to do their job.”
Roe, a retired physician, said voters should return him to his job leading the 1st Congressional District despite record low job approval ratings for Congress. Roe’s biggest House leadership position is chairing a Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions subcommittee.
“I’ve gotten far enough with my two terms and am in a position where I can make a difference,” Roe said. “I know the players. They trust what I say, and I keep my word.”
When asked how long he wants to be in Congress, Roe responded: “The voters will make that decision. ... When I first started running, I said I would serve 10 to 12 years. ... If I feel like I’m not making a difference, I’ll come home.”
At the end of 2011, Roe had approximately $446,500 cash on hand in his campaign account and leftover debt of about $149,900 from his successful 2008 GOP primary challenge against former U.S. Rep. David Davis.
Roe faced token Democratic opposition in the 2010 general election. Gray Democrat Alan Woodruff expects to face Roe in this year’s general election.
The 1st Congressional District hasn’t elected a Democrat since Reconstruction.
In other political matters, Roe said he’s not taking heat for backing Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney. Tennessee and nine other states will hold a presidential primary or caucus election on March 6, otherwise known as Super Tuesday.
“I think primaries are good,” Roe said. “People need competitors. ... My criteria was that I wanted a governor (Romney is a former Massachusetts governor). ... I also wanted someone from the private business sector (Romney ran a venture capital firm). ... Governor Romney has a much more efficient nationwide organization. ... He has a monetary advantage, too, in fund raising.”
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On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 good and 10 bad, Roe rates 9.5. We need to vote Roe out of office, I don't care if a Republican or Democrat replaces him, vote him out. Roe is a big part of the Congress that has an approval rating of 11%. Voters you can not change Washington by sending Roe back to Washington.
"The first Congressional District hasn't elected a Democrat since Reconstruction"........well maybe it's time!