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Politics & Government

As American as Politics and Apple Pie

Congressman Jim Himes chats with Patch on a wide range of subjects.

Over a slice of warm apple pie and a cup of tea, Rep. Jim Himes (D-4) dished about current Congressional challenges and what makes him sad - here’s a hint, it has nothing to do governmental gossip.

Though the official 2012 campaign hasn’t yet begun, Himes told Patch the very nature of his job calls for constant campaigning. He credited the Founding Fathers for a system that has Representatives always running. Because of that he shrugged off recent redistricting tales.

According to the US Census Bureau, Connecticut’s population increased from 3.4 million in 2000 to 3.5 million in 2010. That means the state will need to redraw Congressional and General Assembly Districts. Some lawmakers have entertained the notion of redrawing the lines so that Bridgeport, which Himes won, would be moved to the Fifth District.

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“I spoke with Chris [Donovan] and he said it’s nonsense and I take him for his word. It’s just a rumor, Himes said. "That’s all it is, just a rumor. Politics produces rumors,” said Himes, as he sat in a booth at Greenwich’s Glory Days Diner.

Connecticut’s Fourth and Fifth Congressional Districts are considered true swing districts, and gerrymandering them to become de facto Republican districts is illogical, said Prof. Gary Rose, chair of the Department of Government and Politics at Sacred Heart University.

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However, Rose said, a change in the map could create an opening for someone like state Sen. L. Scott Frantz, a Republican who represents Greenwich and parts of New Canaan and Stamford, in the 36th Senate District.

“Scott Frantz would be a pretty formidable challenger. He’s got name recognition. The question would be could he raise enough money,” Rose said.

Rose said the district is becoming more receptive to Democrats and the old Republican bastions are in transit. Yet, the Fourth District still isn’t a safe seat.

“[Dan] Debicella did OK and he ran aggressive campaign; he held his own during the 6 debates,” Rose said. “But one problem is he was from Shelton, which is on the outer rim of the country. Frantz is more in line with the type of Republican that this district is used to.”

Calls to Frantz weren’t returned.

Still government being what it is, almost everything on Capitol Hill these smacks of politics - from talks about the debt ceiling to Medicare.

Not raising the debt ceiling would have devastating implications for the nation, Himes said.

“Investors would say the USA is off the rails if it’s not raised,” Himes said. “I’m on the fiscally hawkish side of my party and not raising it isn’t a safe game to play.”

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said the US will reach its debt ceiling on May 16. However, Republican House Speaker John Boehner may not hold a vote. That rankles Himes.

The second-term Congressman said Boehner “is taking partisanship to a new low by playing chicken with the full faith and credit of the United States government … Speaker Boehner must stand up to the Tea Party and hold an up or down vote on the debt ceiling.”

Also, not voting to raise the ceiling would be hypocritical. If someone voted for the stimulus bill, which was a spending bill, they should be obligated to vote for an increased debt ceiling.

The conversation turned to health care and Medicare, which represents about 12 percent of federal expenditures. Neither are easy subjects, he said.

First, health care discussions strike emotional chords. It often raises the question about whether health care is a right or a privilege.

“I’m not sure as I read the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence that there is a right to education, but one of the smartest things this country ever did was to make sure everyone has access to basic education. I think it’s along those lines,” Himes said. “Everyone should have access to basic level of health care the way we do for education.”

As for Medicare, Himes said the creation of the Independent Payment Advisory Board, IPAB, would help reduce health care costs.

The Health Care Act established the 15-member board to improve Medicare solvency and reduce spending by using a spending target system. It’s one of the most controversial pieces of the health care act.

“The AMA is opposed to the current scope and authority of IPAB and the lack of flexibility in its mandate. Modification of the IPAB authority and framework is one of the highest legislative priorities for the AMA in the next session of Congress,” according to the American Medical Association.

“It’s uncomfortable to talk about limits,” Himes said, stressing that IPAB wouldn’t determine end of life issues. Although, the 44-year-old Cos Cob resident said, “we need to talk more with the medical community about end of life issues. It’s like writing a will; we don’t want to talk about it be we should do more of it.”

So what makes the Representative wistful? 

“I’m always sad when we get to the end of a conversation, at a Town Hall meeting or with reporters and we haven’t talked about energy and education. These became second-tier issues,” Himes said. “One reason we’re paying $4.50 a gallon is because these have become second- or third-tier issues. I wish we were talking about it a lot more.”

Himes said until the nation formulates an extensive energy plan people will pay more at the pump and the US will be entangled in the Middle East.

“High energy costs really hurt working people who are just trying to get by,” Himes said. “Arguably, the impact is much more intense in Bridgeport because household income isn’t as much as in wealthier communities.”

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