U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas, 21) said he felt very good about the direction the country was headed, despite a lot of "political noise," which he said was frustrating for both sides of the aisle.
Roy spoke to a group of San Marcos business leaders, local officials, and board members during a chamber breakfast Thursday.
"Over the last decade, we've been languishing in and around 1 % economic growth. In the last year and a half, we've seen an uptick of that growth now at 2.7 %," he said. "We're watching the numbers now, unemployment is way down, Texas is the tip of the spear leading in economic growth, not just the country to the world."
He said it was in significant part because of natural gas and fracking and the energy industry as a whole.
"Fundamentally, that's the thing I'm most focused on," Roy said. "What do we do to continue to have policies that will encourage economic growth because we don't have it, then we can't have the jobs we need. We can't get the dollars and revenues we need for infrastructure and so forth. So that's Paramount is that we maintain that economic growth.
Roy said he supported the tax cuts of December 2017 despite some debate and criticism.
"I'm a supporter of those," he said. "I believe that putting more money in the pockets of the American people creates economic growth and we're seeing the result of that. We're seeing fewer regulations, more money in people's pockets, and we're seeing the product of that and economic growth. That's something we've got to maintain."
Internationally, Roy said it's hard to compete if tax rates are burdensome and "out of whack" with the rest the world.
"We do have worldwide economic concerns," he said. "You can follow Europe who seems to be struggling quite a bit. We've got unrest going on with Hong Kong, China and concerns about what's happening there. China's economy is flattening out a little bit, but they still have higher growth and we have a 2.7 %."
But by continuing to operate, grow and build, Roy said the country is experiencing an uptick in economic growth.
"We're doing that in the face of some headwinds around the world," he said. "I think that's because we've got policies in place that are heading in the right direction."
He said his concerns, however, continued to be with the inability to be fiscally responsible as a nation.
"Both parties have demonstrated complete inability to take seriously the amount of debt we're racking up for our kids and grandkids," Roy said. "I ran on, three or four main issues. Securing the border; balancing the budget; fiscal responsibility; restoring healthcare freedom, and fifth, and most importantly ‑— getting Washington out of our way."
Regarding spending, Roy said the county is racking up a staggering $100 million of debt per hour.
"So, while we're here for breakfast, another $100 million of debt is accumulated," he said. "Think about that. That's what our kids and grandkids are inheriting. By 2024 we will be paying more in interest on the debt than on national defense — give or take interest rates — and a few variables. That's a problem."
Roy said politicians in Washington never sit at a table, like typical businessmen and women and discuss what's going to be cut to pay for goods and services.
"They just sit down and say 'whatever,' let just go and borrow more money," he said. "That way we can get everything we want. I don't think any of that's going to take care of our kids or grandkids."
There's also a fallout for operating in that manner Roy said and it goes beyond just debt.
"The can is kicked down the road on all of these issues," Roy said. "We've got to change the structure of Washington; I think we should go to two-year budgeting. I think we need to put some rules in place, set some parameters to force action for Democrats or Republicans to down the table to do their job and get spending under control."
Roy said the good news was there are about 90 freshmen out of a 435 and a House who are very interested in making these changes.
"I do think there's a building and growing class of freshmen, and not the ones that get all the headlines," Roy said. "They're interested in finding a way to get to some solutions that will work."
Roy spoke on transportation, issues he believes needs a much more a concerted effort — as a group of Central Texans — between San Antonio, Austin, San Marcos, New Braunfels and then going west, to develop a solid regional plan on how to deal with 1000 people a day moving to Texas.
Regarding border security, Roy said it's much worse than what people are hearing.
"It's never been worse than it is right now," he said. "More than 900,000 people have come into the southern border that have been apprehended since October first of last year. Of those 900,000 usually, count for one-for-one meaning we've had about that many more who have not been apprehended."
He said most of those apprehended seek to be apprehended. Why? "Because they know if they have a child with them, they are considered a family unit," Roy said."
"They'll go they'll get processed and released," Roy added. "That's what happened. Roughly 600,000 of the 900,000 have been caught and released."
Roy said they are then sent off into anywhere in the United States. The remaining balance tends to be single males without kids who are being detained for expedited removal to be you know, removed from the country.
"They'll go they'll get processed and released," Roy added. "That's what happened. Roughly 600,000 of the 900,000 have been caught and released."
Roy then fielded a couple of questions from the audience before closing.
"Texas has the 10th biggest economy in the world," Roy added. "We should remember that and be proud of it. We should embrace those that want to move here and keep the economic spirit growing."
Following the breakfast, the Congressman continued his San Marcos visit with the Chamber of Commerce at the San Marcos Regional Airport. Roy and members of his DC and district staff received an update from Texas Aviation Partners, the company contracted by the city of San Marcos to manage airport operations. This was the congressman’s first visit to the airport.
The Commemorative Air Force Cen-Tex Wing also provided Roy an all-access tour of their San Marcos facility. Roy and staff viewed That’s All Brother and receive an update on the CAF and local operations.
Congressman Roy was in San Marcos as part of his August recess district tour.
