In The News

Second District Rep. Brad Wenstrup held a “Coffee with Your Congressman” event in Hillsboro Friday, Dec. 19 at the Highland County Senior Center.

The congressman met with several constituents and answered many questions during his hourlong meeting.

Senior Center Director Mechell Frost welcomed the congressman.

Wenstrup discussed the recently passed budget bill and said while he was not altogether pleased, he was happy with several concessions such as reduced funding for the EPA, IRS, UN and bonuses for certain VA administrators.

"The whole thing (the $1.01 trillion spending bill) is not the way to do business," Wenstrup said Friday. "However, it hasn't been the way to do business for the six years (in Washington, D.C.)."

Wenstrup said he believes the new bill lays the foundation for Republicans’ legislative agenda to begin 2015. He also said a federal government shutdown would not solve anything.

“The fight’s not over,” Wenstrup said. “I’m glad the House has moved to fund the government but know we are gearing up to fight this president’s unconstitutional executive immigration action. With the newly elected Senate, Congress will speak for the American people and against President Obama’s unprecedented power grab.”

On a different topic, Wenstrup said the case of Lt. Clint Lorance, who is facing a 20-year sentence for violating the U.S. military's "rules of engagement," has not come before the House Armed Services Committee, of which the congressman is a member.

Lorance was found guilty of two counts of second-degree murder in 2013 for ordering soldiers in his unit in Afghanistan to open fire on three men on a motorcycle who were approaching his patrol. He was convicted by a court martial at Fort Bragg. He was serving in the 82nd Airborne Division.

"I hope it does come up in committee," Wenstrup, told The Highland County Press. "Military morale is not good right now."

Wenstrup is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves.

For more information about Lt. Lorance, go to http://www.freeclintlorance.com or https://www.change.org/p/us-army-lt-sentenced-to-20-years-charged-with-murder-for-protecting-his-men-from-taliban.

In addition to Highland County, the Second District covers all of Pike, Adams, Brown and Clermont counties, as well as portions of Scioto, Ross and Hamilton counties.

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