About 30

local residents, mostly senior citizens, came out to a

town hall meeting at City Hall in Peachtree City last

week to hear from U.S. Rep. Mac Collins on a number and

issues and contribute their own ideas and comments to the

fourth-term congressman.

The

Republican from Hampton represents Georgia's Third

District, which includes all of Fayette and Coweta

counties, in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The only

local issue discussed at the meeting was the road and

traffic situation in Peachtree City. Collins said that

the state is currently working on bringing the area back

into attainment levels, but the Environmental Protection

Agency has overstretched its authority through its use of

the Clean Air Act to stop road improvements, and there is

little he can do about it.

Collins led

off the meeting with a multimedia presentation on recent

achievements and challenges facing Congress. First up

were two subjects that are perhaps nearest and dearest to

his heart - the budget and Social Security.

He noted

that balancing the budget has finally been done, but

hesitated from using the word "surplus" as has

been thrown around Washington so much lately. He

preferred instead to use the term "positive cash

flow" in reference to the budget and revenue.

His primary

goal for Social Security is to get it "locked up

safe from bureaucrats," he said. He is also keen on

protecting Medicare revenue from bureaucrats and ensuring

that program's solvency, something that he said Congress

has recently taken steps to accomplish.

Another

item he feels has seen recent success is the

strengthening of the nation's military. Recent moves by

Congress have enhanced the readiness and quality of our

armed forces while improving benefits for military

personnel to make it a more attractive career option,

Collins said.

The

congressman said that he wants to give parents, teachers

and local systems more authority in schools, through such

measures as Ed-Flex, the Teacher Improvement Act and tax

incentives for education.

Probably

Collins' most treasured project, the ongoing drive to

lower the tax burden of Americans, received a major

setback with President Clinton's veto of the recent GOP

tax cut bill. "The President has the word `veto'

mixed up with the word `vote,'" Collins said.

During his

dialogue with citizens, it was brought up by more than

one person that the current tax system is simply too

complex. Collins agreed, saying that he has a family

member who is a CPA handle his tax return. "I

wouldn't dare try to fill it out," he said.

Using

figures from a typical home loan as an example, Collins

showed how moving toward a balanced budget can lead to

lower interest rates for everyone. He also showed what he

feels is excessive spending in the new Clinton budget.

Balancing

the budget has also strengthened Medicare for more than a

decade to come, the congressman said. When discussing

other health care reform options, he said that it would

be "dangerous" to allow an employee to sue an

employer over benefits, because that will lead to

employers simply dropping all benefits.

Collins

pointed out an increasing number of U.S. interventions in

foreign and domestic military operations during the

Clinton administration, saying that doubling operation

while cutting forces led to a $3.3 billion shortfall

before recent Republican-led efforts to shore up defense.

As for

Clinton's overall tendency to govern according to polls,

Collins related the following line: "A man who

governs by keeping his ear to the ground raises his rear

end as a target."