Mac Collins, 55, Hampton

Republican running for reelection, visited in the towns of Brooks

and Tyrone last Friday.

He currently represents the ten-county 3rd District, which include

Fayette County.

Brooks officials met him at the Town Hall and local citizens quizzed

him on subjects ranging from Social Security to projected taxes.

Declaring he was for finding funding for any new programs from funds

already in place, he said that at this time there are 3.3 persons

now paying into Social Security for each person receiving funds.

In 30 years that figure will be down to two persons paying into

the system and the matter must be addressed now, he said.

The current funding covers Medicaid, Medicare and veterans� health

care.

Collins said he feels the Democrats are offering fear instead of

a solution and perhaps one solution might be individual accounts

within the Social Security system that are in interest-bearing accounts.

�The environment is much better than 25 years ago,� he said. �Our

rivers are cleaner and there is far less pollution running into

our water sources.�

The group visited the county fire station at Brooks and students

at Brooks Elementary School before heading to Tyrone.