Labrador speaks his mind at Lewiston stop

Speaking with the ease and candor for which he's become known, Idaho Congressman Raul Labrador fielded questions from dozens of constituents during a town hall meeting Wednesday at Lewis-Clark State College.

The second-term Republican spent just a few minutes on his introductory remarks before opening it up to questions.

The first dealt with his position on the megaload shipments that have prompted public protests, lawsuits and blockades that have resulted in several arrests.

"I have no problem with the

megaloads," Labrador said. "I think energy is important to us and we need a free flow (of resources). I get frustrated with the environmental movement; they continue to create roadblocks for us to have a more prosperous nation."

Controlling government spending and reducing the national debt was a primary reason why he ran for Congress in 2010, he said. Cutting spending is one way to get a handle on the debt, but greater economic activity is another.

"If we make more money, we pay more in taxes," Labrador said. "The more environmentalists get in the way of us using our natural resources, the more difficult it is to make money."

About 80 people attended the town hall meeting. Tax reform and immigration policy were some of the main concerns. Several wondered if Labrador would support the "Fair Tax" proposal, but he said he likes a flat tax better.

"The 'Fair Tax' is getting rid of the income tax and just doing a big sales tax," he said. "It's a tax on consumption, not on production. I think it's a good idea, but my fear is Washington will just do both - add a sales tax and keep the income tax.

"I'm a bigger proponent of a flat tax, where everyone pays the same percentage. Right now, we have too many tax rates. We also have too many tax loopholes. I think that's what makes our tax system completely unfair. Let's reduce the tax code to something more reasonable and make sure everyone pays the same. I think that's the only way we can have competitive growth, especially so smaller companies can start growing."

On the immigration front, one speaker took Labrador to task for changing his position that any reform proposal should require illegal workers to return to their home countries before they reapply for entry to the U.S.

"You're right. I've changed my mind," he said. "I advocated that for two years and couldn't get anyone to agree with me."

The key features of any immigration reform plan, he said, include an e-verify system employers can use to ensure the people they're hiring are here legally, as well as a guest worker program that makes it easy for people to enter the country - so long as they aren't taking jobs from qualified U.S. workers - and then return home.

"If we make it too difficult for people to come here to pick fruit, they'll go to other countries and we'll end up importing fruit from them," Labrador said.

Allowing local law enforcement to participate in joint operations with the U.S. Border Patrol will also help control illegal immigration, he said.

"I don't think immigration reform is just dealing with the 11 million (undocumented workers) who are here already," Labrador said. "It's having a modern immigration system. We need to make sure we have proper enforcement. Granting amnesty to 11 million people and throwing a bunch of money at the border - that's not a solution."

Labrador will hold another town hall meeting from 7 to 8:30 tonight in the Grangeville Senior Center. He's touring the state during Congress' August recess.

U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo was also in Lewiston Wednesday. He met with members of the Clearwater Basin Collaborative in the morning and was scheduled to tour the Idaho Territorial Capitol replica in the afternoon.

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Spence may be contacted at bspence@lmtribune.com or (208) 791-9168.