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Monday, February 11, 2008 10:26 AM Butterfield announces run to keep D.C. seat By Janet Conner-Knox | Daily Times Staff Writer People came from Wilson, Rocky Mount, Greenville and numerous other smaller towns all over eastern North Carolina to the Bill Ellis Convention Center Saturday night to hear U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield announce what all of them already knew -- that he wants another term in Washington, D.C. "There is more work to be done for our nation," the Wilson Democrat told the crowd of more than 400 people. "Congress has a challenge to get our budget under control. Since I took office four years ago, this country has increased our debt by $3 trillion. We have an unheard of $9.2 trillion of debt. We spend $260 billion each year in interest on the money we've borrowed. We only spend $90 billion in education. Our country is in fiscal crisis." Butterfield told the assembled guests that he was honored to have represented the 23 counties of the 1st Congressional District for the past four years in the nation's capital. He added that today at noon he will be in Raleigh to put his hat in the ring once again. Butterfield said that he feels the urgency to get back to work in Washington to help get spending under control and help Congress with a new direction for America. The group gave Butterfield a standing ovation during his speech, which touched on a number of subjects. He said more work should be done to prevent global warming and that the country needs to lessen its dependence on foreign oil. The war on terror, he said, needs to be taken more seriously. "We must put up every effort to protect our citizens from terrorism. The war in Iraq is not the war on terror. We must bring this war to an end." Butterfield said he was in Iraq three weeks ago and there is no plan to get our troops out. He said he believes U.S. troops should be removed from Iraq as soon as possible. On local issues, Butterfield said that the topic of poverty will be the centerpiece of his work. He said that when he goes back to Washington, he will create a House select committee on poverty. "My district is the 15th poorest district in the nation. We have got to become more committed to the elimination of poverty" said Butterfield. "We must do something about the poor in our community. We have too many senior citizens and children that live below the poverty level. The federal government must pay particular attention to the needs of the 1st district." Butterfield said that when he talks to the people of eastern North Carolina, jobs are the top priority. "If we could invest in more infrastructure in our small cities and towns, we would be able to attract more industry," he said. Among those present to support Butterfield was Wilson Mayor Bruce Rose. "I am happy to have someone representing us in Washington that actually lives in Wilson," said Rose. "I think he is doing an outstanding job for our city and our state and our country. I support him." Wilson city councilman A.P. Coleman said that he thought it was great to have a representative that was so accessible. "I was at the gas station the other day, and there he was. I was able to bend his ear right there. How many people have that kind of access to their representative," said Coleman. Mildred Council, city council person of Greenville, said they will be having fund-raisers and supporting the Butterfield campaign also. Longtime friend and local attorney Mark Bibbs said that he was there to support Butterfield because he was like family to him. "G.K. is like a father to me. He has always been a friend of my family and I fully expect him to win his seat again." janet@wilsontimes.com | 265-7847 |
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