Addressing what he termed the three concerns he hears most frequently expressed by his constituents — the Southern border, inflation and govenment debt problems — was U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-Flat Rock,  who spoke during a meeting of the Asheville-based Council of Independent Business Owners at UNCA’s Sherrill Center on June 7.

Serving as the meeting moderator was H.D. Foster, secretary-treasurer of CIBO, who triggered laughter when he quipped that both CIBO President Buzzy Cannady  and Vice President John Carroll “bailed out on me, so they had to go to the bottom of the list...” About 70 people attended the one-hour early-morning session that was preceded by breakfast.

In a reference to D-Day that was marked on June 6, Foster said, “Today (June 7), we’re going to honor the memory of those who made that sacrifice... How many people here today served in the military?” As many hands went up, Foster said, “Thank you for your service!,” as those in attendance vigorously applauded.

Foster then introduced Edwards, who, he noted, served Western North Carolina in the state Senate, beginning in 2016, building a reputation as a 'workhorse.’”

In 2022, Edwards was elected to U.S. Congress and serves on some key commissions,including the congressional Budget Committee, Foster added. Edwards lives in Flat Rock.

With a smile, Edwards began his address by noting “what an honor it is to be with you here this morning. I applaud that we recognized those folks who sacrified on D-Day, just yesterday.

“I think it’s important that we recognize the sacrifices made on that day. It occurs to me over and over today, that people forget about those sacrifices.”

Turning to his congressional update, Edwards said, “I applaud that there are so many people in CIBO who pay close attention to what’s happening” in the United States.

In his interactions with constituents, “the thing that I hear the most — and the frustraton that I hear the most — are: first, the border; second, inflation; and third, the debt situation....”

Regarding the situation with illegal immigrants flooding over the Southern border, Edwards said, “the House is extremely, extremely frustrated. Somewhere around 8 million (illegals) have come across the border since (President Joe) Biden took office, with about 1.4 million ‘got-aways.’

“In addition to the 366 known terrorists that have been apprehended” after crossing the Southern border illegally, the U.S. also faces problems with sex trafficking, Edwards said, adding that fentanyl is “coming across the border” along with the illegal immigrants.

“Most sheriffs, including in this area, feel that they are now a border county,” the congressman asserted. “The House is trying to do everything it can to fix the border problem...” 

As for Biden’s effort’s to get an immigration bill passed, “the House is not taking it up because it’s a bunch of garbage. It (the bill) still allows 5,000 people a day to cross the border.”

In a verbal jab at Biden, Edwards said, “If he were serious about taking matters into his own hands, he would reverse the 64 executive actions” that he took upon arriving at the White House when his term began.

The congressman described Biden’s efforts as “nothing more than spraying perfume on a pig….”

He then asked, rhetorically, “Is there not a department that can be held responsible? Yes, the Department of Homeland Security with (Alejandro) Mayorkas,” the agency’s secretary.

“We’re at wit’s end to get this (illegal immigration on the Southern border) problem fixed. We’re going to have to change the occupant of the White House... We seem not to be able to get the attention of the White House to fix” the Southern border crisis.

Continuing, Edwards said, “Inflation is a second big problem. I don’t hear as much from you” about that.

However, “I know it’s extremely difficult to operate a business in this environment… You can’t recapture that in prices...

“The White House continues to come out with inflation is 3.6 percent now. What they don’t note is the compound effect of prices being up 40 percent...

“We know what the solution is to fix the inflation” and to accomplish that “we need to reduce the debt the federal government has dumped on us.”

Further, Edwards said, “Another frustration of mine is the horrendous debt that we continue to take on.

As for Foster’s introduction of him to start his presentation, “I appreciate that you poiinted out that I’m one of the few new members of the congressional Budget Committee.”

The congressman then asked, “How many of you are businesspeople?”

In response, most hands of the attendees were raised.

“That’s what I’m talking about,” Edwards said. “None of us would run our business the way our federal government is operating... The process of how that happens is so broken. We have to fix how it works... That’s absolutely on the top of the list...

“For example, we have the Ways and Means Committee, which determines the taxes and fees that we collect, and the Appropriations Committee, which I’m proud to be part of, and which decides how that money is spent. There is no communication between the two. It’s a broken process.

He referred to the Ways and Means Committee and the Appropriations Committee as “A” committees.

“In theory, you’d assume the Budget Committee would be the ones to connect the two. But the budget committee is a ‘B’ committee.

“The situation is so unbelievably bad, with the nation $33 billion in debt,” Edwards asserted, adding that for the first time in American history the defense budget ($836 billion) is no longer the highest expense in the national budget.

To Edwards’ horror, he said interest on the national debt — “about $900 billion” — now is the highest budget item.

“For two years, we had Democrats in control of everything — (Chuck) Schumer in chage of the House, (Nancy) Pelosi in charge of the Senate... and whomever in charge of the presidency.”

He added, “Thank goodness that the House control changed” in 2022.

“Biden’s new budget still increases spending by some $17 billion. So we’re having a difficult time... Biden’s budget is dead on arrival.”

At that point, Edwards said, “So the hard reality is, based on the damage that was done (under Democrat control) in two years, there’s so much damage that needs to be fixed... You can’t be on the offense until you have the numbers.”

To that end, he prompted laughter when he quipped, “This week, as a matter of fact, we doubled our majority in the House — from one to two.”

Edwards also spoke of his efforts to fix problems in Congress, noting, “I’m really proud that we now have a plan to get everything finished by the end of the fiscal year.

“What typically happns, we get down to the end of the year, and then try to put the minority, which in this case is the slim majority of House Republicans, saying, ‘We’ve got to pass this spending bill.’ The negotiating strategy is to drag your feet till the deadline. That’s a horrible strategy.”

Next, he asked, “Who here is in the financial business?”

In response, several hands were raised.

“Bankers like security,” Edwards stated. “Elsewhere, people worry that the United States is going to default on its debt. It creates higher interest rates” and other problems.

“Our strategy this year is to give ourselves time to get these bills passed before the end of the fiscal year. .. Realistically, that could be a struggle, because even people in our party are not in agreement on many issues.

“I’m working to fix a broken Washington by working during our ‘recess’ in August. I’m hoping I can gt the majority in Washingtn to stay with us to get this done… to create an environment where we don’t have our backs up against the wall.”

Edwards then said, “so those are the three things” that he mentioned at the outset of his address that his constuents express the most concerns about. 

“On other topics, I’m concerned about the potential increase in taxes. The Trump tax cuts end next year... The ability to ‘expense’ research and development is crucial to allow capital to be invested into research and development. The Trump tax cuts allow that... We have to have research and development. The elimiation of that investment would” be disastrous for the R&D sector.

“So I’m proud to have introduced a bill to extend the Trump tax cuts for R&D,” he said.

“Another thing is small business... It depends on what happens in November, but right now, given the environment we have now, it’s very unlikely that we’d reinstute that 20 percent small business write-off. 

The Biden budget, which raises spending by $7 trillion, “is purported to be focused on the wealthy,” Edwards said. “I tell you that’s a bold-faced lie.”

On a separate matter, the congressman noted, “You know I got sanctioned for being (allegedly) ‘mean-spirited and disparaging’ to Joe Biden.” 

Taking another shot at Biden, Edwards disparaged the president for saying his hiring of 87,000 IRS agents, as the congress said the presidents claims “it won’t affect anyone making less than $450,000 per year.”

“He is trying to hide the fact that that would affect those in the lower categories, too.”

Firing a jab at former president Barack Obama and Biden, Edwards asserted, “President Obama increased regulations by $852 million when he was in office. Biden has increased regulations by $2 trillion to date in office. 

“This impact reduces businesses’ ability to invest to hire people… and it’s adding to the inflation that is happening now.

“Congress has given us an unbelievable reputation. In 1946, Congress was so lazy that it gave unbelievable authority to the president, which, Edwards said, is “one of the reasons I’ve developed a reputation as a ‘workhorse.’”

He triggered laughter when he added, “Well, the administrative branches have gotten better and better to impose their wills on the American people. Now I feel like I’m playing a giant game of Whac-a-Mole — and that we, quite frankly, won’t ever win.

“I just don’t see a president ever signing a bill saying, ‘Yes, I’ll give some of my authority back to Congress.’

“Another thing I think will make a difference is the Transparency and Rule-Making Act, of which I am a co-sponsor.

“The rules are being made at lower-level positions by people who have been in (Washington) D.C. for years. So that Accountability in Rule-Making Act would create more transparency to fix the problem.

“The other problem is we just don’t have a workforce that doesn’t want to work today,” Edwards said, as some could be heard mumbling in agreement in the audience.

“Admittedly, there are people out there who need our help. But there are people out there who can and should work. So I’m co-conspor of the America Works Act.”

He then asked, “Would you believe there was a repressentative from the White House” who said “it’s too onerous for somebody to receive taxpayer dollars to have to fill out a form each month to pick up free groceries.”

To that, Edwards said, “We’ve got to change that mentality in Washington, D.C., adding that most American workers have to get up and go to work every day.

“Another thing I want to change is commerce. I’ve had my experience (with his own business) in having great difficulty in hiring people, as a small businessperson.

“In most states, those qualifying unemployment benefits, have to look for a job. So you have to seek a job. And you can’t turn work down.

“Folks on unemployment have to fill out three applications per week to qualify. They can do that sitting on their couches. So you (as a business) call them and schedule an interview, they can just not show up — and continue to collect unemployment... In the Unemployment Integrity Act, you’d be required to show up for an interview and take a job.”

Regarding the Appropriations Committee, Edwards said, “Again, I’m really proud to be on it. It’s a real honor to be on a committee that decides where money will be spent...

“Another way I’m trying to fix the way Washington works — I’ve noticed we don’t use the time (well) in those committees… I want to be known as a ‘different appropriator.’ Most of the subcommittees are not talking about dollar signs.” 

For instance, the chairwoman of the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) a”sked for a 25 percent increase in her budget without any offset....

“The head of the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) wanted to add 2,000 new positions for climate change.” In response, Edwards said he asked the official, “Do you have a job description” for new positions he was seeking to add?  ‘No, I don’t have one yet,’” the EPA chief replied.

Next, Edwards said he asked, “How many unfilled positions do you have in the EPA right now?” He said the official “had a blank look on his face. Then, after looking quickly for that information, said he has 700 unfilled position.”

In concluding his CIBO address, Edwards said he responded to the EPA chief by saying, ‘So you’ve got 700 positions you can’t fill right now — so I won’t allow that.”

During a 10-minute question-and-answer session that followed in which an unidentified man asked, “Very few of us in this room have enemies like you have to deal with” and wondered how Edwards interacted with them. Secondly, the man asked the congressman for his views on Speaker of the House Mike Johnson.

In response, Edwards said, “First qustion — it’s easy for me to deal with AOC (U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) and (House minority leader) Hakeem (Jeffries). The enemies I have the most trouble with are those on our side. I’m pulling knives out of my back from my own side every day — because I don’t want to disparage them publicly....

“As for Speaker Johnson, he’s a remarkable, remarkable man. I have a great relationship with him. I disagree with him on a few things. He answereed some question by saying he believes in allowing our members to vote their conscious.