Ringgold, GA, August 9, 2011 -

Chattanooga Times Free Press: U.S. Rep. Tom Graves boosts Ringgold
By Andy Johns

RINGGOLD, Ga. — U.S. Rep. Tom Graves spent most of Monday railing against federal spending, but he tried to encourage private outlays.

Graves pledged at a town hall-type meeting in Fort Oglethorpe and a Catoosa County Republican Party meeting to continue fighting federal spending, but he also promoted businesses in Ringgold, which still is recovering from the April 27 tornado.

“Ringgold is open for business,” he said Monday.

Much of the discussion Monday was about the recent debate on the federal debt limit. Graves was an outspoken opponent of raising the limit and a supporter of a constitutional amendment to balance the federal budget.

“Compromise is what got us in this mess, and it will not get us out,” he said.

Monday evening Catoosa County Republicans thanked Graves for having the “courage” to vote against the debt deal. Graves said there was significant pressure on him and other opponents to go along with House Speaker John Boehner’s plan, mentioning committee assignments and redistricting.

Graves compared voting against the party leadership to a space shuttle re-entering the atmosphere. He said hours before the debt vote, 36 house members said they would vote “no” but things got too hot for 14 lawmakers who changed their minds.

“All that stuff is being hammered on you,” he said. “There were 22 of us that held together.”

The crowd applauded some of Graves’ statements on eliminating federal agencies, placing time limits on bureaucrats and repealing President Barack Obama’s federal health care overhaul.

But while most of the crowd was supportive, a few at the town hall questioned Graves.

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