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The Bottom Line: Congressman Comer says America and Kentucky have window of opportunity

Kentucky Congressman James Comer speaks to Kentucky Chamber's 2017 Legislative Preview Conference
Kentucky Congressman James Comer speaks to Kentucky Chamber’s 2017 Legislative Preview Conference

By Jacqueline Pitts, The Bottom Line

New Kentucky Congressman James Comer, speaking to the Kentucky Chamber’s 2017 Legislative Preview Conference Monday morning, expressed excitement for momentum he sees behind business issues at the state and federal level.

Comer thanked the Kentucky Chamber for the business community’s involvement in critical issues and added the Chamber’s “hard work will pay off in 2017.”

Pointing to the 2016 elections, Comer said there is a sense of excitement in Washington with President-elect Trump and the change he is expected to bring to federal politics. Congressman Comer said he is confident in many of the appointments being made by the incoming president, including the new head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who is a native Kentuckian.

Having already been sworn in to Congress and working and voting as a member of the U.S. House as former Congressman Ed Whitfield retired early, Comer said his first few weeks have already been busy.

Comer spoke about his first couple weeks in office, telling a story about Vice President-elect Mike Pence coming to speak to the Republican caucus in the U.S. House and asking them to pass a continuing resolution on the budget to keep things moving until they can begin to bring their vision to the country come January.

The new Trump administration, Comer said, has a schedule in place for what policies they want to get done, which he said has already been communicated to members of Congress.

Repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will be the first order of business for the new Congress, Comer said.

Balancing the budget and entitlement reform will also be at the top of the list as Comer said items like raising the minimum age for drawing social security and others will be on the table.

Comer also said that a major transportation bill can also be expected from the Trump administration and the new Congress.

The new Kentucky Congressman said creating jobs, getting Americans back to work, and creating a better business climate through reduction of regulations will all be top priorities for him during his time in Congress.


For more state government news go to the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s The Bottom Line blog.