A Congressman’s day - U.S. Rep. John Carter

A Congressman’s day - U.S. Rep. John Carter

Friday, 07 December 2007

During the last week of September, three of the Community Impact Newspaper staff, including publisher John Garrett, editor Cathy Kincaid and assistant editor Christi Covington, traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with local congressmen. The goal was to follow their normal schedule and report on efforts to meet local needs on a national level.

Congressional District 31

Bio - U.S. Rep. John Carter

Known as the “Judge,” U.S. Rep. John Carter had 20 years of judicial experience when he was elected to represent the 31st Congressional District of Texas in 2002. He was re-elected in both 2004 and 2006.

A native of Houston, Carter received his undergraduate degree in history from Texas Tech University and completed law school at the University of Texas. He met his wife Erika in Holland, and together they have four children, including a son who coaches baseball at Round Rock High School. He served as municipal judge of Round Rock and district judge of Williamson County.

As district judge he was the first Republican elected to a county-wide position in Williamson County.

Local Office: 1717 N. IH 35, Ste. 303, Round Rock, 426-1600, http://carter.house.gov

House committees and membership

• House Republican Conference Secretary
• Appropriations Committee
• Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee
• Homeland Security Subcommittee
• Foreign Operations Subcommittee
• House Republican Steering Committee

Editor’s Note: Our purpose for this feature evolved as we followed these two energetic congressmen through their day. It became obvious that there was little downtime, whether they are in Washington voting on decisions that effect lives, both locally and nationally, or back home in Central Texas visiting and listening to the needs of their constituents. - Cathy Kincaid, Editor

8 a.m. | Bible study - U.S. Rep. John Carter attends a Bible study in the office of Dennis Hastert, former Speaker of the House in the Capitol building.

This is a standard weekly meeting on Carter’s agenda. Community Impact Publisher John Garrett and I walked with the congressman from Carter’s office in the Cannon Building down the street to the Capitol, which took about five minutes.

9:06 a.m. | On the air - With a cell phone, Carter called the Lynn Woolley Show, a talk radio program in Temple, Texas while standing on the Capitol steps. Carter discussed immigration and its affect on the people of Central Texas.

10 a.m. | Memorial vandalism - Carter’s scheduler takes the congressman to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to view vandalism, which occurred Sept. 7. We walked about a quarter of a mile to reach the memorial located near the reflecting pond on the National Mall.

Carter’s staff was alerted to the desecration after reading a brief story he said was buried in the pages of the Washington Post. A light, oily, unidentified substance was spilled over portions of some of the names, causing concern that it might eat away at the names of the 58,256 who died during that era. As part of the Military Quality of Life subcommittee and as representative for the largest military base in the world at Fort Hood, Carter said he felt the media ignored the situation.

The next day, Carter planned a press conference to denounce the vandalism. He also presented a resolution to the house, which came to the floor Oct. 23, nearly a month later.

11:30 a.m. | Casts a vote - Carter is called to the floor of the House for a vote. Prior to voting, Carter’s team briefs him on the issues up for a vote that day.

A warning buzzer sounds in each congressman’s office indicating 15 minutes until voting time is up. Since we are in another building, we have to begin early to assure that Carter will be there in time to vote. This walk takes us onto an elevator down to the basement, then through a tunnel from the Cannon building to the Capitol. We left Carter because we were not allowed on the floor of the House and went upstairs to the gallery to view the voting procedure. We had to check our cameras, cell phones and recording devices before we could enter the gallery.

3 p.m. | T.V. time - Once a month, Carter records a 30-minute show “Judgment on Congress” for cable channels that want to broadcast it.

According to his press secretary, the only station currently airing the program is City of Round Rock’s Channel 10, which has a federal government hour Tuesday at 8 p.m. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson also has a show, which runs during that hour also.

Carter invited another Central Texas representative Lamar Smith as his guest that day.

During filming, both Republicans discussed the immigration issue from a conservative standpoint. As a member of the judiciary committee, Smith emphasized the importance of enforcing existing laws.

4 p.m. | Unexpected visit - Five restaurant representatives, one from Round Rock and others from Central Texas, come for an unexpected visit to talk to Carter about their concerns regarding the immigration issue. They make it clear that they oppose hiring illegal aliens, but also express a need for more staffing. Carter says he understands their dilemma, but cautions that if the law is not obeyed, consequences must follow.

6 p.m. | Fundraisers - A reception is held announcing a new fundraiser named the Combat Soldiers Recovery Fund. Carter is asked to speak at the occasion, hosted in an office downtown. Before the reception, Carter sits in the foyer with his press secretary Carmen Terry for another call with a talk radio show with Pete Olsen.

7 p.m. | Day’s end - Carter’s last event for the evening is the National Republican Congressional Committee’s salute to former Speaker Dennis Hastert in the Capitol Hill Club. Various Republican congressmen recognize Hastert, who is retiring, for his contributions to the GOP during his 20 years as a congressman.