By Scott A. Hodge

President Obama has now held a job forum in Washington, started a Main Street Tour through cities around the country, all devoted to getting feedback from CEOs, small business owners and financial experts on how to create jobs.

His first stop was Allentown, Pennsylvania, where corporate taxes are the highest in the developed world: 35% federal and 9.99% state. But tax rates never got a mention.

Instead the President heard what he had arranged to hear: that a second stimulus bill loaded with job credits and more spending would bring the economy around, especially if the job credits are for so-called “green” jobs. He also wants to extend unemployment insurance again and add health care for the jobless, give more emergency aid to states and cities, and also provide aid to senior citizens.

By Congressman Patrick McHenry

Having completed my annual town hall meetings, I want to share what I learned from my constituents and thank everyone who participated in one of the eleven meetings. I am proud to say that the citizens of the 10th District showed America how town hall meetings should work.

In 2008, fewer than 300 people attended my 10 town hall meetings. This year, 4,980 people attended. I heard a diversity of opinions and ideas on many issues. Every citizen was given the opportunity to express their concerns. No one was shouted down; all were treated with respect. That’s just how we do things here.

There was consensus on a few of the major issues. The stimulus has been an expensive failure. It was a missed opportunity to create much-needed jobs. The bailouts were an enormous injustice to taxpayers by forcing them to reward the self-inflicted failures of Wall Street. If cap-and-trade passes the Senate, the middle class will pay a huge price in lost jobs and higher energy costs. Faithfully representing the interests of my constituents, I voted against each of these bills.

By far, the hottest topic was healthcare. At each meeting, when I asked how many people believed our healthcare system needs meaningful reform, almost every hand went up. However, the overwhelming majority of my constituents expressed deep concerns about the 1,018-page healthcare bill. I share their concerns about a government takeover of healthcare.

File Photo. Congressman McHenry speaks with citizens about healthcare at a town hall meeting in August in Lincolnton. Photo by Melany Dawn Crouse.