Questions about the economy and gas drilling dominated the discussion at a town hall meeting Congressman Michael Burgess (R-Lewisville) hosted at Flower Mound High School on Tuesday.

The auditorium was slightly more than half full, and Burgess took questions and comments from about 20 audience members. The meeting was the first in a series of three the congressman held in his district during the first week of August.

Burgess gave a brief statement before opening the floor to questions. He reminded the audience of the intensity of last year’s town hall meetings concerning health care reform and said he didn’t expect audiences to be tamer since the bill’s passage.

“Let me tell you, the level of anger that is out there is no more subdued today than it was a year ago,” Burgess said. “I’ve already been asked several times tonight ‘What are you going to do about this?’ There is still the possibility that something could happen from the court’s perspective, which is a significant step.”

After the health care bill was signed in March, Texas joined 20 other attorneys general across the country in filing a lawsuit challenging its constitutionality.

Burgess also addressed some of his concerns about the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). In May, Burgess called on Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott to investigate the commission after it presented inaccurate air pollution test results to the Fort Worth City Council.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Burgess called his decision to involve the attorney general a “mistake” and said he should have gone through the proper channels to investigate the agency. Burgess plans to testify when the agency is up for sunset review.

“We have to have a state agency that is believable,” Burgess said. “If their advice is not completely above reproach then no one is going to believe what they say.”

Although Burgess stressed the need for a strong state agency to oversee environmental safety in Texas, Denton resident Vicki Oppenheim called on the congressman to ensure the federal government oversees all state environmental protection agencies.

“Public safety is not being protected,” Oppenheim said. “There needs to be mandated oversight on the federal level.”

Burgess said state officials are more knowledgeable about the terrain and environment of Texas, and should have the most authority.

Mary Infante, a Double Oak resident, asked Burgess about the controversy surrounding the possibility of local gas drilling. In May, Flower Mound resident Ron Hilliard requested several variances to town ordinances that would allow natural gas drilling on his property. Although the variances were denied, Titan Operating LLC, the company that would perform the drilling, appealed the decision.

“Gas drilling will take place about a mile from my house, and I don’t think there are adequate measures in place to protect residents,” Infante said. “I do agree we need a certain amount of drilling and people do want to take advantage of their mineral rights, but there are those of us who don’t want to be affected by contaminated water or toxins in the air.”

Burgess said one of his top priorities was to protect the safety of people in his district and the situation in Flower Mound should be closely examined at the state level.

Gerald Kinman, a retired air force officer from Keller, shifted the discussion from drilling to the overall direction of the economy. Kinman was one of several audience members who expressed support for Burgess voting against the economic stimulus bill and trying to reduce government spending.

He said he was concerned about the level of the federal deficit and received a standing ovation for asking Burgess to support the impeachment of President Barack Obama.

Burgess said the president should prepare for “sudden, dramatic shift in power” after the midterm elections in the fall.


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