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Times-Daily | Aderholt, Brooks say they are ready to represent the Shoals

August 18, 2012

Aderholt, Brooks say they are ready to represent the Shoals
By Robert Palmer | Times-Daily | August 18, 2012

FLORENCE — Republican congressmen Mo Brooks and Robert Aderholt told a gathering of the Shoals Chamber of Commerce that, though Colbert and Lauderdale counties are now in separate congressional districts, representation in Congress will remain seamless.

In fact, they said the Shoals will get double the representation now.

Aderholt, of Haleyville, now has Colbert in his Fourth Congressional District. He said he attended college at the University of North Alabama and knows the Shoals well.

“There were some people who were concerned, apprehensive, when the Legislature put Lauderdale County in one district and Colbert County in another district,” he said. “There was some concern that they would not be represented as one. From my perspective, that is the farthest thing from the truth.

“The two are intertwined so much that you can’t separate them. I look forward to working with Congressman Brooks,” Aderholt said. “Honestly, you have two members of Congress looking after you.”

Brooks agreed.

“It is truly a benefit for us to have two congressmen in the Quad-Cities,” he said.

Brooks, of Huntsville, whose Fifth Congressional District includes Lauderdale County, described Aderholt as one of the “cardinals” in the House of Representatives hierarchy, meaning he is the chairman of a subcommittee of the powerful Appropriations Committee.

“He has tremendous influence on where the money goes,” Brooks said.

Asked after Friday’s meeting why they think U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., is a good choice of running mate for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, they both said Ryan is articulate and can present a sensible, if controversial to some, plan for reducing the national debt.

“He has legislative experience that could be invaluable to Mitt Romney, who has no working experience in Washington, per se,” Aderholt said. “And Paul represents a blue-collar district. Gov. Romney is sometimes criticized for his wealth, so Paul brings that to the table.”

Brooks said Ryan is qualified to be vice president at every level.

“The Democrats think they can attack his plans on Social Security and Medicare, but after Paul Ryan lays out the true facts, the public will understand who is on the right side of the issues,” he said.

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