Rep. Putnam Faces the Tiger's Den

By BRETT LOWE

Staff Writer

U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam came back to his hometown to run a gauntlet of

questions from the Tiger Bay Club of Polk County at the Peace River

Country Club last week.

Given that he is well known in this area, the Tigers skipped straight

to the questions rather than having Putnam give an introduction.

The first two questions dealt with the state and national

government's involvement in the Polk County Opportunity Council

situation. One asked why no aid had been sent along with the

reprimands, while the other wanted to know more about the FBI

investigation into corruption and mismanagement.

Putnam mostly spoke of the various investigations, saying that a

scathing audit had been recently released, which showed that at best

the PCOC administration had been wholly incompetent, and at worst it

was criminally corrupt. The ultimate punishments and proceedings were a

matter for the courts, he said.

He said he believed that PCOC provides important services, and that

he hoped that the matter would be resolved soon.

'War on Terror'

Regarding the connection between Iraq and the "War on Terror," Putnam

referenced an intercepted letter between al-Zarqawi and some higher-ups

in Egypt advising him that the centrality of Iraq was reason for it to

be a focal point of their struggle.

The letter also gave a several step plan: expelling the Americans;

establishing an Islamic dictatorship in Iraq; using the kaliphate as a

base of operations for moving into nearby secular countries; and

preparing for reprisals from Israel.

Putnam said that this letter showed the importance of Iraq in the

eyes of terrorism. He also emphasized that the war on terrorism was

largely a media battle. Much depends on the ability of each side to

convince individuals that their cause is just.

In this respect, al-Zarqawi has been advised to rein in the

extremists in his own camp to avoid the bad face it showed to Iraqi

locals. Because of this advice, public displays of violence have been

lessened, Putnam said. Instead of taping beheadings of hostages and

captured soldiers, the insurgency now privately executes their

prisoners without fanfare in order to seem less barbaric.

Alaskan Bridge-Building

With respect to the federal budget being used to pay for an Alaskan

bridge, Putnam said that he did not approve of that specific case of

earmarking money, and that those earmarks had actually been removed.

However, the same amount of money wil still be sent to Alaska, so the

bridge would presumably be built with federal taxes anyway.

He also said that there was a place for earmarks in the budget, as it

has helped him obtain federal money to fund important local projects,

like the widening of I-4.

Putnam then was asked who would be the next U.S. Senator from Florida

- Jeb Bush, Katherine Harris, Bill Nelson, or Adam Putnam.

He laughed and said that it would not be him, "The Senate's like a

funeral home."

He had said as much to Harris, but he believed that she would win a

very tight victory over Nelson, who has been a strong candidate.

Torture Ban Opposition

In another question, Putnam was asked jokingly if House Republicans

were declining a ban on torture so they could use it if Tom Delay were

indicted.

Putnam said he was concerned about who got to make the determination

on what was cruel and inhumane treatment, so he preferred to not allow

that kind of language.

He also said that intelligence-gathering was a dirty business, and

that he would prefer that they get important information on potential

attacks by any means necessary.

Regarding a question about what the highest income tax rate should

be, Putnam said that he was not satisfied with the current income tax,

and that he wanted to actively investigate alternate options, such as a

flat tax or a national sales tax.

These, however, present a problem when you try to compress the tax

code, which necessitates the elimination of benefits, he said.

About 20-percent of the population currently does not pay tax, and

therefore there would immediately be a need for a two-tier system which

allows those people to survive, Putnam said.

Every deduction, such as child credits and charity credits, raises

the flat tax rate, which then creates pressure to create another tier

and another tier until the flat tax resembles the current income tax

structure.

Putnam also is interested in a national sales tax; however, it would

be very difficult to implement because it would be necessary to repeal

the income tax amendment to make sure the public was not double-taxed

by the federal government, he said.

Murtha and Withdrawal

When asked about John Murtha's relationship with the Pentagon and his

recent request for withdrawal of troops, Putnam denied that the

declaration was really a "watershed moment," because Murtha was not

actually asking for immediate withdrawal. Murtha was asking for

withdrawal within six months, Putnam said.

While he respects Murtha, Putnam does not think that all the troops

would be sent home. However, there probably would be a reduction in

troops in Iraq after the next elections there, he said.

Putnam also was asked about the recent Polk County tax increases, but

he said that the commissioners have said that they wouldn't tell him

how do his job, so he would offer them the same respect.

Bribes vs. Donations

Putnam also addressed the difference between graft and corruption as

opposed to people just donating to a cause they believed in.

Putnam gave an example of that difference by explaining that because

he had experience in the citrus industry, many of those companies

believed he would be able to address their issues and complaints in

Congress, so they donated money to his campaign.

When Washington apple growers saw the citrus industry supporting him,

they assumed that he also would be able to help them, so they donated

money to him as well.

Contributions are not necessarily bribes, he said. Many times they

are given contributions because they happen to think the same way.

He said that it was also important to remember that the strongest

lobby group, the AARP, doesn't even give campaign contributions because

of the strength of their voting bloc.

Long-term Economics

Putnam agreed with another Tiger that the long-term economic issues

facing the U.S. were very serious.

The U.S. cannot compete on labor costs, he said.

In addition, he said that China was on the verge of reaching a stage

like the robber-baron era of the U.S. in the 1900s, which was a boom in

economic development for the few with money and power, but still laid

the infrastructure for future balanced development.

However, China has even more advantages because of its massive

population and high commitment to education.

Both China and India's rise will create America's biggest

competition, he said.

Putnam also quoted Bill Gates, who said that even the best high

school in the U.S. is producing the wrong kind of product for the

current economy.

Putnam said this was a serious issue that needed further

investigation.

The next Tiger Bay meeting will host Dr. Gail McKenzie,

superintendent of the schools, on Dec. 12.