300 Turn Out For Congressman's Brandon, Lutz Town Hall Meetings

More than 300 residents came armed with questions for U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross (FL-15) when he hosted town hall meetings in Brandon and Lutz July 2.

Among the topics constituents wanted the Republican congressman from Lakeland to discuss were immigration, gun control and federal spending. 

Ross has consistently stated that he is not in favor of amnesty for illegal immigrants. He said it wouldn't be fair to "just wipe the slate clean" for those who have entered the country illegally when there are so many who have waited decades to come to the United States legally. 

And while he calls the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings "heartbreaking," he doesn't believe the shootings should be used by gun control advocates to push for more restrictive and anti-gun legislation. 

"I took an oath to protect the Constitution, and that includes the Second Amendment, which provides the right to keep and bear arms by all law-abiding citizens," said Ross. "As we move forward through the 113th Congress, you can be sure that I will fight against legislation that infringes upon your Constitutional freedoms."

As for federal spending, Ross introduced the Zero-Based Budget Act, which demands that the federal government start with a zero base every year and then justify all expenditures. He said that will present the federal government from spending $615,000 to digitize Grateful Dead tickets and $216,000 to study the use of "ambiguous statements by politicians.

Ross regularly hosts town hall meetings across Florida’s 15th Congressional District, which includes Lutz, New Tampa, Temple Terrace, Brandon and Valrico.

If someone is interested in receiving notification of future town hall meetings, contact Ross at dennisross.house.gov/contact.

“Listening to my constituents is my No. 1 priority,” said Ross. “I am working hard on their behalf and strive to represent them well.”