After victory in what some pundits dubbed as one of the hottest elections in the country, Lynn Rivers took time to meet with her constituents in an informal town meeting yesterday.
Campaign finance reform, research and higher education funding were among the topics Rivers discussed with the audience of about 20 people. Rivers said the 105th Congress has not yet been able to accomplish a great deal.
"We're off to a very slow start," Rivers said.
When Rivers was asked about her view on women's issues, she said she focuses on "people's issues" instead.
Rivers said that being a female in Congress does not make her any different from her male counterparts - they all need the same skills to be elected to Congress.
Rivers said President Clinton's budget proposals that include aid to college students has "promise." But she pointed out two questions people have had about the HOPE scholarship, which requires students to maintain a B average and remain drug-free.
John Lopez, a Rackham representative on the Michigan Student Assembly, said he admires Rivers' efforts to reach out to her constituents.
"I think it personalizes things and allows regular people to bring up issues of importance with their congressperson," Lopez said. "I'd like to see that in my district."
"Is a B at Brown the same as a B at MIT?" Rivers asked. "Also, does it mean we're going to drug test students?"
Rivers said one issue that will be on the forefront of many legislators' agendas is campaign finance reform.She said there will be much debate and hopefully compromise.
"Probably, what we'll see is an incremental change," Rivers said.
Another hot topic about which Rivers was questioned is capital gains tax credits, about which she has mixed feelings.
"You must make a distinction between the kind of investments that get favored tax treatment," Rivers said. "I would like us to make a distinction between true investment and just awarding people for moving paper."
Rivers also discussed the possibility of a balanced budget amendment.
"I really don't think the balanced budget amendment is going to pass," Rivers said.
Rivers, who is a member of the House Science and Technology Committee, said the Republican plan for research funding is still unknown, but she has been supportive of such appropriations.
"Research has terrifically far-ranging effects," she said.
Rivers said she predicts "there will be a lot of debate around environmental issues this year."
Rivers said she also is concerned about the country's uncertain future in the area of health care policy.
"I'm at the end of the baby-boomers, and I look at social security and medicare and say, 'I don't know if it's going to be there,'" Rivers said.
JONATHAN SUMMER/Daily
Congresswoman Lynn Rivers (D - Ann Arbor) speaks informally with her U of M constituents in the Michigan Union yesterday.