Freshman Congressman Trey Radel, R- Fort Myers took on some controversial topics Tuesday night at Edison State College as part of his listening tour. He talked about gun control as well as the newly released immigration plans out of the U.S. Senate.
Radel had some tough words for fellow lawmakers in Washington as well as President Obama. He told a room full of constituents he was opposed to a handful of bills making their way through Congress.
Radel also shared some skepticism for an immigration reform plan released by a bipartisan group of eight U-S Senators-- including Sen. Marco Rubio, R-FL. The plan currently includes a path to citizenship for some immigrants.
Radel says he supports immigration reform but is weary that plans leave out increased spending on border control while also granting citizenship to some undocumented immigrants.
“I think it is imperative that we bring people out of the shadows so we know who is in the country, he said. "We know the overwhelming majority of people who come here are good men and women who simply want to put food on their kid’s plate. I get that. But we must not be naive and turned a blind eye to people who want to do harm to this country. So there is a national security issue here as well.”
Radel has said in the past he would be interested in bipartisan plans for immigration reform and didn’t rule out a path to citizenship for some. Other conservative House members are expressing similar concerns with the new immigration reform plan.
