Baron Hill visits Farmers’ Market

Saturday morning during the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market, local residents had an opportunity to meet with Rep. Baron Hill, D-9th, and ask him questions about current political issues and plans he has for the future.\nHill stood for several hours at the south end of the Showers Plaza parking lot as area citizens lined up to ask questions focusing mostly on the war in Iraq and rising gas prices. Mayor Mark Kruzan and mayoral candidate David Sabbagh were also on hand to speak with residents about issues for the upcoming November elections. \nOne topic on Congressman Hill’s mind was President Bush’s decision to veto the National Defense Authorization bill, which was intended to give a 3.5 percent pay raise to military families, one half percent more than the president had requested. \n“I think the president made a big mistake. It is ridiculous to veto this bill,” Hill said. “The soldiers and their families deserve this (pay increase).” \nHill also talked about his views on America’s troop presence in Iraq. He signed on to the Democratic legislation that calls for troop withdrawal to begin Oct. 1, which would have the majority of soldiers back home in six months’ time. The Congressman said he hopes 95 percent of the troops will be withdrawn during that period, but that it would be necessary to continue a minimal presence there to guard contractors and the embassy.\n“Americans deserve to be protected,” Hill said.\nHe also said it is not helpful for America to be in the middle of what he called Iraq’s civil war, and that the best insight he has heard regarding the conflict in Iraq has come from the men and women who are serving overseas.\n“How can you fight an enemy that is willing to strap himself up with explosives and walk into a market with the intentions of killing everyone?” he said. “A soldier told me that when I asked him about the war. He has a valid point.”\nHill did not want to comment on the presidential race and said he is not backing any candidate at this time.