Lee Erwin Reporting
lerwin@clarksvillenow.com
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – U.S. Representative for the 7th District, Marsha Blackburn, spent the day in Clarksville Tuesday meeting with civic groups along with business and community leaders. Blackburn met with local military supporters and spoke at the Kiwanis Club of Clarksville.
At her Clarksville office Blackburn met with members of the Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee and was asked about her vote in favor of a new spending bill cutting cost of living benefits for retirees. Some supporters of veterans and the military were upset with her decision.
At the meeting Blackburn said she expects the issue of cost of living benefits for retirees to be taken care of. “It is something that will get fixed. We’ve got two years to fix it and I can guarantee you that’s one of those things going to be put on the table and addressed sooner than later,” Blackburn said.
Blackburn said not everyone liked the spending plan that passed but a budget was needed. “We needed to restore that fiscal responsibility so that we can conduct oversight and accountability. I think it was the right step and will help us get some of these things done that have just kind of been out there,” said Blackburn.
The riverfront along the Cumberland River was something that Blackburn asked of the group and Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan who sat in on the meeting filled the Congresswoman in on the latest details. The mayor talked about submitting a grant with the Corps of Engineers to stabilize the riverfront area.
The work on the riverfront was also connected to approval of the federal budget with the Corps of Engineers and now it has been approved and Mayor McMillan told Blackburn that the Corps of Engineers has said the project was their number one priority in the region.