Harper in McComb; Rounsaville in Laurel

Enterprise Journal - Harper: 3rd District carries legacy of service - For Gregg Harper, running for Mississippi’s Third Congressional District is all about service. “It’s the only (elected) position I’ve wanted to hold,” Harper said. “It’s a position of service to the people. We need secure borders; it’s an issue of national security,” he said. “We need to enforce our existing (immigration) laws. I’m opposed to amnesty. I don’t think taxpayer benefits should go to illegals.”
Harper said he supports improving and upgrading the military. The services’ current equipment, he said, is getting too old. “The airplanes we have are ancient,” he said. “Look at the B-52 (bomber). The plane is older than the pilots that fly it, and in some cases, older than their parents.” He said American troops need to have modern, high-tech weapons, adding that he supports a missile defense system for the country. “The Republican Party has done a lousy job explaining why we’re in Iraq and Afghanistan,” he said, adding that officials need to better explain the country’s role in fighting Islamic terrorists “who want to destroy everything we believe in.”Harper said Congress has to do a better job protecting Social Security, adding, “we have to protect Social Security for our seniors, who have put into the system.” He favors establishing a system that would allow people in their 20s and 30s to invest their Social Security contributions in a private retirement account that they could eventually pass on to their heirs. Harper said he is pro-life and opposes federal funding for abortions and stem cell research.

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Leader Call - Rounsaville hoping to replace Pickering - When it comes to deciding who to vote for from a long list of U. S. Congress Third District candidates, John Rounsaville says he is the obvious choice for Chip Pickering and Haley Barbour supporters. Citing years of experience in upper level positions with both Pickering and Barbour, Rounsaville told the Leader-Call during an editorial board meeting that he has several conservative ideas to help improve the district. That district only includes three boxes — Centerville, Bruce, and Hebron — in Jones County, but stretches across a large portion of the state. A resident of Madison, Rounsaville spoke to the Jones County Republican Women at their monthly meeting as he hit several places in the southern part of the district. “I’m a conservative Republican just like constituents here expect to have,” he said. His platform includes ways to fight illegal immigration, lower taxes, and increase economic development. Touting his past experience with rural economic development and the governor’s office, he said communities must have good infrastructure in place to attract industry. He said water and sewer lines are just as important as highways and transportation infrastructure. He also said the defense industry in Mississippi is strong, mentioning the important of not only Camp Shelby, but industry scattered throughout the state that directly supplies materials for the military. “We have a very significant defense industry here in Mississippi,” Rounsaville said. “It’s important to us from an economic development standpoint as well. They all have a roll to play.” As far as illegal immigration goes, Rounsaville said he is in favor of building a fence along the United States border and providing resources to help guard those borders. “Whatever we can do,” he said. When it comes to taxes, Rounsaville said President Bush’s tax cuts should be made permanent. He said the economic stimulus package passed recently is only a temporary fix, but Bush’s cuts could provide a long term solution. He said he will also push for workforce training and lifelong learning.