Freshman Congressman visits students in HUB Reading Room

U.S. Rep. John Peterson, R-Pa., made it a point yesterday to shake hands and make introductory chatter with almost every person attending his presentation in the HUB Reading Room.

Freshman Representative (Collegian Photo/David S. Spence - click for full size image)

Students who listened to Peterson throughout his brief speech, which was given for Government Awareness Week, had varying reactions about the large number of vacant seats.

"I think it's a shame, because it's a good opportunity to talk to a freshman Congressman," Hilary Justh (senior-geoscience) said.

Peterson spoke to the small audience, emphasizing the importance of local government, even though the American public generally pays the least attention to it. Local government exists closest to the people, he added.

He also said, referring to his position in federal government, that he and other government officials are working to change and improve all kinds of education, especially special education.

Disclosing other goals of the House, Peterson said that the argument between parties about whether the budget needs to be balanced is over, after President Clinton noted that he wanted to take steps to balance the budget.

After talking for a bit about issues that are prevalent in Congress at the moment -- including the fact that he thinks this Congress will work better with the President -- Peterson advised the students about their futures, saying that the U.S. is weak in their savings.

Employed people should make sure they invest in something that is growing -- but not risky, he said.

"Those who save diligently are never in hard times when they're elderly," he said.

More governmentally minded students can visit the HUB Reading Room tomorrow, when Steve Dunkle, director of Sen. Arlen Specter's, R-Pa., Harrisburg office, will speak at 3 p.m.