Tyler-area Leaders Meet Texas Elected Officials in Washington From Staff Reports, Tyler Morning Telegraph   |   Jun 05, 2008

WASHINGTON — Several Tyler-area leaders met with U.S. representatives from Texas on Wednesday during the Texas Association of Businesses’ bi-annual Legislative Meeting in Washington, D.C.
Mayor Barbara Bass was among 13 TAB members from Tyler who met with U.S. Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn and U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert in informal meetings on Wednesday.

“It’s been quite interesting,” Ms. Bass said. “They gave us kind of a big-picture overview of where things are at.”

Sen. Cornyn said in a press release that he discussed various priorities for the area with the Tyler TAB members, who included Tyler Chamber of Commerce Chairman Aubrey Sharpe, Tyler Chamber President/CEO Tom Mullins, and TAB Board Member Garry Houston.

“This meeting was a good opportunity to receive a first-hand update from Tyler area leaders on the priorities in their community,” Sen. Cornyn said. “I reiterated my commitment to making sure they have a strong voice in Washington and that their needs are addressed.”

Topics on the agenda included ongoing efforts to expand job opportunities in the Tyler area. In May, Sen. Cornyn announced a $100,000 federal grant for Tyler to implement a comprehensive economic development strategy in the wake of tire production discontinuation at the Tyler Goodyear Tire & Rubber plant.

Also at the meeting, Sen. Cornyn said he continues working to reduce record gas prices by advocating legislation to increase American energy production. He expressed serious concerns about a pending massive $6.7 trillion climate tax bill that would raise prices at the pump and eliminate Texas jobs.