LAKELAND – Congressmen Dennis Ross and Darren Soto shared their views on a wide range of topics Wednesday during a town hall-style discussion at Southeastern University in Lakeland.
Ross, a Lakeland Republican, and Soto, a Democrat from Kissimmee, fielded questions prepared in advance by students and faculty that covered many hot-button issues of the day, from what to do about the so-called DACA Dreamers to hurricane relief for Puerto Rico.
Though separated by party, the guest speakers appeared to have much in common on a number of issues. Both Ross and Soto, whose district includes much of eastern Polk County, said they supported President Donald Trump’s efforts to strengthen border security, but each expressed opposition to the administration’s talk of rescinding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
It’s an issue that has been at the heart of a bitter partisan divide on Capitol Hill that led to the brief government shutdown that ended Monday.
Ross said he supports giving legal status to the hundreds of thousands of young, undocumented Mexican immigrants, in part because, “We are a compassionate country…But we have to have a secure border … We need to make sure the American dream is alive for everyone.”
Ross and Soto each said they’re hopeful that a compromise bill will take shape in coming weeks or months that will forge a path for Dreamers to stay in the United States without fear of being deported.
“I do believe a majority of House members” will support a compromise bill, Soto said.
Asked their views on the Republican tax bill signed into law in December, Soto said it’s too early to know the full impact, though he opposed the legislation. “The real story is still being written,” he said.
Ross said he’s hopeful that the legislation will stimulate the sluggish economy through incentives that stem a years-long exodus of large, growth-oriented businesses. “We’ve driven away industry and jobs,” he said.
Wednesday’s event inside SEU’s College of Natural & Health Sciences’ auditorium attracted a standing-room-only crowd. As many as 100 students were turned away for lack of room, said college spokeswoman Dana Davis.
The hour-long event wasn’t all politics. Event moderator Paul Linzey, who chairs SEU’s Department of Humanities, asked Soto and Ross to reveal a bit of their personal lives.
Soto received the morning’s biggest laugh after telling the crowd that his wife is the better athlete. “She runs Ironman (triathlons) and I hold her stuff.” The couple, who reside in Celebration, also enjoy kayaking and the beach.
Ross said he and his wife of 34 years love camping in national parks. He said he’s restoring a 1960s Airstream travel trailer that was owned by his grandfather. “I love to spend time on my tractor,” he added.
Asked to weigh in on net neutrality, Soto said he worries about the potential impact of the Federal Communications Commission’s recent vote to repeal its rules governing the free-flow of information on the web, adding that it’s a priority issue with constituents. “It’s the future of the public square,” he said.
Ross said he’s for “an open and free internet” that’s subject to congressional oversight rather than a regulatory agency.
On the issue of Puerto Rico, Soto, who is of Puerto Rican heritage, said the island, a U.S. territory, would be better off as a state. Ross said he would support a funding package to modernize Puerto Rico’s infrastructure, especially its electrical grid.
“It’s appalling and unconscionable” that roughly 40 percent of Puerto Rico’s residents are still without electricity in the aftermath of recent hurricanes, Ross said.
Lauren Lewis, 20, a junior at Southeastern majoring in social work, said she was surprised by the camaraderie expressed by two members of opposite parties.
“It made me see how unified they both were” on a many issues, she said. “They seemed to have a healthy respect for what’s best for America.”
Freshman Christiana Lafferty, 18, was equally impressed with the collegial demeanor of Ross and Soto, something she said more of the nation’s leaders should emulate.
“They disagreed on some minor points,” she said, “but they agreed for the most part. They’re both trying to do their best for us citizens.”
Eric Pera can be reached at eric.pera@theledger.com or 863-802-7528.