Price Addresses Economy, World Tension in Speech

The challenges facing the United States range from the Far East to the nation's congressional chambers, a local representative told members of UNC Young Democrats on Wednesday night.

Rep. David Price, D-N.C., spoke about a variety of foreign and domestic issues, including relations with Iraq and North Korea and the nation's economy.

Though tensions with Iraq and North Korea make negotiations in today's world difficult, it is not as dangerous as the Cold War world, Price said.

He added that the impending conflict with Iraq should not overshadow the nation's other priorities.

"(Iraq is) a danger that does not trump all other dangers," Price said.

Price said he was one of 155 representatives who voted against a bill to give President Bush authorization to unilaterally attack Iraq.

"I didn't think I should give (the president) the blank-check authority," he said.

Price said he wants to allow weapons inspectors to continue their jobs before the United States commits to a war.

U.S. intelligence agents are sharing information with inspectors in Iraq, an action Price said could lead to a halt in rogue nuclear weapons production.

Price said there is no question that the United States is preparing for war but said he thinks we should use war as a last option.

Though Iraq poses the more imminent threat, North Korea has become a more pressing issue during the last few months, Price said.

"I suspect if the president could do it over, he wouldn't give the 'axis of evil' speech he gave," he said.

In addition to addressing major issues of U.S. involvement abroad, Price also spoke about the new session of Congress at work in Washington, D.C.

People were sworn in one day and fighting the next, Price said.

He said legislators fought over the issue of unemployment, which is high on the agenda as the nation faces a stubborn economic downturn.

"States are flat on their back economically," Price said.

The economic status has complicated the decision-making process, and delegates had a hard time agreeing on the specifics of how to solve the problem.

"There was very sharp partisan division over this issue," he said.

Congress has passed only two out of the 13 appropriations bills that have been presented in the past week.

Delegates eventually passed a bill that will provide assistance to jobless Americans -- including 26,000 North Carolinians -- by extending unemployment benefits, he said.

Price also addressed issues specific to his congressional district, which includes Orange, Durham and Wake counties.

He said the area's changing nature, with its large number of transplants from other states, often presents him with challenging decisions locally as well as in Washington. "It was challenging to run (for office) and challenging to represent."

The State & National Editor can be reached at stntdesk@unc.edu.