A large crowd turned out for the annual Legislative Breakfast held Saturday morning at Krystal’s Taste of Kountry. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett) at Krystal’s Taste of Kountry. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett) Eggs and issues were on the menu of the annual Legislative Breakfast held Saturday, Feb. 27, at Krystal’s Taste of Kountry. Sponsors for the event were Jenkins County Farm Bureau and Millen-Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce.

Legislators in attendance were Congressman John Barrow, State Senator J.B. Powell and State Representative Jon Burns. A representative from U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson’s office was also present. Each representative made opening remarks after which a question and answer session was held.

In his remarks, Rep. Barrow re- lated what he considered to be a bit of good news on the horizon for this area - federal loan guarantees for nuclear power plants. He noted that the action allowed construction at Plant Vogtle in Burke County to continue and, hopefully, provide jobs for some Jenkins County residents who are presently unemployed.

“They are going to need 3,000 workers building it over the next eight years and 800 to maintain it,” he commented.

Sen. Powell touched briefly on the state’s budgetary crisis in his remarks and presented two solutions to “bring the economy back” – spending more money locally and creating as many jobs as possible in the private sector.” He also noted that the state’s continued cuts in the field of education were “not the answer” to solving state budgetary problems.

“We won’t have the workforce ready for the future,” he said.

Rep. Burns agreed that there were “tough times across the state.”

“We are trying to get our arms around the budgetary crisis but revenues continue to fall,” he commented.

Rep. Burns praised local leaders for their effort to secure a 1,000-bed prison for Jenkins County that ultimately went to Milledgeville, stating that he did not know what else could have been done. He then offered a glimmer of hope.

“All is not lost. Another opportunity is coming down the line which could be an even better option for Jenkins County, and we are cautiously optimistic,” he said.

During the question and answer session, Commissioner Tommy Lane proposed the idea of the federal government stimulating the economy by giving everyone over the age of 50 a million dollars with the requirements that they retire from their present jobs, buy a vehicle and build a house.

While all three legislators expressed a willingness to listen to innovative ideas, all were skeptical that such an action could solve the country’s economic problems in the long run.

On the topic of illegal immigrants, Cong. Barrow expressed his belief that the way to deal with the problem was to secure the country’s borders and jobs.

“If you do not have a right to be here. You do not have a right to work here. It’s tough medicine, but it will cause them to want to go home and do something else,” he said.