Rep. John Carter[/caption] U.S. Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, outlined some personal and political views during a Round Rock Chamber Power Lunch presentation Tuesday. Carter said he did not want to be political during his annual update, which fell three weeks before Election Day. Carter represents Texas’ 31st congressional district and serves as the chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Appropriations and selected to serve on the Commerce, Justice, Science Subcommittee and Defense Subcommittee. Carter is serving third term as co-chairman of the House Army Caucus. He has been a member of the House Appropriations Committee since 2004. He is also a former district judge in Williamson County. Some highlights from his speech today included:

• On his support for president: Carter said he wanted to make it clear he “plays for the Republican team” in the upcoming election. He urged attendees to not get wrapped up in media hype. He referred to the “National Enquirer version of the election” and said Mike Pence has been a friend for years.
• On other states: Carter pointed to economic struggles in Ohio, Michigan and Kansas, among others. “Don’t we want a country where everybody’s kid can come out of school and find a job?” he said. “Why are they the way they are and we are the way we are? Think about you and your neighbor and where you live and how you can help your neighbor.”
• On schools: “We have good schools,” Carter said. “Our kids are going to good schools with good teachers. We want that for everyone. Not just Texas.”
• On higher education: Carter said college is not for everyone. Options including trade schools and the armed services mean more than an empty college degree. Carter pointed out a businessman in the audience who said his company is hiring a welder at $75 an hour. “If you get a pottery degree, are you really getting anything from it?” Carter asked.
• On free education: Prompted by a question about what a free college education means to work ethic, Carter said, “We know it’s not free. I’m not convinced everybody needs a degree. Free is always a killer because you don’t respect what you did.”
• On sharing Texas’ good fortune: “We know what we did to make things work around here,” Carter said. “We’re blessed. What keeps me up at night is how we can get the country to an even playing field. Getting us back to where we used to be. Good education and good jobs.”

Finally, he talked about the district of approximately 710,000 people he has represented for six terms. “This is the most prosperous district in the nation,” he said. “There’s nothing for me to complain about in my district. It’s perfect. I’ve been blessed a long time.” Carter faces Democrat Mike Clark and Libertarian Scott Ballard in the Nov. 8 election.