Williams at Burnet chamber meet-and-greet
U.S. Rep. Roger Williams (left) and Burnet County Judge James Oakley spoke at the Burnet Chamber of Commerce “Breakfast with the Commerce” event March 30 at Unshakable Grounds Coffee Shop in Burnet. Staff photo by Brigid Cooley
About 40 Burnet residents packed into the Unshakable Grounds Coffee Shop on Tuesday, March 30, to listen to local and state officials address current issues during “Breakfast with the Chamber,” a Burnet Chamber of Commerce meet-and-greet. Attendees were able to mingle and speak with members of the chamber, Burnet Mayor Crista Bromley, Burnet County Judge James Oakley, county Commissioners Jim Luther and Damon Beierle, and U.S. Rep. Roger Williams.
The chamber usually holds its breakfast events quarterly but hasn’t had an in-person event since November 2019 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s kind of like opening day at the ballpark,” Williams said.
During the event, Bromley, Oakley, and Williams updated attendees on relevant issues within their respective levels of government.
Williams spoke to the crowd for about a half-hour, taking questions from attendees after discussing tax rates, election protocols, border issues, and gun control debates taking place on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
He highlighted several bills, including the Eliminate the Digital Divide Act, House Resolution 8650, a bipartisan bill he introduced last year focused on bringing broadband infrastructure into rural areas. He also discussed For the People Act of 2021, House Resolution 1, a bill adjusting election policies and protocols, which passed in the House of Representatives earlier in March. He is against the bill.
“We will never have a conservative elected anywhere if HR 1 passes,” he said.
He also lauded a recent resolution approved by the county commissioners making Burnet County a Second Amendment Sanctuary County.
Before Williams spoke, Oakley and Bromley briefly updated attendees on topics such as the renovation of the historic Burnet jail, upcoming May 1 elections, and the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.