Vern Buchanan highlights re-election bid to packed Manatee Tiger Bay Club audience

Hours after U.S. Rep Vern Buchanan announced that he would be running for re-election in District 16, the Republican from Longboat Key explained why he chose to run for the district that primarily represents Manatee County over Sarasota to a packed Tiger Bay Club audience.

Buchanan currently represents District 16, but his home was drawn out of the district's boundaries by new congressional map by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Yet, he chose to run for re-election out of the district that primarily encompasses Manatee County and parts of Hillsborough.

"It looks like the governor's maps are going to prevail," Buchanan said. "It was an easy decision for me. I selected Manatee."

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Buchanan lives in the Sarasota County side of Longboat Key, which is represented by U.S. Rep. Gregg Steube under the new map. But living in the district is not a requirement for members of Congress, affording Buchanan the opportunity to represent Manatee.

"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Manatee County and (former Sheriff) Charlie Wells," he said. "Manatee has been the heart of my district. I even tell people it's kind of my old district. For 10 years, it was kind of like an airplane. The body was Manatee and part Sarasota, the northern half, and part Hillsborough. But Manatee has always been there for me, and I'm going to be there for them."

Ways and Means

Buchanan is the top Republican on the Ways and Means Committee and is in prime position for the chairmanship if he is re-elected and if Republicans win the House majority in November.

The House Ways and Means committee is commonly viewed as the most powerful committee in Washington D.C. because of its broad reach which includes tax policy, trade, welfare, social security, and Medicare.

No Florida republican has ever held the chairmanship role, and during Thursday's Manatee Tiger Bay Club luncheon, Buchanan underscored that benefits for seniors would be his top priority if he indeed earns the position.

"In terms of Manatee County, that will be a big thing to have the Chairman of Ways and Means because we are going to weigh in on a lot of big things," Buchanan said.

"These programs are are critical to our area," he said. "Our old district is the most senior district in the country, so that's why I'm very very committed, out of all these things, taxes obviously a big part of it, but all these things making sure Medicare and social security are viable long-term. That's my main goal as chairman of this committee."

Putin is a thug

Buchanan took Thursday's opportunity to broach a variety of relevant issues, including the ongoing war in Ukraine.

"Putin is a thug," he said. "What is the guy thinking?"

"It's really been a disaster on his part, and now he's even got countries like Finland and Sweden and other countries that have been kind of neutral. Now they want to be a part of NATO," Buchanan said. "It's a big deal, I think he's miscalculated."

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Buchanan said he believes the US could have done more with sanctions at the beginning of the conflict, but said caution is warranted with an international superpower that is armed with nuclear weapons.

"I am concerned ... about the nuclear capability they have," he said. "I don't want it on our shores."

Buchanan added that he would like to take early steps to assist Taiwan, which some fear is under threat from China following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"The other, I'll throw it out there is Taiwan," he said. "It's a big issue, we need to help in Taiwan now because a lot of people feel they are next."

Manatee needs affordable housing

The need for affordable housing in Manatee County has become increasingly dire as inflation continues to take its toll on the local workforce.

"The inflation is really a disaster, especially for the middle class," Buchanan said.

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The audience questioned why Buchanan voted in favor of President Joe Bidens $1.5 trillion spending bill signed last month, siding with a majority Democratic vote. The bill has been criticized by some Republican lawmakers who say it will exacerbate inflation.

"A lot of it is the military and people that serve in uniform," he said. "I tried to look for the good things in there that make sense, and there was enough things in there that made sense for me."

Humans aggravate red tide

The impact human activity has on red tide has been debated for decades, but Buchanan said to him it's clear that disasters such as the Piney Point fertilizer processing plan breach and other manmade contributors make red tide worse.

"I know they say it's been around forever, but there is no question in my mind that we're doing things to aggravate it, and we need to find out what we can do to make a difference," Buchanan said.

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"I had a bill where we secured $8 million for water quality, and another bill for $100 million for algae blooms not just here but Lake Okeechobee and other parts of Florida," he said. "We need to continue to bring the resources, but I tell the scientists I don't want to just throw the money out there, you've got to tell me the top three or four things we can do to minimize that."

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan highlights re-election bid to packed audience