Ricky Smith of Calhoun wanted to know what could be done about illegal immigration.

Lindsay Mastro of Rome wanted to know if Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Marietta, would vote to repeal the health care bill recently passed by Congress.

Rome physician Ken Mullis wanted to know when leaders would realize that the United States no longer needed to be “the sheriff of the world.”

The three men joined more than 100 others at the Senior Center on Riverside Parkway during a town hall meeting Tuesday hosted by Gingrey.

Smith, who owns a farm, told Gingrey that he sees illegal immigrants every time he visits the Farmer’s Market in Atlanta.

“While it is hugely important to secure the border, the border patrol are doing a pretty good job but it’s far from secure,” Gingrey said.

Smith said he didn’t feel as if his issue was addressed and that the security of the border is not his concern.

“Everybody avoids the question,” Smith said. “I am for putting them on a bus and sending them back.”

Mastro, who owns Grace Manufacturing in Rome, said his employees were struggling to pay for health care. He asked Gingrey if he was in favor of repealing the health care bill.

“Absolutely,” Gingrey said. “It has not and will not bring down the cost of health insurance.”

Mullis’ statements on Afghanistan drew the loudest noise from the crowd.

“We will never achieve victory in Afghanistan,” Mullis said. “Bring a lot of troops home and save some lives. We can use them to protect our borders.”

Gingrey said that America “took the eye off the ball” by listening to some faulty intelligence after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

“But I honestly believe at this point that we need to win,” Gingrey said. “We need to stay there and we need to win.”

The meeting drew 33 members of the Rome-Floyd County Tea Party, said Mike Morton, a member of the party who wanted to talk about jobs and the economy. The Tea Party core values were displayed on a poster at the meeting

“I’m very happy it (the poster) is here because I certainly agree with everyone of those core values,” Gingrey said.

The comments from the two-hour meeting will be included on the website www.americaspeakingout.com.

The site was created by members of Congress who wanted to see what “the American people” wanted the next political platform to be, Gingrey said.

Read more: RN-T.com - Gingrey fields questions on health care immigration questions