U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions spoke briefly in Atmore Wednesday night to members of the Escambia County Republican Party gathered at David’s Catfish House.

Sessions spent nearly two hours chatting with party members, but also spoke formally for several minutes addressing GOP candidates, ranging from those involved in national to local races, in the 2012 elections.

Sessions also touched on a number of recent issues, discussing matters such as the president’s healthcare plan, dubbed Obamacare, energy alternatives and pending legislation.

In addition to urging fellow Republicans to support GOP candidates at the polls in November, Sessions was also outspoken on his stance against the handling of many issues by the Obama administration.

“Gov. Romney has said the first thing he’s going to do when he gets elected is commence the repeal of Obamacare,” Sessions told the crowd. “We do not have the money to fund Obamacare. It will drive up the costs on private insurance. It will reduce the quality of healthcare and the people don’t want it. They haven’t wanted it and the polls show 60 percent continue to be opposed to it.”

Sessions also commended Republicans in the House of Representatives for their handling of the budget crisis, and stressed the importance of fiscal responsibility in Washington.

“The house Republicans have passed a budget that changes the debt course of America,” Sessions said. “It puts us on a sound path and does it in a way that very few can say was extreme.”

Sessions said the house budget could be a step in improving the national economy, and again criticized Democrats, accusing the left of being fiscally wasteful.

“We need growth,” he said. “Growth, growth, growth. And we don’t get growth by inflating wasteful, bogus government programs and policies. That is not growth. Giving people taxpayer’s money to do nothing of value is not making American more productive.”
Session also advocated for smaller government, less regulations and fewer taxes, as well as more U.S. based energy sources.

“We need more American energy produced in America,” Sessions said. “ Where we pay taxes to the government, taxes to the state. The landowner gets some money. Isn’t that better than buying from Venezuela?”

Sessions also warned of the economic impact of the U.S. relationship with China.

“We need a fair currency abroad. We don’t need countries like China with major, significant currency manipulations that give them an economic advantage. We need a level playing field.”

Sessions wrapped up his time in Atmore answering questions from those in attendance and encouraging voters of all political affiliations to vote in November.