Republican Congressman Jo Bonner visited Atmore Wednesday afternoon and met with local citizens in Atmore City Hall to discuss issues facing the country, and also to answer any questions residents might have.

Bonner did not arrive in town with a big speech prepared, but instead answered questions from the crowd that gathered for the meeting. He did, however, comment on the fact that the group attending this meeting was not as big as the one where people gathered to voice their concern over the health bill.

“I can tell you that people are still frustrated over the problems that we have,” Bonner said. “All you see is the dissension and we have some serious questions. I suggest you go to the Web site, America Speaking Out, to see some of the things that we are addressing today.”

After that, the meeting was turned over to a Q&A session. Shep Marsh, president of First National Bank and Trust commented on the stimulus package and what was going to happen to small businesses.

“Small businesses are what are going to get us over these economic bad times,” Bonner said.

Marsh responded with concerns for the strict regulations financial institutes are dealing with today.

“The message is not getting down to the troops,” he said. “Regulations are killing us.”

The response was one Bonner had apparently heard many times before.

“We hear the same story is being heard in every place we go,” Bonner said. “The truth is that you will never meet the people who are controlling and regulating. At the end of the day, I don’t believe the stimulus is going to get us out of what is going on today.”