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U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman, R-1st, met with about 30 tea party activists Monday evening in the rural Beaverdam area of Hanover County to take questions about health care, the budget, flag burning and Republican leadership in Washington.

Wittmans district includes Hanover and King William counties in the Richmond area. He spoke to the Patrick Henry Tea Party, which has dotted the area with signs promoting its membership. Hanover was represented by Rep. Dave Brat, R-7th, prior to a court-ordered redistricting last year.

Wittman, who has represented the 1st District since December 2007, said he had also met with several progressive groups formed to oppose President Donald Trump. On Monday, he touted the American Health Care Act, the bill that passed the U.S. House on a second attempt and is designed to repeal provisions of the 2010 Affordable Care Act.

Wittman voted against the first version of the bill but said the second version contained a lot of good pieces.

We know the Affordable Care Act by any measure is not working, he said. The law continues to fail. Therefore, something must be done.

Wittman said the House bill, which is expected to be revised in the Senate, moves toward a philosophy of allowing individuals, not the federal government, to make decisions.

Wittman said he voted against the big omnibus spending bill in early May. As Congress looks forward to tax code changes, he said he liked Trumps pitch for a reduction in the corporate income tax rate to 15 percent.

Questions ranged from high-speed rail to a discussion on broadband internet.

Bob Keeler, who helped form this tea party group early in the Obama administration, said members in the area loved Brat. But Wittman is following in his steps.

Hes not in the Freedom Caucus yet, but were a work in progress on him, Keeler said.

Wittman later said he asks pointed questions of House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and others in the GOP leadership.

John Boehner and I had some very cross words, he said, referring to the former House speaker whose moderate tendencies enraged conservatives. In fact, I wont even go into some of the things that happened on the House floor.

Im going to listen to what folks are saying back home.

The meeting was held at American Legion Post 90.

Post commander Eugene Truitt, an Air Force veteran from Mechanicsville, asked Wittman when Congress would pass a bill to provide penalties for flag desecration.

Wittman said he believed such a bill, which he supports, would get a hearing this year. I continue to push the leadership to have it come to the House floor, he said.

I do think its worthy of debate about what are the limits of freedom of expression under the First Amendment.

Ill have a conversation with Speaker Ryan and Majority Leader (Kevin) McCarthy, Wittman said. I want a yes or no answer from them about whether they will bring that bill to the floor.

One topic that did not come up during the meeting was one thats consuming Washington Russia.

Wittman said afterward that he wants to allow the House and Senate intelligence committees and the FBI to investigate various aspects of Russias influence on the American election. That should be a nonpartisan issue, he said.

And while he didnt oppose Trumps firing last week of FBI Director James Comey, he added: I understand the criticism about the timing.

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Rep. Rob Wittman answers questions for tea party group in Hanover County - Richmond.com