U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert leads national security discussion on Feb. 23

From the City of Tyler:

• Can the United States afford significant cuts in national security spending when terrorist threats are still imminent?
• Are cuts in defense spending and raising taxes both needed to put the national fiscal house in order?
• Has the restructuring and coordination of organizations charged with national security succeeded in making our country safer from foreign and home-grown terrorists?

Representative Louis Gohmert, now serving his fourth term as the Representative from District One in the United States House of Representatives, will focus on answers to these and other questions when he leads a national security discussion on Feb. 23. This meeting, one of the Great Decisions series, takes place at noon in the Tyler Public Library. Serving on numerous House committees and subcommittees, Rep. Gohmert was recently named Vice Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security.

Prior to being elected to serve in Congress, Rep. Gohmert was elected to three terms as District Judge in Smith County, Texas. During his tenure on the bench, he gained national and international attention for his innovative rulings. He was later appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry to complete a term as Chief Justice of the 12th Court of Appeals. As an undergraduate, he attended Texas A&M University. Later he earned his law degree from the Baylor School of Law. He also served his country as a Captain in the U.S. Army. Representative Gohmert and his wife reside in Tyler and are the proud parents of three daughters.

Sponsored by AAUW, LWV-Tyler-Smith County and the Tyler Public Library, the Great Decision discussion series is free to the public and are designed to take you beyond the headlines by providing a look at eight of the most significant and far-reaching challenges facing the world, and U.S. policy, today. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lunches if they like and participate in the dialogue following the opening presentation of the leader. Coffee and tea are provided.

Great Decisions discussions take place at the Tyler Library every Wednesday at noon through April 6, except for March 9. Dr. Robert Sterken from UT Tyler will lead the next discussion, "Global Governance," on March 2.

Briefing books, published by the Foreign Policy Association, provide research results and analysis by foreign policy experts. The books are available for purchase and free checkout at the Tyler Public Library.

The Tyler Public Library is located at 201 S. College Avenue in downtown Tyler. More information about Great Decisions is available online at www.tylerlibrary.com [1] or by calling (903) 593-READ [7323] .