17th District Rep. Matt Cartwright held a town meeting at the Mauch Chunk Opera House in Jim Thorpe on Thursday evening. The event was well-attended. The congressman broke the meeting into two parts.

"I want everyone to know that we are there to assist them so I have a little slide show to explain some of the things that we can help with," Cartwright said.The slide presentation showed ways the congressman and his staff can help his constituents."Sometimes having a congressman involved can help to push your issue to the top of the pile," Cartwright said.Issues related to veterans' benefits, VA claims and health care and even sorting out issues with medals are some of things that Cartwright's staff can assist with. There are people on staff who deal with IRS issues, citizenship and immigration problems and Social Security.While discussing Social Security, Cartwright pointed out that he believes that more and more disability claims are being rejected."The shutdown crew, as I refer to them, are trying to do away with that program (SSDI), I am and will be arguing loudly against them. Social Security disability insurance is just that, insurance, you paid into it, it has to be there if you need it," Cartwright said.The second part of the meeting was dedicated to questions from the audience."I want to know what we are doing about illegals, they are a drain on our economy," asked Glen Stevens, 76, of New Ringgold."I believe that this will come down to a constitutional issue that will ultimately end up in the hands of the Supreme Court," Cartwright said. "President Obama, like many presidents before him knows well you can't just deport 11 to 12 million illegals. It is not cost effective."Linda Christman lives on preserved farmland near Beltzville State Park that has been in her family for over 100 years. The proposed PennEast pipeline is slated to cross her property."I support the congressman and am very pleased to have him represent us. I want to know if he is going to be able to help us get a fair hearing regarding the PennEast pipeline," Christman asked.Cartwright recognizes the tough nature of the issue."Eminent domain is justified because it is for 'public benefit,' but we know that much of the oil and gas is being piped across Pennsylvania and out to the coastline to be shipped elsewhere," Cartwright said. "If the question is 'Is FERC controlled by big oil and gas companies?' The answer is, could be."I sit on the natural resources subcommittee, and it is very much divided. Kind of like the drillers versus the tree huggers."As for the pipeline, I will most definitely try to get a fair hearing," he said.One person also questioned the congressman on the "medical gag order."Cartwright said he is not anti-fracking. However, he also said he does not support the fact that the oil and gas industry are not bound by the same environmental rules as other industries."In fracking, the companies use a 'cocktail' made up of a number of cancer-causing chemicals, such as benzene. Under current laws, these companies are not required to disclose the recipe for their cocktails. These cocktails are used to mix with the ground water and seep into the cracks and crevices forcing out the natural gas."Cartwright said that the "medical gag order" refers to doctors who suspect that a patient was made ill by a fracking operation. They may obtain information on what is in the cocktail for the purpose of treating the patient, but the doctor is not permitted to tell anyone what he learns.Cartwright said the failure of the environmental laws to include oil and gas companies is the "Halliburton Loophole."Cartwright thanked everyone who was present and said that his staff in D.C. is available to anyone in his district when they visit the Capitol.