GA lawmaker on Russia-Georgia war

The US Congress will fully support the country of Georgia, a US ally, in the now five day war with Russia, says House member Phil Gingrey. The Peach State congressman says that could include congressional approval to send in American peacekeeping troops.

Top US officials have intensified their criticism of Russia as the former soviet state continues their five day military incursion into the country of Georgia. Speaking at a local GOP barbeque in Rome over the weekend, Republican Representative Phil Gingrey says congress will work quickly to authorize any requests from the President to send troops or other aid.

“That’s where you see bi-partisan support,” said Gingrey, “on something like this you will see Republicans and Democrats coming together quickly.”

Gingrey sits on the Armed Services Committee, and says this is another sign Russia is looking to antagonize western interests and allies. Russian jets have been bombing the Georgian region of South Ossetia since Thursday. That northern territory is controlled by Georgian separatists, and is home to a vital oil and natural gas pipeline.

VA Clinic Opens in Rome, GA

A new VA Clinic is opening tomorrowin Rome to service some 75 thousand veterans that live in North West Georgia and local veterans will no longer have to drive to metro Atlanta to receive care at a VA Hospital.

Local Congressman Phil Gingrey spent a year and a half trying to get the Veterans Affairs Administration in Washington to open a clinic in Rome. Gingrey says he couldn’t have done it with out heavy lobbying from Georgia’s Veterans.

"The veterans themselves organized and signed over 2,000 petitions letters and when you put that on a desk in front of a commissioner in Washington and he can no longer see over his desk…that has a tendency to get his attention," said Gingrey.

The clinic will have basic laboratory and radiology services. Opening day appointments are already booked.