By Dustin Barnes
Daily Times Leader

U.S. Representative Travis Childers (D-MS) stopped in West Point to discuss his main goals for the state with Clay County's supervisors. The supervisors were meeting to go over details of the county's budget.
“I share your concerns with those layoffs,” Childers said to members of the board and Robbie Robinson, county chancery clerk. “I still haven't lost my focus on jobs and the economy.”
Childers said many in Congress have been looking at issues such as health care reform, as well as other domestic issues.
“If we get Mississippians back to work, we'll see those other issues work themselves out,” Childers added.
Childers said he will keep remembering the problems the economic crisis has put on the counties he represents in North Mississippi.
“We are in tough times,” he continued as he addressed those in attendance at the board's budget meeting. “Unemployment, I don't have to tell you that your county has suffered, if not the most of any county I represent.”
Robinson said the county was hit hard by the $1.3 million drop in the automobile tax base.
Childers said Prentiss County reported a $1.5 million drop in the automobile assessed values.
“We all have to have a car or a truck, and in these tough times people are making those used ones last longer,” Childers pointed out.
District 1 Supervisor Lynn Horton asked Childers about an update on the proposed Toyota plant to be set up in the state.
“(Toyota representatives) meet with us often in (Washington) D.C.,” Childers answered. “They're telling us that they're going to produce Toyotas in Blue Springs, Miss. But they haven't given us a definite date to start.”
Childers said he still believes the addition of the Toyota plant could still potentially change the region.
“We've got to get this economy turned around,” Childers said. “I don't understand why we're not focusing 100 percent on jobs and the economy,” he added, referring to Congress' recent battles which have mainly focused on the Obama administration's health care reforms.
Childers stressed that a focus on helping the ailing economy would be the best way to work toward addressing other issues.
“The other stuff will fall in place,” Childers added.