Rep. Mia Love connected with her constituents during a whirlwind tour of two Salt Lake Community College campuses on Tuesday.
Love visited South City Campus in the morning to tape an episode of “Community Roundtable” and fielded questions from students at the Pizza and Politics event in the Taylorsville Redwood Campus Oak Room at noon.
“It was fabulous to have Congresswoman Love here on campus today,” said SLCC President Deneece Huftalin. “She’s a great role model for students to be active in their own political process.”
One student asked Love how she reacted to the recent election of Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski. Love replied that Biskupski is a friend of hers and believes the new mayor is very passionate about the city.
“It’s my job to help her do that [succeed],” Love continued. “It’s my job to support Utah in every single way.”
When asked about free tuition for students, Love argued that every time the government throws money at the problem, it drives up the costs, and part of the reason the country is over $19 trillion in debt.
“It’s [too much] spending,” she said. “It’s why we are hitting those fiscal cliffs all the time.”
Her solution is to get the economy moving, which will allow students to work or pay for their education on their own.
“Why not give some of those funds back to our states?” she continued. “We’ve got to make sure higher education is accessible.”
Love also disclosed her support for presidential candidate Mario Rubio and says she wants a presidential candidate “who is going to inspire others.”
“He [Rubio] is like the adult in the room,” she explained. “He’s got a positive agenda and he is moving forward.”
Near the end of the Q&A session, Love shared a personal story of self-sufficiency.
She said she is the youngest of three kids. Every time she wanted something, her father would make her write an essay about why she wanted or needed it — and how she was going to pay for a quarter of it.
Love said that when you are involved and you are in charge of your own success, you are happy.
The congresswoman agreed to follow-up with students on difficult issues and to not give up when fighting for local and national needs. She encouraged students to engage in the political process and to move forward with their goals — and vote.
“It was so inspiring and an amazing experience,” stated SLCC freshman Amber Caine. “It made me feel like ‘We can do it!’ like Rosie the Riveter from World War II. It made me feel like I have — and that everyone has — a voice.”
