NORWICH – Senator Raymond A. Meier (R-Western) stopped in Norwich Wednesday to campaign for the United States Congress. Meier began his visit to Norwich at the Chenango County Chamber of Commerce, where he met with a variety of business leaders.

Dave Hall, president and CEO of the chamber, made it clear that it would not be appropriate for the chamber to endorse any politician or party, before introducing Meier to the crowd.

“This is a great opportunity to meet with a candidate for United States Congress,” Hall said. He took the opportunity to point out the race’s significance not only to New York State, but also on the national level, determining whether Democrats or Republicans will hold the majority in the House of Representatives.

Meier acknowledged that fact, but told the group that is not what the race is really about.

“This is about our seat in the house, and about which candidate best represents the ideas of this district,” Meier said.

He then went on to describe his qualifications.

“I think I bring the skill set you need to be a member of the House of Representatives.” Those skills include Meier’s history, practicing small town law, and his 10 years in the New York State Senate. According to him, running for Congress is his job as a legislator.

Although Meier takes the same stance as his party on some issues, opposing abortion and embryonic stem cell research, he says he is not afraid to take his own stand on important issues.

One of the issues Meier’s feels strongly about is Medicaid reform. He stated that he knows how to look at big problems and fashion solutions. He was assigned to lead a task force set up to investigate the issue. Meier says he is not opposed to Medicaid, but he feels the system does not work.