Congressman covers health, economy at wellness center

For the handful of dedicated souls exercising in the Powell Wellness Center Saturday evening, the group of a half dozen, fully-dressed, non-sweaty visitors was of little distraction.

Among them was Republican U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor, who seemed interested in a workout himself.

Cantor was accompanied on his first tour of the fitness center by Culpeper Regional Hospital President and CEO Lee Kirk, CRH Foundation Vice President B.J. Harrington, Powell Wellness Center marketing coordinator Pam Jenkins and Virginia Del. Ed Scott.

The congressman lingered at pool side, chatting with a woman about her aquatic workout routine. He
“Come on in,” she said, smiling and extending her hand. Cantor politely declined, saying he didn’t bring a bathing suit.

Despite a busy schedule and frequent travel, Cantor said he tries to work out at least three times a week, adding that he prefers low-impact, cardiovascular workouts that include cycling and swimming.

“I went to swimming after my knees gave me a little trouble,” he said.

“This has been a dream of the community for the last 15 years,” said Kirk, who led the 45 minute long tour of the 38,000 square fitness center.

Cantor’s Saturday visit to the Powell Wellness Center was followed by a dinner fundraiser at the Country Club of Culpeper.

Democrat Anita Hartke is challenging Cantor for the 7th District seat this year.

Before departing for the dinner, Cantor took a few moments to talk about health care concerns and other election-year matters.

“Culpeper has really demonstrated that it understands the need to be innovative and the result is you’re on the cutting edge here with health, fitness, prevention, disease management — these are all the type of things that will enable us to endure the rising cost of health care.”

In order to get more people insured, Cantor said, the costs need to come down.

“You bring in competition, you stress the doctor-patient relationship and have a consumer-oriented health-care system where people have the information from which to make decisions about their health care,” he said. “When you’re shopping for health care, you don’t have any of those tools, so basically, you go where you’re told to go by your insurer and we’ve got to change all that.

“The more you have people beginning to have access to that along with this type of facility, you put all those factors together, you’re going to bring down costs in the system.”

Beyond health care, Cantor said the economy is the key factor in this year’s election.

“I think at the end of the day, this election is going to be about the economy,” he said. “It’s going to be about gas prices and energy policy. One of the most important things right now is to increase the energy supply here at home.”

Cantor recently stood in support of lifting the ban on offshore drilling with other House Republicans.

“Our economy will choke if we don’t do something to bring down gas prices,” said Cantor, who has proposed using the royalties from drilling to clean up the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Nate Delesline III can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 110 or ndelesline@starexponent.com.