BAY MINETTE, Ala. — Congressman Jo Bonner held a town-hall meeting in Bay Minette Thursday as part of a tour of Alabama’s District 1.

His additional stops on the four-day tour included Bayou La Batre, Citronelle, Monroeville and Gulf Shores, according to a news release.

On the last morning of the journey, Bonner visited Bay Minette City Hall to discuss the nation’s spending trends with North Baldwin County residents.

“I came to give you an honest assessment, and we’re borrowing too much,” he said during the meeting. “I’m here to listen to you. You pay our salaries. I hope to act with  integrity, character and in a way you feel you have someone in Washington who’s representing you.”

Bonner explained that the United States spent $3.5 trillion last year and that only one-fourth of that was on discretionary items such as agriculture, education, energy and housing.

The congressman divulged that many Americans believe the nation is spending too much, yet don’t want to cut funding to organizations they have stakes in. He cited organizations like NASA that have helped the country, but require large amounts of funding.

“I’m here to find out what message you want me to take back to Washington,” he said. “I believe it has been a failing of Congress and the White House to provide the leadership to show the American people why funding NASA is so important.”

He pointed out that the organization has aided in inventions that could cure cancer and arthritis all the way to benefiting chemical companies.

Bonner said that spending is up and that 47 percent of 2010 funds are foreign holdings. Last year’s $3.5 trillion in spendings meant $202 billion in interest.

“Anytime you borrow almost half of what you’re spending, there’s a cost to it,” he said.

North Baldwin Center for Technology Principal Julia Bryant asked Bonner his opinion on the importance of career-and-technical education.

“There’s a role for everyone to play in being a constructive member of society,” Bonner replied.

He also said that technical schools can combine into one system without the federal government, and that would help to create more jobs.

“I would love to see a responsible conversation about changing our tax system,” he said. “It’s not that the government is taxing you too little, it’s that we’re spending too much.”

Bonner asked the public to offer opinions on budget cuts and on taxation options. He hopes to fairly represent those opinions in Washington, he said.