By DON WALTON /Lincoln Journal Star

SEWARD -- Huge budget deficits and sharp growth in federal spending claimed the spotlight Tuesday at a town hall meeting hosted by Rep. Jeff Fortenberry.

Immigration, energy policy and financial regulatory reform all made appearances.

Nary a question about recently-enacted health care reform, but there was one about a long-delayed county road project.

"I don't fund county roads," Fortenberry told the persistent questioner.

Fortenberry focused on next year's projected $1.3 trillion federal budget deficit in his opening remarks before two dozen questions filled the air at the VFW Hall.

Large-scale deficit spending and a $13 trillion national debt will "push taxes onto our children," the 1st District Republican congressman said.

Furthermore, he said, "they're a real threat to economic recovery" in the wake of a deep recession.

Unrestrained growth in federal spending is "perpetuating economic insecurity," he said.

Fortenberry said he supports a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget and line item veto authority for the president.

On another hot topic raised during the noon hour discussion with about 50 constituents, Fortenberry said needed immigration reform depends upon federal action to secure U.S. borders.

The flood of illegal immigrants into the United States is "undermining the ability of our country to be generous" in welcoming and accommodating immigrants, he said.

Uncontrolled borders are "a serious threat" to the nation's security, Fortenberry said.

Challenged about his vote opposing financial regulatory reforms approved by the House, the congressman said the legislation would place new burdens on Nebraska banks and other smaller institutions that weren't responsible for the financial crisis generated by Wall Street giants.

Fortenberry's Democratic challenger, Ivy Harper, sat in the last row during the session taking notes on a clipboard.

At the end, she stood at the back of the room to pose a question about Fortenberry's support for "unwarranted subsidies (to) predatory student loan companies."

"Only lately you're a deficit hawk," she said.

"I don't want to politicize these meetings," Fortenberry told Harper, who has shown up at other town hall sessions.

Fortenberry opposed Obama administration legislation that ended a dual system of government and private-sector college loans, replacing it with direct government loans.