ELNORA — Constituents, young and old, came to the Elnora American Legion Friday to speak with their congressman.

And for some, Congressman Brad Ellsworth had some explaining to do.

Ellsworth, D-Evansville, fielded questions about the recent economic turmoil, the recently passed $787 billion stimulus package and other issues.

But the economy was at the forefront of Friday’s Town Hall-style meeting.

“A lot of people are concerned about unemployment, what’s going on in the county,” Ellsworth said. “Daviess County is at 4.8 percent unemployment. That’s four points below the state average and as the state goes, that’s not too bad.

“That doesn’t mean our country and our state isn’t hurting.”

Ellsworth was one of 11 House Democrats to vote against the first version of the stimulus, then estimated at $819 billion. He later voted for the compromised version, $787 million.

The former Vanderburgh County Sheriff explained that he did not like the first version because of excess spending, but some form of rescue was needed.

“There’s still stuff in the bill that I say doesn’t belong in there,” Ellsworth said. “(When) the voting light comes on, you don’t get ‘Yes, but’ or ‘No, but’. There was more good in it that try to save our economy than bad.”

Ellsworth said the stimulus is not a political victory, but rather a “life preserver.”

“This isn’t Republican problems or Democrat problems, this is American problems,” Ellsworth said. “This is affecting all of us.”

Ellsworth said after the meeting that he never heard a bad word from the House Democratic leadership after his first “No” vote.

“I never felt any pressure for that,” Ellsworth said. “I had to come home and explain my vote and I didn’t feel good about that first package. The second one is not perfect but it is a lot better.”

Jerry Beck, member of the Elnora Town Board, asked what funding will make its way to small towns and cities like Elnora. Ellsworth said the stimulus is broken up into three parts, government spending, tax cuts and help for states. Money from the federal government will pass through the state first and be distributed.

Ellsworth has been in contact with Gov. Mitch Daniels and said that office has sent letters to town officials on filing for stimulus dollars.