Grove City residents had a lot of questions about national policy last week.

U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Upper Arlington) conducted a townhall meeting Aug. 18 in City Council Chambers at Grove City Hall. Stivers represents Ohio's 15th Congressional District, which includes Upper Arlington, Grandview Heights, Grove City, Canal Winchester, Hilliard and portions of Columbus.

Stivers began the meeting with a brief assessment of the current state of the federal government and then took questions from the audience on a variety of topics, including the economy, Planned Parenthood, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the IRS and the ballot issue that would legalize marijuana for personal use in Ohio.

"I am really focused on getting people back to work," Stivers said. "We've got to focus on workforce development and getting them skills. ... That's how we should have people climb the economic ladder."

Stivers said the keys to job creation include workforce development and creating certainty around taxes, regulation and health care.

"We need to get rid of Obamacare," he said. "We need to figure out what our tax policy should be and make it permanent."

Stivers also spoke in favor of a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, calling the national debt and deficit -- in response to a question -- the greatest strategic threat facing the nation.

"It's something we've got to do," he said. "If we do nothing ... we're going to buried under red ink. We're going to be worse than Greece."

Stivers also spoke of the divided nature of the federal government, with Republicans controlling Congress while President Barack Obama is a Democrat.

"We end up having to compromise with the president," Stivers said. "I know some people think compromise is a dirty word, but when the alternative is nothing, I'll take compromise."

Someone asked about the possibility of Congress impeaching Obama.

"Spending time on impeachment would prevent us from getting anything done," Stivers said. "I don't agree with him, but two and a half years ago, the American people re-elected him. Elections have consequences. You can't impeach somebody because you disagree with him."

Stivers also said he is opposed to any immigration reform plan "amnesty" for illegal immigrants.

"We need to secure our border first," he said.

In response to an audience question, Stivers said he supports a bill to defund Planned Parenthood.

"I want to support and do support women's health care," he said. "Abortions aren't women's health care."

The townhall meeting lasted two hours, before a crowd of about 100 people in a nearly full council chambers.

Stivers also spoke in favor of reforming the VA, the IRS, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security as well as an "all of the above" energy policy that includes coal, oil, natural gas, solar, wind and electricity. He also stated he is opposed to the nuclear deal with Iran.