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U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna (right) talks with Professors Krista Ingram (center) and Randy Fuller (left) Monday. (Photo by Andy Daddio)

U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna, R-Barneveld, connected with the �þ���Ƶ community Monday, meeting with faculty, administrators, and students, discussing issues ranging from natural-gas fracking to political gridlock and the federal budget sequester.

After hearing , professor of political science, describe �þ���Ƶ’s , Hanna immediately handed Hayes a business card and said he wants to meet with students when they travel to the nation’s capital for the spring 2014 semester.

“If I can ever speak to one of your classes or forums, I’d like that a lot,” said , who describes himself as a moderate Republican. “The gridlock you see in Washington, it’s a cumulative thing there. I’d love to talk to you about it.”

Citing a desire to learn more about �þ���Ƶ as the reason for his visit, Hanna met with President , took a tour of the , and had an informal reception with a number of representatives from a wide range of university programs.

Madison County, where �þ���Ƶ is located, became part of Hanna’s 22^nd Congressional District in 2012.

Professors and guided Hanna through the Ho Science Center, stopping at the and the .

Hanna spoke with Fuller and Bary about the pros and cons of natural-gas fracking while looking at several fossils and geodes in the geology collection, commenting that the museum was, “a thrill.”

Hanna met with students from the , the , the , and with a participant in the new .

Prior to his election in 2010, Hanna spent 27-years running Hanna Construction in Barneveld. And while it was his first time visiting campus as an elected representative, Hanna said he was not unfamiliar with �þ���Ƶ, as his former construction company was involved in building projects on campus in the past.