A $4.1 billion appropriation for Indian Health Service, which provides medical services for Native American tribes and Alaska Natives, and $65 million for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund are just two examples freshman Congressman William Timmons cited for voting against last week’s federal spending bill, which was ultimately signed by President Donald Trump.

“That’s a ton of money,” the Republican lawmaker said Thursday. “Where does that go, how is it spent?”

Timmons, who represents Spartanburg and Greenville counties, was in town Wednesday and Thursday visiting with students and teachers at area schools. He also attended a Herald-Journal editorial board meeting.

The former state senator from Greenville succeeded longtime U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy of Spartanburg, who last year decided not to seek re-election.

He reflected on his first six weeks in Washington and talked about several issues, including education, the wall along the southern U.S. border, trade tariffs, abortion, constituent services and Amazon’s reversal of its decision to locate headquarters in New York.

Timmons said members of Congress had less than 24 hours to read and digest a nearly 1,800-page spending bill ahead of the voting deadline. He said he went through the bill with staff members and was among 128 members in the House who voted no, saying he saw too many high-priced programs and appropriations that he questioned. The bill also did not contain the full $5.7 billion that Trump wants for the border wall.

Timmons said it’s not that he opposed funding for Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery or Indian Health Service. He said he refused to vote in favor of something he didn’t understand.

“I’d love to have a discussion,” he said.

Timmons is one of the minority House members on the Education and Workforce Committee and the Budget Committees. He said he’d like to be appointed to the Financial Services Committee.

Timmons said he plans to study education issues more and call upon experts before forming any positions. But he said he believes throwing more money at the issue is probably not the answer.

He said public schools may need to model their programs after schools like Meeting Street Academy in Spartanburg, which was founded as a private school in 2012 before entering a public-private partnership with Spartanburg School District 7 in 2016.

He said the federal government should play a limited role, with most of the decision-making left to local educators.

“We can’t keep doing what we’re doing with the same results and spend more money,” he said.

On trade with China and Europe, Timmons said automakers such as BMW and Volvo and their suppliers in South Carolina stand to be hurt by the escalating tariffs, which could result in economic harm to South Carolina.

“The president wants an even playing field,” he said, noting that BMW and state leaders are worried. “He needs to know South Carolina is feeling some pain.”

On Amazon reversing its decision to leave New York and establish another headquarters elsewhere, Timmons said it was foolish for New York to turn away the thousands of jobs promised in exchange for tax breaks.

He said BMW and Michelin in the Upstate are prime examples of how tax breaks result in thousands of jobs and a vibrant economy.

Timmons said his offices will be easily accessible to constituents. He vowed to get fast responses to questions. He said he is still learning his way around Washington.

“I’m making the most of it, having fun,” he said.