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Over the weekend I was back in West Texas and had the opportunity to meet with some of our veterans and their families. When I talked with these heroes, I am reminded once again of the sacrifice they have made as well as the sacrifices made everyday by troops stationed around the world. The men and women of our military put it all on the line in the name of freedom.
The more I talk with veterans and with troops on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan, the more I understand the need for the American people to unite in support of their efforts. Our military has embarked on a difficult, yet noble mission: rid the world of a murderous, lying, and unpredictable dictator and, by doing so, allow the people who had lived for so long under the shadow of totalitarianism to experience the light of freedom. Now, two and half years later, it can be tempting to jump off the bandwagon when times are tough, but our troops deserve better. They have accomplished a great deal and have made the United States safer in the process. They deserve for the American people to stand behind them as they courageously spread democracy across the globe.
Reforming Government to Reduce the Deficit
As I’ve mentioned in a previous edition of the Roundup, Congress is in the middle of implementing a plan to reform government in order to save taxpayer dollars. The centerpiece of this plan is the Deficit Reduction Act. The plan eliminates wasteful and redundant federal programs, makes sure federal benefits go where the law intends them to, and takes other steps to reduce the deficit.
I have said before how Washington has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, the federal government is taking in more tax revenue than ever before in our nation’s history. Yet, we still are running a deficit. This fact makes it even clearer to me that Congress needs to be more accountable in regard to how we spend this revenue. To be sure, increased accountability brings with it the need to make tough decisions. However, for too long Congress has avoided making the tough choices and look where it has gotten us. Instead of “passing the buck,” we should set our priorities and start making smarter decisions with how your money is spent.
Congress will most likely vote on the Deficit Reduction Act before Thanksgiving. As the day of the vote approaches, I’m sure you will read articles and hear voices from some in Congress attacking this plan and misrepresenting the effects it will have on Americans. I’ve read a few of them already myself. But I know that folks in the 19th District demand tough choices to be made and for members of Congress to come up with solutions other than raising taxes or having future generations deal with the problem. So instead of rhetoric and exaggerations, supporters of this bill have offered a plan that reforms government, reduces the deficit, and renews our commitment to hardworking American taxpayers.
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