Dear Friend,

From the breakdown of the passport system in the summer of 2007, to the failure of the executive branch to complete border security projects as directed by Congress, to the frequent delays in airline flights, it seems that in many ways, large and small, the federal government is failing, and consequently the American people are losing faith in the federal government.  Yet, when we know someone who works for the government, a neighbor who may be a federal law enforcement agent, Department employee or civilian employee at one of our military bases, we know them to be hard working, capable folks we are proud to call friends.

One thing is for sure, I am honored to represent an area where hard work and doing a job right are a way of life.  In our part of the country people are, by choice, less likely to depend on the government and more likely to rely on family, neighbors, or local organizations, such as churches, when we need help.  But that doesn't change the fact that when we need something from the government, we expect it to deliver.  But all too often despite the billions of our tax dollars it collects, government just isn't getting the job done.

I wish I had a silver bullet that could make government work perfectly, or at least more regularly meet our expectations.  I do not.  But I do know that to get the best results from government we need to attract and keep top quality workers, those willing to work hard and to do a job right.  We also need to be able to get rid of government employees who are not giving full value to their employers -- the American taxpayers.

To end the partisan gridlock in Washington and actually accomplish change someone has to put new ideas on the table and challenge the conventional wisdom.  That is the reason I have been working on three bills to reform various parts of the federal government and the federal civil service.  Please review the bills through the links on this page and let me or other Members of Congress know what you think by following this link (https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml).

Sincerely,

Mac Thornberry