Congressman Mike Conaway - 11th District of Texas

Washington, Oct 8, 2009 -

Thank you for reading The Conaway Chronicle, a review of my activities in Congress. This newsletter is to let you know what’s going on in Washington and what important issues are being debated in Congress.

Runaway Government Spending

It has been relatively slow up here in Washington since the August district work period has ended. The main focus of legislative work has been on Appropriations bills that must pass Congress each year in order for the federal government to continue to pay its own bills.

I voted against most of the appropriations legislation as the spending increase over the 2009 spending levels was over $200 million more than last year. This increase comes on top of new spending in the stimulus package passed earlier this year. Rather than take a look at the effect that the stimulus had on our economy and think about reducing 2010 spending levels, the majority has decided to spend even more in 2010 than they did in 2009.

Every hard-working American knows that you cannot spend more than you make without getting in serious financial trouble. Yet, our federal government continues to tax, spend and bail its way out of the deep empty pocket that it has created from years of wasteful spending. Our federal government has to act as every other American does and go down the road of economic recovery the hard way: by cutting spending and paying off debts.

It is absolutely essential that Congress make the hard decisions to reign in government spending, and we are not. In fact, we are spending at record levels as we speak. These hard decisions will be to eliminate funding for good programs we want and to only fund programs that we must have.

Healthcare Debate Continues

Yesterday, the Congressional Budget Office announced that Senator Baucus’s health care bill, which is currently in the Senate Finance Committee, will cost $829 billion over the next decade. CBO also reduced the deficit projection for this year to $1.6 trillion, with a projection for next year of $1.4 trillion. This means that we will borrow $3 trillion over the next two years and $12 trillion over the next 10 years. In a staggering comparison, from the years 1789 to 2008, which is 219 years, the United States accumulated $5.8 trillion in federal debt.

The strategy between the House and Senate is still unknown at this time, and the rhetoric continues to flame on both sides of the aisle. Since August, thousands in District 11 have expressed their position on this legislation. I heard your voice loud and clear, but am not sure the Democratic leadership did. Now we just must hope that leadership in the House and Senate will come up with a common sense health care plan that our nation can afford. Click here to read about the Republican plan to health care reform.

Angels in Adoption Honors Midland Family

Holli and Eric Kounce of Midland have been foster parents since 1999.  Over the years, they have had over 20 foster children stay in their home anywhere from just a few days to long-term placements of over three years. They have adopted five of their foster children, Jessica, Alieha, Samuel, Caleb, and Jacquelyn. Eric and Holli’s mission in foster care has always been to do their best to give neglected and abused children hope for a normal life through compassion and encouragement. They believe all children have the ability to live their lives as happy, capable individuals who can contribute positively to their community. Holli and Eric prove to children in West Texas that their future can be as big and as bright as they want it to be.