Northern California News and Events

Big Three Bailout Passes House, Fails in Senate
Earlier this month the Detroit auto manufacturers' bailout bill, as negotiated by the House Democratic Leadership and the White House, came to a vote in the House of Representatives.  I voted against this measure because the "Big Three" are suffering from decades of poor management decisions, uncompetitive labor agreements, and failure to stay at the cutting edge of innovation.  And while this bailout may provide some short-term relief for these companies, it wouldn't fix their fundamental problems.  I was pleased that Senate Republicans were able to defeat this bill.  Unfortunately, a compromise bill that would have required the Big Three to implement the necessary reforms was rejected as well.

President Bush subsequently raised the possibility of using the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funds, designed to rescue our financial sector, the lifeblood of our economy, on a bailout for the Big Three.  I strongly oppose the idea of using money allocated to stabilize America's financial system to bailout Detroit's mismanaged auto companies and I joined with 26 of my colleagues in urging President Bush not to take this action.  While I certainly do not want the 'Big Three' to fail, I believe that utilizing taxpayer funds in this way will serve only to kick the can down the road by avoiding the difficult decisions that must be made for these companies to be financially viable.  I do not believe a bailout will do that.  The federal government should not pick winners and losers in private enterprise, and the Detroit auto manufacturers must find alternative ways to restore themselves as leaders in the industry. Share your thoughts

Massive Spending Bill Won't Solve Economic Woes
American families and small businesses are clearly hurting in the current recession.  But I'm concerned about reports that the Democratic majority believes a $500 billion to $1 trillion spending measure is necessary to boost our economy.  Although I support major investments in infrastructure, such projects have not proven to be an effective stimulus when tried before.  I believe it is important for Congress to focus on bold, pro-growth reforms that bolster investment and job creation in the near and long term.  For starters, Congress should boost household income by reducing the tax burden on individuals and families.  Additionally, we need to dramatically reduce taxes that inhibit job creation so that American companies will remain competitive in a global economy and have an incentive to hire more workers here in the United States.  Combined with the ongoing efforts to strengthen our financial markets, and the necessary self-corrections our economy is gradually making to stabilize, enacting pro-growth legislation will help soften our current economic woes and lay the foundation for a vibrant economic recovery in the future. Share your thoughts

New Ways & Means Committee Website Launched
I firmly believe that we need to raise the level of public debate in this country on the economic and fiscal challenges that threaten to undermine our nation's future competitiveness.  These issues, many of which come before the House Ways & Means Committee on which I serve, are too important to limit the discussion to hearings and Floor debate in Washington, D.C.  I believe we must bring the debate from the hearing rooms on Capitol Hill to kitchen tables across America.  That's why I have developed a new Ways & Means section on my website.  In this section, I discuss the need for fundamental tax reform, restructuring our entitlement programs to save them for future generations, fixing our broken health care system, and pursuing fair trade agreements to level the playing field for U.S. workers, agricultural producers, and small businesses.  As you review the new Ways and Means section on my website, I invite you to share their feedback on these important issues.  I hope that you will find the site to be a valuable resource as we move forward on the incredibly complex but critical issues facing America today. Share your thoughts

Local Wounded Troops Embody Courage, Good Spirits
I recently had the privilege of meeting with two incredible Northern California troops who are receiving treatment at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here in our nation's capital.  Air Force Sgt. Chris Frost of Chico (pictured left) and Army Spc. David Mayer of Redding (pictured left center, next to his father Glenn) received amputee wounds in Iraq earlier this year.  Sgt. Frost and Spc. Mayer were both in good spirits even as they deal with their life-altering injuries.  Sgt. Frost is continuing to serve our nation in the U.S. Air Force, while Spc. Mayer plans to soon make the transition into serving our nation's intelligence community.  I was inspired by their remarkable courage and uplifting spirit.  It is because of the service and sacrifices of people like Sgt. Frost and Spc. Mayer that we live in a nation that is free, prosperous, and secure. Share your thoughts