Right Now

Too Much Spending, Borrowing During Administration's First 100 Days
Recently, the House passed the final version of the fiscal year 2010 budget -- on a strictly party-line vote -- which calls for unprecedented spending and a massive new national energy tax that will cost up to $3,128 per American household.  The federal budget resolution is a blueprint that sets forth the spending and tax levels that are expected over the course of the next five years.  The passage of this budget coincides with the Administration's 100th day and regrettably continues our nation down the unsustainable fiscal path Democrats in Congress and President Obama have followed during that period.  Simply put, I believe this Congress has spent too much, borrowed too much, and taxed too much.  The vast majority of this spending is being borrowed on the backs of our children and grandchildren.  It is fundamentally unfair that we continue to kick the can down the road on making the tough decisions that Americans across Northern California and the entire United States are making.  I strongly believe Congress should become fiscally responsible and live up to our obligation to the American public and future generations.  Share your thoughts

Cap and Trade Bill Would Impose National Energy Tax on Americans
In a recently released proposal, Representatives Henry Waxman and Edward Markey unveiled their comprehensive energy legislation that would establish a national energy tax to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  This proposal goes hand-in-hand with President Obama's proposed budget that contained at least $646 billion in anticipated cap and trade taxes over eight years.  Other studies indicate that this cap and trade proposal could cost taxpayers over $2 trillion over the same period, making it the third largest source of tax revenue for the federal government.  While I believe that we should take every practical measure to reduce GHG emissions, it is equally important that such action does not place undue harm on our economy, particularly during times such as these.  Regardless of any free market incentives a cap and trade scheme may appear to offer, in practice it would cause businesses that emit GHGs to pass the additional compliance costs on to consumers, thus proving to be a substantial tax on the American people.  Share your thoughts

Recent Past

Reaching Across the Aisle for Health Care Reform
As the debate over health care reform begins to heat up, I wanted to let you know that I met with Nancy-Ann DeParle, who was recently appointed by President Obama to serve as director of the new White House Office of Health Reform.  During our meeting, we discussed the prospects for bipartisan action on reforming America's health care system and the importance of ensuring that people who like the health coverage they have can keep it.  I expressed my concern that this principle would be violated if Congress creates a new government-run health plan.  Because government programs like Medi-Cal pay below the cost of services, doctors and hospitals are forced to charge higher prices to the 18 million Californians who get health coverage from their employers.  A significant expansion of government health programs would worsen this cost-shifting problem, making it unaffordable for many of those employers to continue offering coverage.  I'm encouraged that President Obama has expressed openness to alternative ways of expanding health coverage.  I also shared with Ms. DeParle my hope that Democrats and Republicans can work together on some of the goals we all agree on, such as making our health care system focus more on prevention and coordination of care, and improving access to affordable coverage for people with pre-existing health conditions.  Share your thoughts

President Should Unveil Successes of CIA Interrogation Program
I strongly oppose President Obama's recent decision to declassify Top Secret documents that contained highly sensitive information about the interrogation methods used by the CIA, discussed in thorough detail their legal justifications, and detailed the necessary conditions placed on their use to ensure that they were utilized in a lawful and proper manner.  I believe it is inexcusable to unveil the highly secret details about the interrogation techniques used by the CIA without also disclosing how these methods brought forth extremely valuable intelligence that undermined al Qaeda's terrorist agenda and saved American lives.  The President's selective revelations about this successful program tell an incomplete story and only serve to undermine morale in our intelligence community.  This action is tantamount to showing our enemies the playbook of America's methods for fighting the Global War on Terror.  Now that he has disclosed the program's details, he should unveil its successes and allow the American people to decide whether they were necessary and proper in the wake of al Qaeda's destruction on September 11, 2001.  Share your thoughts

Northern California News and Events

Visit to Beale AFB Air Show
During the weekend of April 17 to 19, Beale AFB opened its doors to the public and put on a fabulous Air Show highlighting the best in military and civilian aeronautics.  The Base was flooded with spectators, servicemen, civilian performers and vendors from all over world.  Beale AFB is vital to our national security efforts as it is home to the U-2 spy plane and Global Hawk, the latest and most sophisticated unmanned surveillance aircraft in the US military.  The Base showcased an operational Global Hawk as well as many other military and civilian craft for spectators to enjoy during this memorable weekend.  To the left you can see me discussing the Air Show and Beale issues with Colonel Soren Jones from the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron (left) and Colonel Dorothy Hogg, 9th Medical Group Commander (center).  I will continue to work in Congress to ensure that Global Hawk receives sufficient support for its even more capable advanced models, and that the U-2 remains operational so long as it provides an unmatched service to the Air Force.  Share your thoughts

Local Leaders Express Concerns about NCLB
I wanted to let you know about two roundtable meetings I hosted with Northern California educators.  The purpose of these meetings was to learn about their experiences with No Child Left Behind (NCLB), a federal education law enacted in 2002 that was designed to increase accountability and strengthen student performance.  It is clear from the feedback I received during these meetings, as well as from communications from parents and teachers, that there are major local concerns with NCLB.  One of the biggest problems is that local control of education policies has been supplanted by one-size-fits-all federal mandates. The challenges faced by rural Northern California schools are not the same as the challenges faced by schools in large metropolitan areas or other states, so the same school improvement strategies are not going to work for everyone.  For these reasons, I have cosponsored the A Plus Act, which would free states from the federal requirements often tied to federal education funding while maintaining accountability to parents and taxpayers.  I would welcome your views about the current policy and ways you believe it could be improved. Share your thoughts

Levee Tours
Last month I toured some important flood control projects in our area.  As you probably know, our Northern California Congressional District is home to some of the most flood prone areas in America.  There are hundreds of miles of levees in the North State that are essential to protecting the life and property of the people who live here.  As your representative in Washington, DC, I am focused on ensuring that the federal government is doing its part to support improvements to our local flood protection system so that the damage caused by the disastrous floods of 1986 and 1997 is not repeated.  I will continue to be a strong advocate and supporter of our local flood control system.

To the left you can see me touring Woodland's Cache Creek Settlement Basin with Francis Borcalli, the program manager of FloodSAFE Yolo. Share your thoughts