“Stimulus 3” sounds like a bad sequel to a string of never ending movies. Instead, it’s the moniker being used to describe the new economic proposal announced by President Obama this week. This new stimulus is aimed at accelerating job growth and laying a foundation for economic growth and funding “shovel-ready” projects. You may be asking – isn’t that what the first two economic stimulus packages passed under President Bush and Obama were for? The answer is yes.
 
Americans are not buying into the “third stimulus is a charm” mentality. Nor should they be when a host of new economic numbers proves otherwise. Despite repeated stimulus and bailout attempts, unemployment has climbed to 10% in the past several months. Our national debt hit another record high - $12 trillion - and Speaker Pelosi will seek legislation next week to increase our federal debt limit. Divided among the U.S. population, the debt amounts to $38,974.34 for every man, woman and child. The federal government will borrow 43 cents for every dollar that it spends this fiscal year. And just a few weeks ago Americans saw that the U.S. government official website that tracks current stimulus spending included phantom congressional districts, like the 00th Congressional District of Virginia, and proved to have little oversight or accountability over where the money is actually going.

Considering that information, it’s no wonder why the word “stimulus” has become a politically charged word. Americans know that more stimulus spending means more deficit spending and another contribution to a ballooning federal debt that will be placed on the backs of our grandchildren and financed by countries like China. As such, Americans have spent the past several months raising their voices against a job-threatening and deficit-bloating government takeover of health care, a “cap and trade” national energy tax, and an ever-increasing limit on the national credit card. Yet, Congress and the Administration keep spending money without setting priorities or reducing waste.

Americans are asking Washington a larger question today: when will this government listen to the voice of wisdom shouting for us to address the causes of a bad economy and not just the symptoms? We need a paradigm shift in Washington. Our economy can recover, but not without a fundamental shift in how Washington views and manages taxpayer dollars. I’ve put together a simple three-step plan that would help us take control of our fiscal future:

1) Cut the Waste. Slash funding for wasteful, abusive, and duplicative spending.
The Commission on the Accountability and Review of Federal Agencies (CARFA) Act, H.R. 1802, would establish a bipartisan commission to review federal agencies and programs in an effort to eliminate wasteful spending on duplicative, inefficient or outdated programs. CARFA would make recommendations to Congress and to the President for changes to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of taxpayer dollars.

2) Balance the Budget. Constitutionally require Congress to balance the federal budget each year.
The Balanced Budget Amendment, H.J. Res 1, will force Congress to enact fiscally responsible spending measures, reduce the deficit, and ensure that the money our citizens work so hard to earn is not spent on wasteful spending and programs. The bill requires that Congress not spend more than it receives in revenues, requires the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress, and requires a 3/5 majority vote to increase the debt limit. This common-sense solution is already implemented in many states across our country, including Virginia. A Constitutional amendment will force Congress to eliminate unnecessary and wasteful spending and make the decisions necessary to balance the budget and eliminate the federal deficit.

3) Reform the System. Institute process and entitlement reforms that take a long-range budget view.
The SAFE Commission Act, H.R. 1557, would establish a Commission that would review federal spending and develop legislation designed to address: (1) the unsustainable imbalance between long-term federal spending commitments and projected revenues; (2) increases in net national savings to provide for domestic investment and economic growth; (3) the implications of foreign ownership of federally issued debt instruments; and (4) revision of the budget process to place greater emphasis on long-term fiscal issues.

Creating fiscal discipline in Washington is a first and necessary step on the road to economic recovery. Americans should demand nothing less from their government than a clear commitment to take control of our fiscal future.

Congressman Forbes spoke on this issue on the House floor. Watch his remarks here.

4 Steps to Lower Home Energy Costs

As the coldest winter months quickly approach us and heating bills start to climb, many families are considering ways to save on energy intake in their homes.  Even simple steps, such as turning off the lights when you leave a room, can save you and your family hundreds of dollars a year in energy costs.  The Department of Energy provides a list of steps to be more energy efficient:

Step #1: Locate Air Leaks
Check for indoor air leaks, such as gaps along the baseboard or edge of the flooring and at junctures of the walls and ceiling. Check to see if air can flow through the following places: electrical outlets, switch plates, window frames, baseboards, weather stripping around doors, fireplace dampers, attic hatches, wall- or window-mounted air conditioners.  The potential energy savings from reducing drafts in a home may range from 5% to 30% per year, and the home is generally much more comfortable afterward.

For information on replacing your windows, doors, and skylights, click here. 

Step #2: Check your Insulation
Heat loss through the ceiling and walls in your home could be very great if the insulation levels are less than the recommended minimum. When your house was built, the builder likely installed the amount of insulation recommended at that time. Given today's energy prices, the level of insulation might be inadequate, especially if you have an older home.

For more information on insulating your home properly, click here.

Step #3: Inspect Heating and Cooling Equipment
Your heating and cooling equipment should be inspected annually, or as recommended by the manufacturer. If you have a forced-air furnace, check your filters and replace them as needed. Generally, you should change filters about once every month, especially during periods of high usage. Have a professional check and clean your equipment once a year.  If the unit is more than 15 years old, you should consider replacing your system with one of the newer, energy-efficient units. 

For more information on replacing your heating and cooling equipment, click here.

Step #4: Change Your Home’s Lighting
Energy for lighting accounts for about 10% of your electric bill. Examine the wattage size of the light bulbs in your house. You may have 100-watt (or larger) bulbs where 60 or 75 watts would do. You should also consider compact fluorescent lamps for areas where lights are on for hours at a time. Your electric utility may offer rebates or other incentives for purchasing energy-efficient lamps.

For more information on reducing lighting in your home, click here.

Additionally, check out these resources on becoming more energy efficient:

The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN)
www.eere.energy.gov/.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR 
www.energystar.gov.

The Alliance to Save Energy 
www.ase.org.

Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the holiday season using holiday e-cards, fake invoices, and other tools to steal financial information. Read this list of the "Twelve Scams of Christmas" to stay on guard this holiday season.  
 

Follow this link to read.

Congressman Forbes cosponsored a bill requiring an audit of the stimulus package. Use the link below to read  how Congressman Forbes is working to make sure government tracks the billions of dollars that were spent in the stimulus.   

Follow this link to read. 

Do Your Friends and Family Get Emails from Congressman Forbes?
 

Make sure your friends and family are staying in-the-know with what is happening in Washington by forwarding this email to them.    

Follow this link to forward. 

Other News

Dec 10, 2009 
Forbes Calls for Answers on Impact of Fly Ash on Health  
 

Dec 9, 2009
Forbes Applauds Congressional Forum on Chinese Drywall  

Dec 8, 2009
Forbes Cosponsors Bills to Compel Depts of Justice, Defense to Release Documents Related to Gitmo Trials