Just last week, I wrote to you about how network television is increasingly becoming off limits for many families because of sexual incidents, foul language, and indecent exposure.

On Sunday evening, my family and I went to the hospital to visit my father who was admitted for respiratory problems. It is always difficult to have a family member in the hospital, and my wife and I had been trying to make his stay in the hospital as much like home as possible. Last Sunday, we all gathered around my father's hospital bed to watch the Super Bowl and spend some quality family time together.

As was the case for millions of families around the nation, during the half-time show, instead of experiencing a celebration of athletic drive and skill, I watched, at 8:30 p.m., my elderly parents and my children being exposed to self-congratulatory artists singing inappropriate lyrics, grabbing their crotches, and exposing their private parts on television.

On Monday morning, all I could think about is how several years ago, the Super Bowl half-time show featured characters from Disney and Peanuts. What were young boys learning as they watched a rock star - a role model - aggressively rip clothing off of a woman? What were young girls thinking as they watched Janet Jackson's breast being exposed to millions of people? While there was a time when parents would be happy to see their children emulate their role models on the playground, today that would be a horrifying sight.

I immediately wrote a letter to CBS President Leslie Moonves demanding to know why the network, knowing that the MTV-produced half-time show promised to be "shocking" and never-before-seen, failed to take any action to prevent this incident from occurring. Over the last week as word of this letter has spread across Capitol Hill, almost fifty of my fellow lawmakers have signed this letter of outrage.

We are asking CBS to explain why the network neglected to use the technology they have to delay live programming and prevent obscenity from coming into our living rooms. We understand the distinction between late-night talk shows or even questionable cable programming. What we're upset about is the fact that as citizens, we have been promised that our public airwaves will be free of inappropriate programming during "family hours". We have every right to be angry when this promise is broken.

Networks are blatantly disregarding their responsibility to our families by engaging in an intensifying competition to push sexual-innuendo into our homes to increase their ratings, and ultimately line their pocketbooks. With each inappropriate incident they weaken our standards of decency and blur our children's sense of propriety.

At this point, our mandate as citizens is clear: if American families don't take action - if they don't call their Members of Congress, write their newspapers, and, most importantly - change the channel when they see inappropriate material - we run the chance of this just being another passing incident. And with each incident that we don't take action on, we are party to the continued decline in standards of broadcasting decency.

Please visit the "Spotlight On" section of my website to read my letter to Mr. Moonves.

:: The Key to Balancing the Budget is Member Accountability ::

Everyone knows that if a small business owner, a corporate leader, or the head of a community organization lacks fiscal responsibility, then that organization, and that individual, will pay a price - the stock of their company will drop, they will lose customers, and ultimately they may even lose their jobs. The same is true in our personal lives - we are all accountable for the money we spend and the debt we take on. There is no "Get Out of Jail Free Card" in life. As lawmakers begin to debate this year's budget, the same should be true for Members of Congress.

Over the last few years our country has weathered a recession, a terrorist attack, and a war. At the same time we have launched a massive, nationwide effort to strengthen our security at home. Our emergency response to the attacks of September 11th, paying for the war, and the need to quickly strengthen our homeland security has created urgent and necessary spending demands. Couple those spending demands with a recession, which caused lower-than-expected tax revenues, it is not surprising that the federal government has run a deficit over the last few years.

Despite this, now that the economy is rebounding, it is time to balance the federal budget. If Congress spends more money than it takes in, there should be consequences - and these consequences should disadvantage Members of Congress, not American taxpayers.

I am taking action to make my fellow lawmakers accountable when they spend your money by cosponsoring H.R. 3736, the Fiscal Responsibility Act. This bill will provide a significant, tangible incentive for all Members of Congress to balance the Federal Budget and avoid excessive, wasteful spending.

Under the bill, each year that Congress fails to balance the budget, each Member of Congress would receive an automatic five-percent pay reduction and would forfeit their Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). If the deficit spending continues, the pay cut would be increased to ten percent and Member COLAs would continue to be voided every consecutive fiscal year that expenditures exceed revenues. While pay reductions would be capped at a maximum of ten percent, the loss of COLAs would continue until the budget is balanced.

The fact of the matter is, it is time to control spending and balance the budget, and if Members of Congress can't be fiscally responsible with taxpayers' money, there should be consequences. 

::  Q&A - Taking Your Cell Phone Number With You  ::

Last November, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) implemented a wireless "local number portability" program. Consumers became eligible to switch wireless telephone carriers within the same geographic region, while keeping their existing telephone number. Please visit the "Spotlight On" section of my website for more information on wireless telephone number portability. 

Q: What is "local number portability" (LNP)? 

A: Under the FCC's rules, "local number portability" enables you to switch wireless carriers within the same geographic area and keep your existing phone number. In addition to switching from one wireless carrier to another, in most cases, you will be able to switch from a wire line carrier to a wireless carrier, or from a wireless carrier to a wire line carrier and still keep your phone number. 

Q: Are there geographic limitations on changing carriers and keeping my existing telephone number? 

A: Possibly. If you are moving from one geographic area to another, you may not be able to "port", or carry, the number to the new area. Contact your current service carrier for more information. 

Q: What is the first step in changing my carrier, but keeping my phone number? 

A: Contact the prospective new carrier, who will start the process of transferring your existing number by contacting your current carrier. Do not terminate your service with your existing carrier before initiating service with the prospective new carrier. 

Q: Will I have to pay a fee or additional charges if I change carriers? 

A: That depends on two things: 1.) your existing contract with your old wireless carrier, and 2.) whether your old carrier chooses to charge a fee to transfer your existing wireless number over to your new carrier. You will be obligated to pay any early termination fees that you may have under your existing contract and any outstanding balance owed to your old carrier. Review your existing contract to determine what fees or charges apply. 

In addition, carriers are allowed to charge a fee to recover their "porting" costs. Carriers may or may not choose to charge a fee, and their fees may vary. If they do charge specific fees, the fees cannot exceed their porting costs. 

Q: How long will it take for my telephone number to be transferred to my new carrier? 

A: Your new carrier can usually give you a good idea about how long the process will take. In general, for a wireless-to-wireless transfer, your phone number should work within a few hours of your request to change wireless providers. A wire line-to-wireless transfer may take several business days to complete. 

Q: Where can I find more information and contact numbers on wireless local number portability? 

A: You can visit the FCC's web site at www.fcc.gov/cgb/NumberPortability/. In addition, you can contact the FCC's Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 1-888-CALL-FCC.