| Financial Reform Ignores Real Problems |
Recently the House passed, on a party-line vote, the final version of the Congressional Democrats’ and President Obama’s “financial regulatory reform” legislation. The Senate also passed the bill and it will be presented to the President and enacted into law. I strongly opposed this legislation because I believe it represents another Big Government job killer that will do little to address the problems that caused our 2008 financial crisis, and in fact, will make future bailouts more likely by continuing the unwise "too big to fail" policy that rewards irresponsible behavior.
Hard-working families and small businesses should not be penalized for bad decisions made in Washington or on Wall Street, and they shouldn’t have to pay for future bailouts. By failing to address the real issues at the core of our financial crisis, this legislation virtually guarantees that large firms will get bigger and that taxpayers will be left paying for future bailouts. Simply put, this legislation makes credit more expensive for consumers and punishes businesses without reducing the likelihood of future bailouts.
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| Supreme Court Affirms Individual Right to Own a Firearm |
In a great victory for Second Amendment proponents, I am pleased to report that the Supreme Court has ruled in McDonald v. City of Chicagothat every American has a right to own a firearm. The Supreme Court had previously upheld that right in the District of Columbia, and this ruling extends it to every state. I am very pleased the Court has resolved this important issue and proclaimed an individual right to bear arms.
The close 5-4 decision demonstrates the importance of every Supreme Court justice. The Senate will soon vote whether or not to confirm Elena Kagan, the President’s nominee to replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens. While I do not serve in that chamber, it is my strong hope and expectation that senators will closely scrutinize Ms. Kagan’s judicial philosophy to determine whether she would practice judicial restraint and rely on the original meaning of the Constitution, or try to make laws from the bench and impose her personal policy preferences through Court rulings.
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| Congressional Democrats Fail in “Most Basic Responsibility” of Governing |
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) announced that House Democrats will not pass a budget this year. A budget is essentially a roadmap, a plan for where we’re going as a nation, and it is critical to getting spending under control. Since passage of the Congressional Budget Act in 1974, the House has never failed to pass a budget resolution. Hoyer’s announcement confirms Congressional Democrats’ failure to live up to what Hoyer himself has called “the most basic responsibility” of governing.
Throughout Northern California, working families sit down and figure out their budget. They make hard choices and live within their means because it’s the responsible thing to do. Sadly, Congressional Democrats don’t feel that same obligation as the stewards of the federal budget. Failure to even propose a budget fundamentally means that they have no plan. A problem won’t go away just by ignoring it – look at what has happened in California. It will require real leadership and a commitment to fiscal discipline to tackle the out-of-control spending and debt that threatens American jobs and our economic prosperity. Instead of acknowledging the skyrocketing debt, out of political expedience, they have chosen to only make it worse with more spending. But the American people won’t ignore the massive tax increases coming their way, or the crushing burden of debt Washington is leaving our children and grandchildren.
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| Price Tag of Health Reform Law Too High |
Roll Call, a leading newspaper on Capitol Hill, published an opinion - editorial I authored regarding my efforts to repeal ObamaCare. In this column I explain how President Obama and Congressional Democrats have inflicted enormous costs on the American people by ramming ObamaCare through Congress using backroom deals and budget gimmicks. ObamaCare will raise the health care premiums for American families by over two thousand dollars per year. Additionally, the law imposes a five hundred billion dollar tax increase on families and small businesses, which will severely undermine job creation and cripple future economic growth. I believe it was incredibly irresponsible to force this unpopular and deeply flawed measure on the American people. For these reasons I introduced repeal legislation, the Reform Americans Can Afford Act (H.R. 5424), which is supported by 36 Republican cosponsors, including every member of our House Republican Leadership. My bill also includes several commonsense, incremental reforms that will help lower health care costs and increase access to care without growing government or adding to our nation’s debt. I encourage you to share your thoughts. |
| Soft Protectionism Threatens U.S. Prosperity |
In case you missed it, another opinion-editorial I wrote was published in the Sacramento Bee recently. It focused on the recent 80th anniversary of the Smoot Hawley Act, a 1930 law that raised tariffs on imported products in every sector of the U.S. economy. Most economists largely agree that this law, passed to purportedly “protect” U.S. companies from overseas competition, worsened the Great Depression because it motivated other nations to retaliate with their own tariffs, shutting down global trade altogether. I believe that while our nation has avoided the tariff-driven protectionism of the 1930’s, President Obama and the Democratic Congress’ support for what I would call soft protectionism (defined by non-tariff barriers and persistant inaction) threatens America’s future prosperity. We are falling behind our global competitors who are moving rapidly to increase trade with other nations, leaving America’s farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and service providers at a major competitive disadvantage. I firmly believe that the President must assert strong leadership in support of open markets as Presidents of both parties have done since World War II.
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| My Concerns About the Obama Administration's “Conservation Agenda” |
I recently received a letter from Interior Secretary Salazar, Agriculture Secretary Vilsack, EPA Administrator Jackson, and Chairwoman Sutley of the Council on Environmental Quality, seeking input on “how to best support local community efforts to conserve outdoor spaces” as part of its “America’s Great Outdoors Initiative.” While I agree that the federal government should take practical measures to ensure that our public lands and resources are conserved for the benefit of future generations, it is equally important that those goals are achieved without federal regulations and mandates that restrict access and multiple-use of our federal lands. Through policies that are flexible and locally oriented, we can allow Americans to enjoy full access to our federal lands for a variety of sustainable and economically beneficial purposes, including recreation, ranching, grazing, mining and timber harvests. For that reason, I welcome the Administration’s outreach as it conducts listening sessions across the country and develops its “conservation agenda for the 21st century.” At the same time, this Administration has already shown itself to be increasingly opposed to multiple-use, and I share in the strong concerns that this initiative will be used as a tool to further lock-up federal lands from the American public. For more information and to submit comments, please visit the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative website at:http://www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors/.
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| Let Freedom Ring/4th of July Observance |
On the morning of July 4th I celebrated our great nation’s 234th birthday at One Mile Recreation Area in Bidwell Park in Chico. Hundreds of North State residents gathered to enjoy pancakes prepared by the Butte County Sheriff’s office, as well as sing along to beloved patriotic songs. We remembered our brave men and women fighting overseas to protect our freedoms and security. I was privileged to address the gathered crowd, and I focused on the vision of the Founding Fathers - that we are all guaranteed the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
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Friends, family, and fellow veterans gathered together at the Etna City Hall in Siskiyou County recently for a special presentation to a World War II veteran. Tim Grenvik, Siskiyou County Veterans Service Officer, and USMC Major General (retired) Jake Vermilyea presented “Buddy” Simas with a belated Bronze Star for his combat service on Okinawa. I was pleased to provide a flag that has flown over our nation's Capitol to help mark this special event. It is never too late to thank a veteran for his service, and I applaud the Siskiyou County Veterans Service Officer for ensuring that Mr. Simas received this long overdue recognition.
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| Glenn County Farmers Market |
Recently I was able to participate in the first installment of the Glenn County Resource Conservation District Farmer’s Market held at Willows Memorial Park. After addressing the crowd, I visited the different booths and had a first-hand look at the Northern California produce and items for sale. The Glenn County Resource Conservation District, an independent local state government liaison between federal government and local landowners, was one of eighty that were chosen across the nation to promote farmer’s markets. This program, designed to improve and expand domestic farmers' markets, is supported by the Agricultural Marketing Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture
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Celebrating the Completion of the Trinity Public Utilities District Direct Tie Project
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I was recently in Trinity County to commemorate the Trinity Public Utility District’s (TPUD) “Direct Tie” project. The Direct Tie project goes a long way towards meeting a commitment the federal government made to the citizens of Trinity County over 50 years ago by allowing power generated by Trinity Dam to directly serve the TPUD’s customers. Although the promise of low-cost power to Trinity County was made when Congress authorized the construction of Trinity Dam in 1955, it took many years and the tireless efforts of the TPUD working with the federal government to make this project a reality. As a result of this hard work, power customers in Trinity County are able to enjoy the lowest electricity rates in the State of California. I am extremely proud to see the completion of the Direct Tie, and I commend the TPUD, its board, the citizens of Trinity County, and the federal agencies involved for their efforts in this achievement.
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