Frankly Speaking
The 2010 Census: Its Your Constitutional Duty
Mar 12, 2010“Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State.”
-The United States Constitution
A Disconnected Congress
Mar 11, 2010The House of Representatives spent much of yesterday discussing H.ConRes. 248, the Afghanistan War Powers Resolution, sponsored by Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH). The resolution would have required the president to remove all U.S.
Filed under: EconomyReining in the EPA
Mar 5, 2010My Republican colleagues and I introduced a measure, H.J. 77, in the House of Representatives that would rein in the aggressive power-grab of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Last December the EPA released an endangerment finding which stated that gases such as methane and carbon dioxide were a threat to public health and should be regulated under the Clean Air Act. This endangerment finding is really just an underhanded way of imposing cap and tax regulations on the American people.
Filed under: AgricultureCongressional Art Contest Application Process Begins
Feb 26, 2010I am pleased to announce that the application process for the annual Congressional Art Contest has begun. The contest, sponsored by the Congressional Arts Caucus, is an exciting opportunity for high school students who are interested in art. The winning selection will have their artwork displayed for a year in the United States Capitol Building, where it will be seen by the hundreds of thousands of people who visit the nation’s capitol each year. The winning artist will also receive a trip to Washington, D.C.
Filed under: Constituent ServicesTown Hall Tour Kick-Off
Feb 19, 2010As most of you are aware, each year I host 50 town hall meetings spanning the 32 counties in the Third Congressional District. These have long been one of my favorite traditions. I begin each meeting with a brief introduction and an update of current legislation under consideration in Washington as well as other hot button issues of the day. I then open it up to questions and comments from the people attending.
Filed under: Constituent ServicesA Budget of Historic Proportions
Feb 4, 2010This month, President Obama submitted his budget proposal to Congress for fiscal year 2011. While his budget serves only as an outline – Congress has jurisdiction over drafting the budget and appropriating federal funding – it sets up his administration’s agenda for the upcoming year.
Filed under: EconomyPreview of the State of the Union
Jan 28, 2010After riding into Washington with promises of hope and change and overwhelming public support, one year later President Obama is sitting in a much different position. He has yet to pass one of his major agenda items, including health care and cap-and-trade, and his approval rating has dropped below 47 ccording to the latest Rasmussen poll.
In his first State of the Union address this evening, the president has the opportunity to change his tune a bit.
Filed under: GeneralAmerican Support for Haiti
Jan 27, 2010Earlier this month, a massive earthquake struck the small island-nation of Haiti, producing catastrophic damage in and around its capital city of Port-au-Prince. The earthquake has caused immeasurable human suffering. Although the total devastation is still unknown, approximately 100,000 people have been killed and more than two million people have been left homeless. During such a time of great peril and human suffering, the American people and the American government have once again stepped up as the world leader in providing aid and assistance to countries in need.
Filed under: GeneralChange We Don't Want
Jan 20, 2010The resounding victory by Republican Scott Brown in the Massachusetts special election last night demonstrated a fact that President Obama might not be too happy with: the winds of change can blow both ways. The people of Massachusetts – an historically liberal state – spoke with one voice to reject his legislative agenda and to loudly say no to a government takeover of health care, no to a $600 billion national energy tax, and no to an economic policy of borrow, tax, and spend.
Filed under: AgricultureCap-and-Tax Bad for Farmers, Rural America
Dec 4, 2009We like to say that we have the safest, most abundant, most affordable food and fiber supply in the world. But this isn’t just a boastful expression, it is a reality. Our farmers and ranchers are responsible for feeding folks living in our country and throughout the world.
But, cap and tax legislation threatens that safe, abundant and affordable food and fiber supply. The agriculture industry, as we know it, will not survive under the heavy burdens of a cap and tax policy.
Filed under: Agriculture
