-- Randy’s Roundup --

A Weekly Newsletter from Congressman Randy Neugebauer

July 6, 2009

Legislative Update

Since the beginning of the year, the Democratic majority continues to advance an agenda of more spending and greater debt in Congress.

Just two weeks ago, we saw passage in the House of a devastating national energy tax in the form of the “cap and trade” bill. This legislation, containing 397 regulations and 1,060 government mandates, is projected to cost American families more than $3,000 a year, raise energy bills by $1,500, and reduce employment by more than a million jobs.  My hope is the Senate puts the brakes on this misguided legislation.

Unfortunately, the next four weeks in Congress are likely to have more costly legislation on the agenda.  In the upcoming weeks, the House is expected to tackle health care reform.  While health care is an important issue for Congress to address, I am concerned with new estimates that show the Majority’s latest proposal would result in $3.5 trillion in added federal spending over the next decade and force 64 million Americans to lose their current health care coverage. This approach would cost too much, cover too few and force too many to lose the coverage they currently have.   

I understand health care is important to you and your families. As both the House and Senate continue to develop health care reform plans, I will continue to keep you informed about the latest alternatives being proposed.

Where is the Stimulus?

Last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that 467,000 more jobs were lost in June, pushing the unemployment rate up to 9.5 percent, a 26-year high.  The report reveals that job losses are accelerating, with over 100,000 more Americans losing work in June than in May.

As job losses continue, families are worried about losing their incomes, health care and meeting their monthly bills.  While the promise of the economic stimulus package signed into law earlier this year was that it would help create jobs, I don’t believe the federal government can borrow, and spend our nation’s way back to prosperity. We need to join together to identify ways to create long-term job growth. 


This week, I will be joining with colleagues to discuss ways to create jobs, cut spending and restore fiscal responsibility as part of the Economic Recovery Working Group.  Congress must start doing what every American family is doing during these tough economic times: cutting government expenses and making sacrifices.

Benjamin Franklin Award

During a ceremony on Capitol Hill, I was presented the Benjamin Franklin Award by the 60 Plus Association. This award is given to members of Congress who have supported the repeal of the estate or ‘death’ tax.
After paying every tax while you’re alive, once you have passed away, the government hits you again with a tax.  While the death tax has been declining since 2001 and will be fully phased out next year, it will come back to it’s original level at the end of 2010 if Congress does not act.

I appreciate the Benjamin Franklin Award and the 60 Plus Association’s support of death tax repeal.  I will continue to support efforts to permanently abolish this anti-farmer, anti-senior and anti-small business tax.