-- Randy’s Roundup --

A Weekly Newsletter from Congressman Randy Neugebauer

March 23, 2010

My Comments on the House Floor

I’m sure many of you have seen news reports about comment I made on the House floor Sunday night, and I’ve also received many messages from constituents in the 19th District about my comment.

Throughout the past year, we have seen Democratic leaders cutting deals with Members to pass this legislation. The culmination of this came when the Democratic leadership began using the lives of the unborn as a bargaining chip to pass this government takeover of health care. I regret that the meaning of my words was misconstrued on the House floor, but I simply cannot apologize for feeling so passionately about the sanctity of human life.

The House of Representatives is referred to as the “People’s House,” not “Speaker Pelosi’s House.” For months I have heard very strong objections expressed by the people I represent regarding this health care legislation.  Like many of them, I am deeply concerned that this legislation fails to provide robust protection for the unborn and for taxpayers who oppose their dollars going toward abortion.  An Executive Order addressing abortion doesn’t fix this problem, and as President Obama proved when he revoked President Bush’s Executive Order on stem cell research, Executive Orders can be revoked.

The House Chamber is a place of decorum, but it is frustrating when the time limits and restrictions on amendments limit our debate. On Sunday night, Speaker Pelosi provided a mere 120 minutes of debate for the entire health care bill and allowed no amendments on legislation which impacts one-sixth of our entire economy.  There are 435 Members of the House meaning that each member, if time were divided equally among all members, which it was not, would have been given exactly 27.5 seconds to speak on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of constituents they represent.  I have to make sure I represent the people I am elected to represent.  I stand firm in my pro-life convictions. I’m in this fight for the long run on behalf of my children, grandchildren and the American people.

House Passes Health Care Legislation

On Sunday night, the House passed President Obama and Speaker Pelosi’s government takeover of health care in the form of the Senate health care bill and “reconciliation” legislation that would “fix” the Senate bill. The legislation passed by a vote of 219-212 and 220-211 respectively.

Since then, President Obama has signed the Senate health care bill into law, and the Senate has begun debate on the “fix” legislation, with the aim of a final passage vote later this week.

I continue to believe improvements could be made to the existing health care system, but this government takeover of one-sixth of the economy is certainly not the right answer. It will not lower the cost of health care, but will instead add layers of bureaucracy and confusion to the existing system.  That’s why I voted against both bills.

Many people tell me they don’t understand why the Congressional leadership and President Obama insist on going down the road of enacting a government takeover of health care that our nation can’t afford and that will not improve their health care. They don’t understand why leaders in Congress refuse to listen to the American people.

Our Founders believed in empowerment, but this government takeover shows how far this Congress has strayed from this principle and embraced expanding entitlement.  The policies in this legislation will create more uncertainty for employers trying to create new jobs, increase costs for families and create new unfunded liabilities for the federal government.

This legislation increases government spending by $1.2 trillion and increases taxes by $569 billion.  Rather than lowering health care premiums for families by up to $2,500, as the Republican plan would do, this plan does nothing to help contain rising health care costs.  In fact, the Congressional Budget Office reports that the reconciliation bill will have a similar effect on premiums as the Senate bill, which is to increase insurance premiums for families by $2,100 per year compared to passing no bill at all.

Over the next 10 years, this legislation will increase the federal government’s commitment to health care by $400 billion.  At a time when the federal deficit is $1.5 trillion and the national debt is projected to triple by 2020, it is completely irresponsible for Congress to add more unsustainable government spending to the tab that our children and grandchildren will have to pick up. 

We can make health care more affordable, available and accessible for everyone without nationalizing the system, raising taxes and piling on the debt. We need to sit down, in a bi-partisan way, and work on real reform that will help American families. That is what the American people want and what they deserve.

Mobile Office Hours This Week

Just as a reminder, throughout this week members of my staff will be hosting mobile office hours across West Texas and the Big Country to visit in person with constituents. During the mobile office hours, the 19th District staff will gladly offer assistance with problems regarding federal issues or agencies. Representatives will be available to assist with veterans' benefits, social security concerns, and many other issues. If you are experiencing problems with a federal government agency or want to share your opinion on issues in Congress, I invite you to come and visit with a member of my staff while they are in a location near you.

For information on the location, date and times of the mobile office hours, please visit my website. In the event you are unable to attend the mobile office hours in your area, I encourage you to contact my office any time, toll free, at 888-763-1611.

“Question of the Week”

Last week, the 2010 Census began hitting mailboxes. For those of you who have already received the 2010 Census, have you completed the information and submitted the form?
 
Please visit my website to submit your answer to this week’s question.
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Thanks to everyone who answered last week’s question. Here are the results:

Q: As the U.S. Postal Service looks for ways to reduce its projected losses for 2010, would you support a 5-day postal delivery system instead of the current 6-day delivery system?

A: 6 day service: 19.23%     5 day service: 78.85%     Undecided: 1.92%

As always, when events unfold in Washington, I will be sure to update you. In the meantime, do not hesitate to visit my website or call my office toll free district wide at (888) 763-1611 or my Washington, DC office at 202-225-4005.