First, I want to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.  As you enjoy the holiday season please remember those Minnesotans who serve in our armed forces and are away from their families.  Between meetings and votes I took a moment to record a short message on the Armed Forces Network to thank all of our veterans and service members who have dedicated themselves to our country.

As always, please feel free to contact me if I can assist you or your family in any way. Also, please join the conversation online by visiting my website, Facebook page, Twitter, and don't forget to watch my weekly video, Erik's Correspondence Corner.

Newest Budget Deal

I’m disappointed that the latest budget deal doesn’t do more to address our country’s long-term financial problems. However, it’s a step in the right direction and reduces the deficit under a bipartisan agreement.

I supported the agreement and here are a couple of key points to highlight:  It replaces arbitrary spending cuts with smarter spending cuts on the mandatory side of the ledger – where the real problem is – without raising taxes.  It eliminates waste, cuts corporate welfare and takes steps toward real reform.  The agreement also removes the prospect of another government shutdown.

The Kids First Research Act

Here’s some good news from Washington:  the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act passed the House with bipartisan support.  I cosponsored this legislation, which eliminates taxpayer financing of presidential campaigns and party conventions and instead targets these funds to expand pediatric research at the National Institutes of Health through the NIH Common Fund.

In Our Community

I spent time last Friday with nearly 30 of our local fire chiefs to touch base on issues important to firefighters.  One issue that came up was the financial penalties under the President’s new health care law that could hit municipalities with volunteer fire departments whose firefighters volunteer over 30 hours a week – another consequence of passing legislation without first reading it and understanding what’s in it.

Also last week, I gathered with my Small Business Advisory Committee for a roundtable discussion on jobs and the economy.  It was helpful to listen and learn about some of the challenges they face from onerous regulations.  They like my proposals for comprehensive tax reform to make the tax code simpler, fairer and more competitive.  Small businesses are the engine of our economy!

Paulsen chats with local fire chiefs during last week's roundtable.	Congressman Paulsen hears from dozens of small business leaders.

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