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They deserve it
Posted by Randy | October 13, 2014
In June, I joined my colleagues in the House to support a 1.8% raise for our servicemembers; however, in August, the President announced that he believed their pay should be reduced.

This cut comes at a time when we have troops deployed around the world, and the Administration has cut billions of dollars from our national defense and subjected our military to sequestration.  I oppose the President’s decision to reduce the pay of our servicemembers – they are not the cause of our nation’s fiscal problems and should not be forced to carry the weight of solving it.

I will continue my steadfast support for our nation’s heroes, ensuring they receive the benefits and compensation they have earned and deserve.
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The numbers tell the story
Posted by Randy | October 08, 2014

The numbers speak for themselves. Out of 435 Members of Congress, only 17 have voted against all stimulus under both Presidents Bush and Obama. I am proud to be one of the 17.

We cannot spend our nation out of debt, or tax our way to prosperity. It’s principles not partisanship.


Washington needs to be held directly accountable for overspending. That’s why I introduced a bill to tie Members salaries to government spending – the more they spend, the less they make. Learn more about my efforts to cut wasteful spending and solve Washington’s dysfunction, here.
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Your $ going towards this
Posted by Randy | September 24, 2014
Last week, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on abortion coverage in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The report was requested by House congressional leaders and demonstrates that, through subsidies, taxpayer dollars are going to pay for over 1000 health insurance plans that include abortion.

The ACA includes provisions requiring that if a plan covers abortion (in cases other than rape, incest or to save the life of the mother), a separate payment for abortion  - an abortion surcharge - must be collected.  However, according to the report, this requirement is not being strictly followed.

This is yet another example of the Administration’s repeated failure to provide basic transparency about abortion coverage. In response, I have supported the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, (H.R. 7), which makes permanent restrictions on the federal funding of abortions.  It also incorporates provisions of the Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act (H.R. 3279), which I cosponsored, to provide full disclosure and transparency of abortion coverage to consumers who are shopping for health insurance plans on the exchanges. This bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 227 to 188.
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Audit. The. Fed.
Posted by Randy | September 19, 2014
This week, the House voted on a bipartisan bill to allow for a full audit of the Federal Reserve. Currently, some transactions and areas of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Federal Reserve banks are excluded from the audits conducted by the GAO. This bill, which passed with my support by a vote of 333-92, repeals those limitations.

I am pleased this legislation is headed to the Senate, but it should have happened a long time ago. To achieve real transparency, we need a full audit of the Fed – no exceptions. It’s common sense.

I also support a full audit of the Department of Defense. Americans have the right to know how their taxpayer dollars are being spent. Read the column I wrote about it, here.
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Holding the IRS accountable
Posted by Randy | September 18, 2014

The more we learn, the more starkly apparent it is that the IRS has abused its power, broken the American people’s trust, and needs to be held directly accountable. This week, the House of Representatives is considering several bills to do just that.

Holding the IRS accountable:

  • H.R. 5418 – Prohibits IRS employees from using personal e-mails and other electronic communications to conduct any official business of the government as a means of intentionally bypassing recordkeeping laws.
  • H.R. 5419 - Requires the IRS to allow organizations denied tax-exempt status to directly appeal to the IRS’s Appeals Office -- thus bypassing the initial appeals process through the Exempt Organizations Division, which denied the tax-exempt request. In addition to requesting the direct administrative appeal, an organization may also request a conference with the IRS related to the appeal.
  • H.R. 5170 – Creates a process for firing federal employees—after thorough investigation— who willfully and unlawfully destroy federal records and restricts top White House employees in using non-official electronic messaging accounts. Additionally, this bill requires agencies to publicly disclose on their websites when official records have been lost.
  • H.R. 5420 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the release of information regarding the status of certain investigations.

I have been relentless in calling for accountability at the IRS – through appointing an independent special counsel to the investigation into IRS abuse, and by prohibiting the massive expansion of the IRS required to implement the President’s healthcare law. Additionally, I supported a bill, H.R. 2531, to prohibit the IRS from asking taxpayers questions regarding religious, political, or social beliefs.
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When Did the Law Become Optional?
Posted by Randy | September 15, 2014
 

This week, IRS Commissioner Koskinen testified before Congress about the IRS' plans to oversee billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies under the President’s healthcare law. When asked by the House Ways and Means, Health Subcommittee Chairman Brady if the IRS will follow the law in the cases of ineligible individuals receiving Obamacare subsidies, who will eventually have to pay subsidies back to the IRS under the law, Koskinen said: “Wherever we can, we follow the law.” Watch below, or click here.
That is not how the law works. Following the law is not optional – not for you, not for me, and not for the IRS. That’s why I have been relentless in calling for accountability at the IRS – through appointing an independent special counsel to the investigation into IRS abuse, and by prohibiting the massive expansion of the IRS required to implement the President’s healthcare law.

I also supported the No Subsidies Without Verification Act, H.R.4805, to prohibit the federal government from providing any insurance subsidies until a program that can fully verify an applicant’s eligibility is put in place. Additionally, I supported a bill, H.R. 2531, to prohibit the IRS from asking taxpayers questions regarding religious, political, or social beliefs.
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Trust But Not Verify?
Posted by Randy | August 29, 2014
I wanted to share a Washington Post article with you, which highlights that safeguards are not currently in place to stop people who are ineligible for taxpayer-subsidized healthcare from getting tax credits to help pay for premiums.

We cannot tolerate this lack of accountability. That’s why I’m supporting the No Subsidies Without Verification Act, H.R.4805, to prohibit the federal government from providing any insurance subsidies until a program that can fully verify an applicant’s eligibility is put in place.

It’s essential that an income verification system is put in place before any additional taxpayer subsidies are given out. We must protect taxpayer funds from potential fraud.  
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Enough Is Enough
Posted by Randy | August 25, 2014
One message I keep hearing over and over again is: Enough is enough!

Businesses across the 4th District and around the nation have had enough taxes, enough regulation, and enough uncertainty.

It’s time for Washington to be an enabler to economic growth, not a barrier. We must work to reform the tax code so it’s simple and fair, reduce burdensome regulations, and ensure that the rules are not changed from day to day in order to return stability to the marketplace.

Read more about my effort to achieve these goals in both the financial services and housing industries.

What are your ideas on how we can strengthen the financial services and housing industries? Weigh in, here.  
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ACTION ALERT: House votes to permanently ban taxes on Internet access
Posted by Randy | July 18, 2014
I wanted to update you on the bill I wrote to you about last month to ban state and local governments from taxing Internet access. 

I am pleased to tell you that the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act passed the House this week by voice vote.
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Is the third largest federal agency properly managing its money?
Posted by Randy | July 14, 2014
According to the Government Accountability Office, the Department of Homeland Security – the third largest federal agency – has failed to properly manage the systems and programs used to secure our borders, protect our shores, and monitor goods coming into the U.S.

The federal government must be accountable to the American people for how their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent. An oversized, wasteful government is a serious threat to the stability and success of our nation. That’s why I supported the DHS Acquisition Accountability and Efficiency Act, H.R. 4228, which requires the DHS to streamline its acquisition process and hold its programs accountable.

When it comes to national security, our federal agencies have a responsibility to keep our nation safe from those who would wish us harm, whether they are from within the United States or from other countries seeking to get into our country. However, national security must not come at the cost of the fiscal integrity of our country. 

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