Federal Budget and National Debt
I am deeply concerned about our nation’s fiscal situation and recognize the danger it poses to our economic well-being and national security. Today, out of control federal spending and excessive borrowing poses a serious threat to the long-term stability of the U.S. economy. At a time when strong leadership is needed in the White House, President Obama continues to fail to heed the warnings of economists and the desire of the American people to reduce government spending and balance the budget. With the national debt fast approaching $17 trillion, the consequences of allowing our spending problems to continue to go unresolved are extremely dire.
In order to put us back on a path to budgetary balance and economic prosperity, we must offer bold solutions that tackle the drivers of the debt, including major reforms to our federal budget, tax code and entitlement systems. I will do everything in my power to rein in wasteful spending, fraud and abuse and push for tough reforms to ensure that we get our government’s fiscal house in order. I believe Congress must fulfill its responsibility to the taxpayers by being good stewards of their money. In order to do so, we will face some difficult choices, but the taxpayers should expect and desire nothing less from their representatives.
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Congress has a bad habit of needlessly governing from crisis to crisis. Too often, Congress waits until the 11th hour to even begin discussions on critical legislation essential to keeping government agencies –or the entirety of the federal government— open and fully functioning.
Washington, D.C.— Congressman Mark Meadows (R-NC) introduced the bipartisan PILT and SRS Certainty Act along with Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) on Tuesday, which would reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools Program (SRS) for five years and extend and provide funding for Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) for five years at an annual level of $450 million.
Washington, D.C.— Following the release of videos showing Planned Parenthood officials discussing the sale of aborted human body parts, Congressman Mark Meadows (R-NC) signed on as a co-sponsor to H.R. 217, which would eliminate taxpayer funding for abortion providers under Title X.
Federal News Radio: We need to address ‘deep, systemic problems’ to improve federal workforce morale
The U.S. federal workforce is the greatest public workforce in the world. Oftentimes, federal workers are unfairly viewed as just another cog in the wheel, when in reality our workforce is comprised of thousands of individuals committed to making a difference in the lives of their fellow Americans.
Mark Meadows is a difficult man to predict.
As the new chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee on government operations, the North Carolina Republican is in a key position to affect federal workplace and employee issues.
But what should they expect from him?
While his right-wing credentials shine, he appears more open to the concerns of federal government workers than his terrible federal union ratings would indicate. He plans to meet with employees in a different agency each month.
Despite new-found control in both chambers of the U.S. Congress, Republican lawmakers representing North Carolina spent more time in their seats than their Democratic colleagues Tuesday evening, at President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address.
The speech, Obama’s sixth as president, found him declaring a page turned after years of war and recession and championing policies geared at the middle class — including reforms to the nation’s tax code and a proposal for free community college.
ASHEVILLE – President Barack Obama asked members of Congress in his State of the Union address Tuesday night to “at least work with me where you do agree” with the agenda he laid out.
Inititial reactions from the four lawmakers, all Republicans, who represent Western North Carolina in the House and Senate suggest that area could be mighty small.
The Beatles broke up. So, eventually, did Led Zeppelin. The biggest conservative caucus in Congress appears to be next.
House conservatives are planning what National Journaldescribed as a “mass exodus” from the Republican Study Committee. The departing lawmakers complain that the RSC has stopped fighting for its founding principles– much like the Republican Party itself.
Conservative outside groups drove the government shutdown a year ago, but now many Republicans are brushing them off on key tax and spending bills — an incredible fall for groups that once ruled by fear.
Club for Growth, a major player in the standoff last year, marked a one-year tax break package for businesses as a “key vote,” meaning voting for it could factor into a lawmaker’s standing with the group. But it sailed through the House Wednesday easily.
The “Hell No” caucus is once again causing headaches for Republican leadership.
A cadre of the House’s most conservative members will meet Wednesday morning at the Capitol Hill Club for Rep. Steve King’s regular breakfast to discuss lame duck legislation. Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, who often serves as a de facto spokesman for congressional hardliners, is expected to attend.