Mark's Weekly Update

My Vote on the "Cromnibus" Funding Bill 

On Thursday, the House passed legislation known as the "Cromnibus" to fund the government at previously agreed-to spending levels through September 2015. After much prayer and consideration, I ultimately joined 66 of my Republican colleagues in voting against the bill. Given President Obama's sweeping, unprecedented executive action on amnesty, I could not in good conscience vote for this bill, which did nothing to immediately stop the President's unconstitutional action. 

My office received an enormous number of calls and emails urging me to vote against the spending package. Many of you voiced your concerns with the outgoing Congress passing a long-term funding bill that spans well into the new Congress. Many callers also emphasized the need to de-fund the President's executive action. I appreciate all the calls, emails, and social media posts sharing your opinions. It is my job to represent your voices in Washington and that's a responsibility that I do not take lightly. 

Demanding Transparency on Obamacare

Last week, Obamacare architect Jonathan Gruber and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Marilyn Tavenner testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. I had the opportunity to question both of these key figures regarding their roles in the authoring and implementing of the President's healthcare law. Gruber, who infamously made disparaging remarks about the American people, refused to answer simple questions, including how much he was paid by the federal government for helping to craft Obamacare. In similar fashion, Ms. Tavenner repeatedly denied knowledge of failures associated with the roll-out of Healthcare.gov, despite email evidence to the contrary. 

I penned an op-ed early last week posing the question: Did Jonathan Gruber deceive Democrats, who voted unanimously for the Affordable Care Act, or were Democrats complicit in deceiving the American people? You can read the op-ed here.

New Poll: Majority of Americans Concerned about Executive Action

A recent Fox News poll found that following President Obama's unilateral action on amnesty, 68% of Americans worry about the future of our nation's system of checks and balances. Our nation certainly must address immigration, beginning by securing our border, but any action must first come from Congress, not the White House. Our Founders wrote a system of checks and balances into our Constitution to keep any one branch of government from having too much power. In the new Congress, reining in Executive overreach and ensuring that the interests of the American people are represented will continue to be among my top priorities. You can read about the poll here.

Visiting With Burke County Students in Washington 

I had the pleasure of meeting with students and teachers from Burke County, NC who were visiting our nation's capital. Thank you to the teachers and parents who made the trip possible for the students.