The Week Just Passed:

Tax Freedom Day Finally Arrives in New Jersey

High Unemployment Among Young People Denies Them The American Dream

Another Unintended Consequence: “Obamacare’s Killer Burden on Nurses”

Democratic Advisor: White House Brought Benghazi Probe on Itself

A Presidential Speech We Will Never Hear, But Should

Learning from Our Foreign Policy Mistakes

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) Arrives In U.S.

“Open Spaces & Historic Place in Morris County” Airs Sunday

Salute: 11^th Congressional District Art Competition Winners

Salute: West Orange 10^th Grader Places in National Essay Contest

Tax Freedom Day Finally Arrives in New Jersey

The people of New Jersey are taxed too much.  Nothing proves that more convincingly than the arrival of Tax Freedom Day on May 9^th – the day average New Jerseyans have finally earned enough to pay their entire tax bill.  Starting today, people can put the money they earn in their own pockets to support themselves and their families instead of supporting government.

This year, New Jersey is the last state in the country to reach Tax Freedom Day, which means the people of our state work longer than anyone else in America to cover the money government takes from their paychecks.

 According to the Tax Foundation, Americans will pay more in taxes this year than on food, clothing, and housing combined.  It is outrageous that our people have to work harder to support the government than they do to provide the basic necessities for their families.

This is unacceptable.  That is why I am a strong supporter of lowering taxes at the federal level and support similar efforts at the state, county, and local levels.  We must lift the burden of high taxes from the backs of the people of New Jersey.

High Unemployment Among Young People Denies Them The American Dream

With commencement season upon us, graduates are having a very hard time finding jobs.  Eighteen to 29 years olds are more than twice as likely as the general working population to be unemployed.  Our economy continues to be mired in the worst recovery since World War II.  Until we stop piling more taxes and regulations onto the nation’s job creators, we are unlikely to see opportunities open up.

Another Unintended Consequence: “Obamacare’s Killer Burden on Nurses”

A California nurse writes in Time about the burden Obamacare is already taking on nurses and other health care professionals.  This is yet another example of the law of unintended consequences that seem to be the hallmark of the deeply flawed Affordable Care Act. 

The nurse writes: “While I hope the ACA will get care to millions of other Americans, I worry that it may make it harder for people to get comprehensive, timely care from trained and compassionate health care practitioners, including nurses like me.”

That’s the last thing we need: making it harder for some of the hardest working people I know – nurses – to do their jobs.

Advisor: White House Brought Benghazi Probe on Itself

The House this week voted to formally establish a select committee to investigate Benghazi.  Although the vote was mostly along party lines, a handful of Democrats did join with the Majority in strong support of this measure.

The White House and the President’s supporters are trying to paint this investigation as a partisan exercise, but longtime Democratic advisor Kirsten Powers isn’t buying that argument.  In this powerful op-ed, she explains why she believes the White House’s efforts to divert attention from this scandal have, in fact, succeeded in keeping it alive.

A Presidential Speech We Will Never Hear, But Should

William Galston drafts the speech he wishes that the President would deliver on Ukraine.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t look as if the President understands the nature of the threat to peace and freedom across Eastern Europe posed by Russian adventurism in Ukraine, so I don’t expect to hear anything such as this coming from the Oval Office anytime soon.

Learning from Our Foreign Policy Mistakes

Speaker John Boehner spells out exactly why we need a bilateral security agreement with the Afghan government (and why failing to arrive at one with Iraq has eroded the gains we made there).  The progress that Afghanistan and the United States and our other allies have made in this strategically important country must be preserved for both our own security and for the people of Afghanistan.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) Arrives In U.S.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) has recently reached the United States for the first time.  This disease is primarily found in the Middle East (as the name suggests), but with our highly mobile society, it’s possible for it to be carried around the world, much as SARS was several years ago. 

The Centers for Disease Control has some valuable information on its web site about the virus and how its spread.

“Open Spaces & Historic Place in Morris County” Airs on Sunday

A new 30 minute video on Morris County, produced by Greener New Jersey Productions (GNJP), airs on Sunday.  Titled, “Open Spaces & Historic Place in Morris County,” this film airs on NJTV on Sunday, May 11, at 11 am. 

According to the producers, “In spring, summer, and fall of 2013, GNJP filmed at parks, a wildlife refuge, trails and historic places in Morris County, NJ, to produce a program that will inspire you to get out and stroll, hike, bike and explore.”

Be sure to watch the video Sunday morning, or set your DVRs to record it!

You can watch a two minute trailer for the video here.  

Salute: 11^th Congressional District Art Competition Winners

This year’s annual Congressional Art Competition once again showcased some of the amazing artistic talent among high school students from around the 11^th Congressional District.  Sixty-three students, from Essex, Morris, Passaic, and Sussex counties entered pieces in this year’s competition. 

Congratulations to First Place Winner, Lauren Sciscione, a student at Nutley High School.  Her entry, a digitally enhanced photograph entitled, “Oil and Water,” captured the attention the judges for its composition, color, and creativity.

The other winners are: Danielle Araneo, Whippany Park High School, graphite drawing “Wide Awake;” Matt Einloth, Hanover Park High School, graphite drawing: “Drawing Match;” and Amanda Green, Pequannock High School, graphite drawing: “In the Hands of Time.”

The work of first place winner, Lauren Sciscione will be on display in the U.S. Capitol for one year beginning in June.  Ms. Sciscione will also have the opportunity to attend a reception in Washington, DC in June where she will be able to see her work, along with those of the other winners from around the country, on display. 

I want to thank all the students who participated and all the art teachers who supported their efforts!

Salute: West Orange 10^th Grader Places in National Essay Contest

Congratulations to Mahishan Gnanaseharan, a tenth-grader from West Orange, NJ, for being named one of the winners of the 2013 Making Democracy Work Student Essay Contest, sponsored by the United States Capitol Historical Society!  Mahishan was awarded Second Place in the Senior Division and earned a cash prize of $500.

I am sure his family, teachers, and friends are very proud of his accomplishment.  So am I!  America's future depends on the active participation of its future leaders – students such as Mahishan – who understand what makes democracy work and are willing to do the hard work representative government requires of all its citizens.