Blog Posts
Every once in awhile, Congress votes on a bill with a worthy objective but a flawed process. I believe that to be the case when it comes to H.R. 39, the TALENT Act, a bill that would make the Presidential Innovation Fellows program permanent. Last year, I was one of 8 members of the House, all Republicans, to vote against it, and it passed by a vote of 409 to 8.
Congress is now back in session, but before I am wrapped up completely in national issues, I want to float an idea and ask for your help.
Last night, the House voted on H.R. 26, the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny or the REINS Act. I am a cosponsor of this bill, and it passed 237 to 187 with my vote.
Quick update from earlier today....
The changes weakening the Office of Congressional Ethics were removed from the congressional rules package.
Today was one of the few times I was glad President Obama picked up his pen….
Once again, not all things are to be decided in Washington. It’s a concept too often forgotten in this town.
Today, the House voted on the Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act of 2017...the so-called continuing resolution. This bill would keep the federal government running through April, and it passed by a vote of 326 to 96 and I voted yes.
It represented but what one thing, a bridge that funded government until the new Trump administration is in town and settled.
On Friday, the House voted on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2017, which authorizes defense spending for next year, and it passed by a vote of 375 to 34. I voted for it because I think funding our national defense is one of the most important roles of government...and in this case, that outweighed the flaws I found in this particular bill.
Last night, the House passed the 21st Century Cures Act, a biomedical bill that could help many people, while at the same time it would negatively, and critically, impact our country’s bias toward spending. The bill passed 392 to 26, and I was among the 21 Republicans who voted no.
Earlier today, the House voted on the Midnight Rule Relief Act, a bill that would let Congress void regulations this administration finalizes at the end of its term all at once...instead of one at a time. The bill passed 240 to 179 and I voted yes. Let me give you three points on why I voted as I did.