Todd Tiahrt legislative update
From Congressman Tiahrt:
Dear Friend,
Welcome to this week’s U.S. Capitol Update.
No More Bailouts
It is time for Congress to stand up and say no more bailouts. This week I introduced a No More Bailouts Resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives calling for Congress to stop spending billions of borrowed taxpayer dollars on bailout after bailout. My resolution states clearly to the American public that Washington has a spending problem, and that the wasteful spending must stop.
Congress needs to cut up its taxpayer credit card, stop borrowing from our children and grandchildren, and redirect its effort toward encouraging private sector re-investment. We need long-lasting solutions that will renew our infrastructure, reform our regulations and reduce our taxes.
I have added a survey to my website because I want to know what you think about bailouts. Please take a few seconds to register your opinion. I plan to share these results with my colleagues in Congress. Click here to be directed to the survey.
CPAC 2009
This week I had the pleasure of addressing hundreds of people at the 2009 Conservative Political Action Conference. I spoke on a panel discussion about the consequences of bailing out big business along with two of my colleagues, Reps. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) and Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) as well as Mr. Fred Smith, President of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, and moderator Matt Kibbe, President of Freedom Works.Click here to watch the video.
Rejecting the Largest Annual Discretionary Spending Increase Since the Carter Administration
While American families are tightening their budgets, Democrats ignored the call for fiscal constraint and passed the largest increase in annual discretionary spending since the Carter Administration.I voted to reject the bloated $410 billion omnibus bill that represents an 8.3 percent spending increase from last year – not including government spending contained in the Democrat’s so-called stimulus bill signed into law by President Obama this month. When you add the $410 billion omnibus and the $1.2 trillion stimulus bill, the combined FY2009 funding for the federal government totals $680 billion. That is $301 billion more than the same government programs received in FY2008, representing an 80 percent spending increase.
One would think that after several bailouts for irresponsible corporations and hundreds of billions in deficit spending for a so-called stimulus bill, Democrats would give American families a break. Instead, like kids in a candy store, borrow-and-spend Washington leaders continue their out-of-control spending spree.
At a minimum, the federal government should do what most American families are doing. We should reduce spending across every agency to reflect the state of our current economy. American families and small businesses are making sacrifices. A responsible and disciplined Congress should do the same for the federal government.
Click here to read more.
Traveling Around Kansas
Last week since the House did not hold votes, I spent my time in Kansas visiting several of our military bases and talking with people about our economy, how we can create new jobs, and steps we should be taking to prepare for the future.It was a pleasure to meet with commanders at Fort Riley to discuss important funding issues for the base. I was able to see firsthand the tremendous infrastructure growth underway at Fort Riley that will help retain and train the soldiers that keep our country safe.
It was also a pleasure visiting with the commanders at Fort Leavenworth. Visiting Leavenworth only reinforced my belief that this base should not be the destination for enemy combatants if President Obama moves forward with his order to close the Guantanamo Bay terrorist detainee facility.
As part of my new role as the Ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor/HHS/Education) I also traveled to Fort Hays State University, Barton County Community College, Western Plains Medical Center in Dodge City, Sunflower Electric in Hays, and Palmer Manufacturing and Tank Inc. in Garden City to discuss future priorities for Kansas.
President Obama’s Congressional Address
On Tuesday evening President Obama came to the Capitol to address a joint session of Congress.I remain committed to working with President Obama toward bipartisan solutions that will help take us toward more prosperous times. I believe that is what most Americans want, and that is what we should be doing.
However, in the last few months my Republican colleagues and I have been shut out of the process. Democrats, despite the rhetoric, have shunned our innovative, common-sense ideas and refused to listen.Until leaders in Washington are willing to do more than talk about cooperation and stop unjustifiable government spending of borrowed money, we will not find lasting solutions to our economic troubles.
Instead of continuing this reckless trend of growing a bigger government in Washington, we need to take this money and put it directly into the pockets of struggling Americans and small businesses. This is possible with solutions like the House Republican Economy Recovery plan that would give tax breaks to small businesses, create 33,000 more jobs in Kansas than the Democrat’s stimulus plan, and do so at half the cost. We need long-lasting solutions that will renew our infrastructure, reform our regulations and reduce our taxes.
Click here to read more.
Teaming with Wildlife Coalition
I also enjoyed attending Teaming with Wildlife Coalition’s Celebrate America’s Wildlife Reception where I was honored to receive an award for my work as Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Interior Subcommittee last Congress.It is organizations like Teaming with Wildlife that work on so many different facets to help restore and conserve our Nation’s wildlife.
As always, if I can be of any assistance to you or your family, please do not hesitate to contact me. You can reach my Wichita office at 316.262.8992 or send me an electronic message by clicking here.
Related Posts:
- American Solutions: Tax Day Tea Parties
- Tim Huelskamp – Cut, Cap, Balance Passes the House
- Legislative update from Todd Tiahrt
- Bobby Jindal Op-Ed: ‘A trillion here, a trillion there’
- Op-ed, public letter from Senator Orrin Hatch and Senator John Cornyn – Rethinking a Balanced Budget Amendment
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