-- Randy’s Roundup --

A Weekly Newsletter from Congressman Randy Neugebauer

July 11, 2011

Debt Limit Negotiations Continue

This weekend, Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) announced that he would not accept President Obama’s complicated $4 trillion, ten-year package to raise the debt limit.  The President and Senate Democrats remain committed to raising taxes during our slow economic recovery. This is just not acceptable. The federal government needs to be encouraging small businesses to grow and create jobs, not hurting them by taxing away their profits and causing uncertainty throughout the economy.

President Obama is still failing to realize that the federal government does not have a revenue problem; it has a spending problem that is not going to be solved by raising taxes, especially when taxes have already been raised to pay for the Democrats’ job-killing health care bill. I will continue to keep you up-to-date as these negotiations continue.

B-1 Amendment Approved to Avoid Cuts from the B-1 Fleet at Dyess AFB

Last week, the House of Representatives approved an amendment I offered to the Defense Appropriations bill that prevents any funds in the bill from being used to retire any B-1 bombers during the 2012 fiscal year.  This will allow the military to consider reductions to the bomber fleet comprehensively rather than on a piecemeal basis.

I am grateful for the support of my House colleagues in approving this amendment, especially Reps. Thornberry, Conaway and Noem who joined me in introducing it.  There is substantial support for this amendment because there is a very strong policy argument behind it. Currently, two-thirds of the bomber fleet is under review because of the new START Treaty limitations on nuclear delivery vehicles. At this time, we do not know what those cuts will look like, and there is no way to predict their impact on the capabilities of the overall bomber fleet. With just 162 aircraft, the bombers are a mere 3 percent of the Air Force’s manned aircraft fleet. After seeing the retirement of over 700 bombers during the last several decades, it is in the best interests of our national security to make the right decisions with this scarce asset.

While the passage of this amendment is a first step in a long and complicated legislative process, I am hopeful my colleagues in the Senate will share my belief that no B-1’s should be retired during this time of war against our enemies.

Legislation in the House This Week

This week, the House will consider the Energy and Water Appropriations Act, which would make appropriations for energy and water development for the 2012 fiscal year. The Better Use of Light Bulbs (BULB) Act will also be considered on the House Floor. This bill would call for the repeal of federal light bulb efficiency standards. The House will also consider the Flood Insurance Reform Act, which would extend the authorization of the National Flood Insurance Program, to achieve reforms to improve the financial integrity and stability of the program, and to increase the role of private markets in the management of flood insurance risk.

Mobile Office Hours Began Today

For the next two weeks, my district staff will be holding mobile office hours in various towns all across the 19th District of Texas. If you are having an issue with a federal government agency, if you would like to share an opinion on an issue, or if you would just like to drop in and say “hi”, please stop by one of the sites and one of my staff members will be glad to help you. Visit my website to see when and where these mobile office hours will take place.

Question of the Week

“The debate between the White House and Congressional leadership over the debt ceiling limit continues. Should raising taxes, as the President has asked, be part of the solution to reach an agreement and not let our government default on its credit?”

Please visit my website to submit your answer to this week's question.

Thank you for your continuing responses to our “Question of the Week.” Here are the results from last week’s question:

“Do you think Defense cuts that do not affect troop readiness should be on the table?”

Yes – 64%
No – 31%
Undecided – 4%

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As always, when events unfold in Washington, I will be sure to update you. Please forward the Roundup to anyone who might enjoy hearing updates from DC, and sign up for mobile updates by texting RANDY to GOPGOV (467468). In the meantime, do not hesitate to visit my website, call my office toll free district wide at (888) 763-1611 or call my Washington, DC office at 202-225-4005.