The 110th Congress officially began last week when all 435 members of the House of Representatives took the oath of office.  The legislative calendar is already quickly filling up as several important bills supported by the new House leadership have bypassed the committee process and are already scheduled for a vote.

In a previous edition of the Roundup, I mentioned that there were a few questions on my mind concerning the new Congress.  One of those questions is whether the new majority’s agenda would help our country build on the economic achievements made during the past few years.  Lower tax rates on small businesses have encouraged investment and helped spur the creation of more than 7 million new jobs since August of 2003.  In addition, tax relief has put more money back in the pockets of working families, allowing them to reinvest in the American economy.  An increase in the tax burden at this time has the potential to stifle this economic growth we have enjoyed recently.

Yet, we are only one week into 2007, and an important defense against tax hikes has already been removed by the new majority.  Since 1995, a super-majority (60 percent) has been required to approve any measure that increases taxes.  However, last week the Democrats instituted a rule essentially requiring a mere simple majority to pass tax increases.  Through income and other taxes, the government already gets its hand into taxpayers’ wallets too much.  By pushing this rule to the side, it is now even easier for the federal government to increase the tax burden on many Americans, which I oppose.

House to Consider Embyronic Stem Cell Research Once Again

Later this week, the House will once again return to the issue of stem cell research.  Despite a presidential veto in 2006, the new majority plans on bringing a bill up for a vote that calls for taxpayer dollars to be used for research on embryonic stem cells.  I remain opposed to this research because it results in the destruction of human life. 

I have repeatedly supported responsible and ethical stem cell research that does not involve human embryos.  Whereas embryonic stem cell research crosses ethical boundaries and has yielded no cures or treatments for humans, adult stem cell research has led to treatments for a host of diseases, including cerebral palsy and leukemia, while upholding respect for human life.
 
--Randy