-- Randy's Roundup --

A Weekly Newsletter from Congressman Randy Neugebauer

Tragedy in Connecticut

Dana and I are heartbroken over the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. We cannot begin to understand violence like this.  Children’s safety is of the utmost importance to every single parent, so this tragedy has touched us all. I hope you’ll join us in praying for the children, teachers and families affected by this senseless violence.

TxDOT Urges Safety throughout the Holidays

In an effort to promote safety this holiday season, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is launching a Holiday Campaign to make safety a top priority. This year's TxDOT holiday program reminds Texans that “Sober Drivers Make Great Gifts” and urges everyone to plan ahead for a Holiday P.A.S.S. (Person Appointed to Stay Sober). It is vital during the holidays, and all year, to play it safe and appoint a designated driver; getting behind the wheel is not worth putting yourself and others in danger. Visit the TxDOT website to learn more about this important initiative.

Action Item of the Week – the Fiscal Cliff

With only two weeks until we come to the edge of the fiscal cliff, I sincerely wish I had more to tell you.  Unless Congress acts, on January 1, 2013, our current tax rates will expire, and every taxpayer will face higher rates.  On the same day, a series of automatic, across-the-board government spending cuts will occur.  Half of those cuts would come from our defense budget, which could harm our national security.  I’ve joined other House Republicans in passing legislation to replace those defense cuts with more common-sense reductions, and I’ve voted to extend our current tax rates. I’m dismayed that the President keeps insisting we must raise taxes on the top two percent of earners in order to come to a compromise.  That plan would only pay for eight days of government operations.  The truth is that America doesn’t have a revenue problem. We have a spending problem. Until we come up with a spending solution, the government will head towards a debt crisis no matter how high tax rates are. I’ll continue to update you with any developments, and I’ll keep working to reduce government spending.