--Randy’s Roundup--

A Weekly Newsletter from Congressman Randy Neugebauer

April 11, 2011

Chairman Ryan’s 2012 Budget

As I travel throughout the 19th District, during town hall meetings and other events, I always ask two questions of the groups I am meeting with. The first question: do you think America today is offering a better life for you than your parents and grandparents lived?  Almost everyone raises his or her hand to say yes. The second question: Do you think your children and grandchildren will live a better life than you are living? Astonishingly, very few people raise his or her hand to agree. This is deeply concerning and, frankly, unacceptable.  We cannot leave an America for our next generations that is worse off than the America of today.  The solutions will be tough, but they are there.  I am proud of my colleague, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, for taking an important first step last week in setting a plan to restore our country’s fiscal soundness.

Congressman Ryan’s (R-WI) plan, called the “Path to Prosperity,” outlines a serious and viable approach to reducing our nation’s growing debt and getting spending under control. It will cut $6.2 trillion of government spending and reduce the national debt by $4.8 trillion over the next decade. In addition to reductions in spending, the Path to Prosperity will spur economic growth through pro-growth tax reforms that will lower tax rates and broaden the tax base; it does not raise taxes to pay for additional spending like Democrat proposals would do.

The “Path to Prosperity” proposes to repair a broken welfare, health and retirement security system, which I believe will change the federal government’s outlook on spending. We must fulfill the promise we made to seniors and those approaching retirement to make these programs sustainable for the future instead of letting them go broke in a decade. These reforms will allow us to make the programs solvent for future generations. This proposal will also eliminate funding for ObamaCare and restore the rights of individuals to manage their own health care. I expect that the House will vote on the "Path to Prosperity" later this week.  I look forward to joining my colleagues in supporting a plan to bring our debt and spending crises under control.

Spending Agreement Reached Between Congress and President Obama

Last Friday, President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) and Speaker of the House John Boehner (R) reached an agreement on 2011 spending levels. This agreement came after weeks of debate, and resulted in cutting $38.5 billion from the President’s original request for 2011 spending levels. This is well below the $61 billion that Republicans wanted to cut from Obama's proposed spending, but it does cut funding for abortion in Washington, DC and reduces funding for additional IRS expenditures. The framework of this bill was decided late last Friday evening, many of the smaller details are still being worked out.  To allow the time to finalize the details, the President signed into law a spending bill to fund the government for seven days, so legislators have the opportunity to view the bill in its full and complete form. Like many of you, I was disappointed in the levels of cuts in this agreement, and I will weigh the merits and faults of this bill as soon as all of the details are presented to me. It will be posted by tomorrow morning at the House Rules Committee website, if you would like to view the bill.

Shrinking EPA Regulation on the Clean Air Act

Last week, the House passed the Energy Tax Prevention Act by a vote of 255-172. I am a cosponsor of this bill, which would amend the Clean Air Act to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator from writing greenhouse gas regulations to address climate change. I believe the EPA represents the overreaching arm of a government that has grown too large. The EPA has been tirelessly promulgating rules on environmental regulations with seemingly little emphasis put on cost-benefit analysis. I believe clean water and air are important to Americans, but I also know that farmers already take good care of the land and the surrounding environments so future generations will have a chance to make an honest living off the land. I will continue to support H.R. 910 throughout the legislative process.

Preventing Government Regulation of the Internet

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a rule last December that would impose draconian regulations on how Internet-service providers can offer their services. The House voted last week on H.J.Res. 37, which disapproves of and reverses the FCC rule. The House passed this resolution by a vote of 240-179. I supported this bill because the FCC’s rule is an unnecessary government infringement on private industry. Since its inception, the Internet has been a thriving source of worldwide innovation, primarily without government intrusion. The FCC’s rule equates to a government takeover of the authority to control broadband networks, and it could result in Internet-service providers losing their ability to ensure that networks run smoothly. I believe it is important to allow free market forces to govern supply and demand needs without unnecessary intervention by the federal government.

Service Academy Forums

Service academies can provide excellent educations and open the door to many rewarding opportunities. Any student interested in applying to one of the nation's service academies can contact Mary Whistler in my Lubbock office at 888-763-1611 for more information. Students who attend service academies receive a first rate education in a wide range of fields including physics, engineering, math and social sciences. This training will open doors to successful careers, both inside and outside of the military.

In order to assist those who have expressed an interest in what our service academies have to offer, I am pleased to host an Academy Forum on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 in Lubbock and Saturday, April 30, 2011 in Abilene.

The forum in Lubbock will be held in the Byron Martin Advanced Technology Center at 3201 Avenue Q.  Registration begins at 5:30 p.m., and participants are urged to take advantage of the opportunity to visit with program participants before the formal presentations begin at 6 p.m.

The Abilene forum will take place at Cisco Junior College (Room 152) located at 717 East Industrial Blvd.  Registration will begin at 10 a.m. with the presentations beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Liaison officers from the Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, U.S. Naval Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy have been invited to speak and answer any questions regarding the academies or the application process. Visit my website to learn more and to fill out a Service Academy application.

Question of the Week

“Do you support the budget agreement to keep the government running for the remainder of 2011?”

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:

“Should Republicans make a deal with Democrats regarding spending for the next 6 months if it will cut $33 billion from the budget?”

Yes – 31%?
No – 66%?
Undecided – 2.6%%

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