House Starts Talks on Debt Ceiling & 2014 Budget

From Tea Party Patriots --

Next week, the House Committee on Ways & Means is having two important hearings. Below are some basic details to be aware of:

First, on Wednesday, the Subcommittee on Oversight will hold a hearing for Members of Congress who have submitted or cosponsored bills in the 112^th and 113^th Congress that address spending prioritization if the debt ceiling is breached. From the Committee’s website:

Congressman Charles W. Boustany Jr., M.D. (R-LA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight of the Committee on Ways and Means, today announced the Subcommittee will hold a hearing examining the government’s ability to prioritize its obligations and continue operations should the U.S. Treasury reach its statutory debt limit. The hearing will take place on Wednesday, April 10, 2013, in Room 1100 of the Longworth House Office Building, beginning at 10:00 A.M.

Oral testimony at this hearing will be limited to Members of Congress who have introduced or co-sponsored legislation related to the government’s ability to continue operating when the debt limit has been reached during the 112^th or 113^th Congresses. However, any individual or organization not scheduled for an oral appearance may submit a written statement for consideration by the Subcommittee and for inclusion in the printed record of the hearing.

While it is unlikely the debt ceiling will be breached, this could be a very informative hearing to see which Members of Congress have various ideas to prioritize spending.

On Thursday, another hearing is scheduled – the annual Ways & Means hearing with the Secretary of the Treasury. With the President’s budget scheduled to arrive on April 10, the hearing is being held the next day:

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) today announced that the Committee on Ways and Means will hold a hearing on President Obama’s budget proposals for fiscal year 2014.  The hearing will take place on Thursday, April 11, 2013, in 1100 Longworth House Office Building, beginning at 10:00 A.M.

BACKGROUND:

On April 10, 2013, the President is expected to submit his fiscal year 2014 budget proposal to Congress.  The proposed budget will detail his tax proposals for the coming year as well as provide an overview of the budget for the Treasury Department and other activities of the Federal government.  The Treasury plays a key role in many areas of the Committee’s jurisdiction.

In announcing this hearing, Chairman Camp said, “The Ways and Means Committee is committed to comprehensive tax reform that eliminates tax loopholes, simplifies the code, and lowers rates.  Tax reform that accomplishes these goals can strengthen our economy, create more jobs and allow American workers to start seeing an increase in their paychecks again.  This hearing will provide both the Committee an opportunity to review the President’s tax proposals and Treasury Secretary Lew the opportunity to describe how the Administration intends to work with the Committee and Congress to pass and enact comprehensive tax reform.”

While the President’s budget is mostly a formality in general, and especially since it’s over two months late, the hearing should be very informative as to whether or not we’ll actually have normal order for the budget process in Fiscal Year 2014. (I think it’s highly unlikely, given the major differences between the House and Senate budget resolutions, but it’s always possible.)

The function of these hearings is mostly to give Members the ability to create soundbytes for constituents and the media.  However, occasionally, good things come out of these hearings – Senator Cruz’s recent hammering of Attorney General Eric Holder is one example of this. Hopefully, the two hearings will be more like the latter, and less like the former.

Democrat Controlled U.S. Senate goes 0-5 on Passing a Budget

In recent headlines there has been much coverage on President Obama getting another slap down by his fellow Democrats in the Senate when, once again, they ALL voted against (0-99) a budget resolution based on Obama's failed 2013 budget blue print.

Not wanting to ruin their astonishing run of not passing a budget in over 3 years (1,117 Days) or tarnish their reputation of being a do-nothing, Democrat controlled Senate,  Senate Leader Harry Reid, joined by the establishment elite RINO's, also failed to pass four other budget measures.  The propagandist MSM does not appear to be pointing this out.

Other budget measures that were rejected by the Senate are;

• Rep. Paul Ryan's "Path to Prosperity" (failed 41-58)
• Senator Rand Paul's "Platform to Revitalize America" (failed 16-83)
• Senator Mike Lee's "Saving the American Dream" (failed 17-82)
• Senator Pat Toomey's "Restoring Balance" (failed 42-57)

The Senators from Ohio -Senator Sherrod "Sluggo" Brown (D), in cheap attempts to distance himself from his last 4 yrs of failure and still refusing to do the job he was elected to do, joined with fellow Democrats in voting against Obama's budget and the above alternative measures.

Senator Rob "The RINO" Portman (R?), joining his fellow Democrats voted against the Senator Rand Paul and Senator Mike Lee's budget proposals and voted in favor of the Rep. Paul  Ryan and Senator Pat Toomey budget proposals.

We will deal with Senator Sluggo in this general election by educating voters on his failures and forcing him to run on his record.

As for Portman.... while some have the mindless thought he is VP material for Romney -- many Tea Party groups in Ohio will be looking to give him a one way ticket to Lugarville in his next primary.

Below is contact info for Brown & Portman....

Senator Sherrod Brown

Email: http://brown.senate.gov/contact/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/sensherrodbrown 

Cleveland Office PH: (216) 522-7272
Cleveland Office Fax: (216) 522-2239
D.C. Office PH: (202) 224-2315
D.C. Office Fax: (202)228-6321


Senator Rob Portman

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/robportman

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/robportman
Email: http://portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-form 

D.C. Office Ph#: (202)224-3353
Cleveland Office Ph#: (216)522-7095
Cincinnati Office Ph#: (513)684-3265
Toledo Office Ph#: (419)259-3895
Columbus Office Ph#: (614)469-6774 / 1-800-205-6446 (OHIO) 

Tea Party Patriots tell Congress - "Get Back to Work!"

While the stock markets and 401K's tumbles like President Obama and Congress in the polls, our elected elite have decided to go on VACATION.

Now, instead of putting politics in place of good policy and failing to protect our countrys credit rating in the debt ceiling debate, the establishment elite have decided frolic and fun is more important than the well being of our country.

As many Americans have put vacation plans on hold because of financial constraints or in the past have cancelled vacations because of unexpected work obligations, the Tea Party Patriots are asking Congress to be responsible and do the same...

From U.S. News --

"If I were Speaker Boehner, I'd call Congress back into session. I wouldn't take this month off. I'd say in light of the downgrade, we have serious problems we need to address. There's nothing from stopping us from addressing them right now and lets get back to work," says Jenny Beth Martin, cofounder of the Tea Party Patriots.

She told Whispers that Congress should return to make good on earlier promises to slash spending, moves that might help the nation regain it's AAA bond rating from Standard & Poor's. Once back, she says, "they could keep their pledge that they made to cut $100 billion this year. Or they could take the cuts from the 'Cut, Cap, and Balance' plan of $110 billion and pass that. They don't need to wait until the special 'super committee' makes recommendations at Thanksgiving. This downgrade right now is affecting not just our economy but the world economy. Who is going to be the leader and solve these problems, that's what we're looking for."

The speaker's office had no comment. Neither Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid nor President Obama have signaled a desire to recall Congress.

In a harsh assessment of Congress, Martin adds, "At what point are they going to realize that Americans are frustrated with what they are doing? They are destroying our country right now."

Martin said that if Congress doesn't cancel its recess, Tea Party members will flood congressional town hall meetings around the nation to demand action.

"If they don't go back into session, then we're going to show up at town halls around the country," she says.

Since we know these D.C. dipweeds will not cancel their vacations, please sign up on our email list at www.clevelandteaparty.com for up to date info on Congressional Town Halls in Ohio.

Take Default Off the Table" Support the Full Faith & Credit Act

In speaking loudly but carrying a little stick, Speaker John Boehner and the D.C. establishment are incorrectly predicting armageddon like consequences if the debt ceiling is not raised and we go into default

The threat of default is nothing more than a political ruse for allowing the establishment elite in D.C. to continue spending us into oblivion, where in reality the Full Faith and Credit Act will enable spending cuts to be made while allowing our country to satisfy needed financial obligations -- thus taking the threat of default off the table.

Analysts from DC’s premiere think tanks have come out in support of the principles behind the Full Faith and Credit Act: Heritage here, CATO here, and AEI here.  

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke recently conceded in testimony before the House Budget Committee that the Full Faith and Credit Act would “reduce the risk with the debt limit.”  The Foundry’s full account of Chairman Bernanke’s testimony is here.

From the RSC -- 

Ryan's Budget Passes House

From National Review Online --

The House has adopted Rep. Paul Ryan’s 2012 budget resolution, which would cut $6 trillion in spending over the next 10 years, on a 235-193 vote. No Democrats voted for the plan.

Here’s Ryan in advance of the vote on the House floor:

Congress & the Monkey Theory

From Politically Incorrect Gazette --

If you start with a cage containing five monkeys and inside the cage, hang a banana on a string from the top and then you place a set of stairs under the banana, before long a monkey will go to the stairs and climb toward the banana.

As soon as he touches the stairs, you spray all the other monkeys with cold water. After a while another monkey makes an attempt with same result... all the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it.

Now, put the cold water away. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and attempts to climb the stairs. To his shock, all of the other monkeys beat the crap out of him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs he will be assaulted.

Next, remove another of the original five monkeys, replacing it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment... with enthusiasm.

Then, replace a third original monkey with a new one, followed by a fourth, then the fifth. Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs he is attacked. Most of the monkeys that are beating him up have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs. Neither do they know why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey.

Finally, having replaced all of the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys will have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, none of the monkeys will try to climb the stairway for the banana.

Why, you ask? Because in their minds... that is the way it has always been!

This, my friends, is how Congress operates and is why, from time to time, all of the monkeys need to be REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME!

Rep. Farenthold (TX) introduces the Federal Agency Transparency Act

With input from the Tea Party Patriots, Congressman Blake Farenthold (TX-27) has introduced the Federal Agency Transparency Act....

I have introduced H.R. 1061, the Federal Agency Transparency Act, which would require federal agencies to publish receipts and expenditures every two weeks on their websites.  I truly appreciate the Republican Study Committee for their insight and assistance in drafting this piece of legislation which will provide greater transparency of federal spending.  Under this bill, Americans will be able to track every dollar of government agency spending, scrutinize the goals and performance of every federal program, and perform searches of millions of forms and filings in a similar cohesive manner.

This past November, the American people demanded that Congress cut spending, reduce the size of the federal government, and increase accountability and transparency.  As Members of Congress, we have a duty to be faithful stewards of taxpayer dollars and to use their money efficiently.  Leading by example, Congress took an important step towards increasing transparency in our own budget expenditures by publishing the Statement of Disbursements (SOD) online for the American people to review.

The government’s current practices and processes do not facilitate transparency and have not kept pace with private sector technologies.  Too often, federal agencies and Congress have failed to publish their information online.  At other times, information has been published in formats that are not easily searchable, sortable, and downloadable.  As a result, citizens often perceive federal policies and spending to be obscure, costly, and arbitrary.

Thanks,

Congressman Blake Farenthold (TX-27)

Tea Party Patriot Survey Results

 

Below are the results of a survey conducted with Tea Party Patriot members acrss the U.S....

 

 

Do you think the Republican Leadership is in line with the will of the American people?

 

7.1% said yes

76.8% said no

15.5% undecided

<1% did not respond

Do you think Tea Party Patriots still has a lot of work to do to make sure that the Republicans 'can hear us now'?

 

98.5% said yes

<1% said no

<1% undecided

<1% did not respond

Do you think some of the Freshmen Republican Congressmen have been co-opted by the leadership?

 

60% said yes

9.3% said no

30% undecided

<1% did not respond

Do you think Tea Party Patriots should stage a protest in DC on 3/31/2011?

 

84% said yes

3.5% said no

12% undecided

<1% did not respond

Should we demand the next CR contain at least $90 billion in cuts to get us to the original promise of $100 billion this fiscal year? ($10 billion in recent cuts + $90 billion in new cuts)

 

95.3% said yes

1.2% said no

2.9% undecided

<1% did not respond

Should we demand that the defunding of NPR be included in the CR so that it actually has a chance of passing the Senate? 

94.2% said yes

1.8% said no

3.3% undecided

<1% did not respond

Should we demand that the next CR defund all of Obama Care (including $105 billion already appropriated)?

97.7% said yes

<1% said no

<1% undecided

<1% did not respond

Will you help organize or participate in a side walk protest outside of your Representative's district office on Thursday, March 24, 2011 when they are home for break?

37.9% said yes

23.1% said no

38.2% undecided

<1% did not respond

Are you willing to spend your own money to come to DC again on March 31, 2011 to protest the current actions of the House of Representatives and demand that they get their fiscal house in order? (This is the most opportune time because the House is in session and it will be right before leadership is whipping votes for the CR the following week.)

24% said yes

41% said no

34.9% said undecided

<1% did not respond 

Republican Leadership? Where?

From Tea Party Patriots --

Since the Republicans took back the majority in the House in January, do you think they have been responsible in handling this fiscal year's budget? Have they lived up to your idea of leadership? Where is the budget that will get us through the rest of the fiscal year? Are they letting the Democrats rope-a-dope them? Do they seem to understand the urgency of America's fiscal situation? Should we let them get away with passing a Continuing Resolution that doesn't rescind the $105 billion that has already been appropriated to Obama Care? 

Your sacrifices are the reason that the GOP holds the gavel today. You put them in office, and yet they aren't listening to you, and they're not listening to those in their caucus that would dare to tell the truth. What kind of a leader goes to the negotiating table with all of his cards showing, having already given in to the opposition? Is it time, once again, for the American people to take the lead?   

 

The Facts

 

Many members of the GOP are proud that they have cut $10 billion from the budget over a period of 5 weeks. And while cutting spending rarely ever happens in Washington DC, Republicans and all Americans need to keep things in perspective. The facts are simple. Let's review.

• The same day that the House GOP voted to cut $6 billion, our national debt jumped up by $72 billion.

• An analogy: If every penny represents $1 billion, our national debt plus current deficit equals 15,800 pennies. The GOP has removed 10 pennies so far. That's it. And the Democrats wanted to remove about 4 and 1/2 pennies for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends in October.

• The national debt is over $14.2 trillion while we borrow about $4 billion every single day. This doesn't include unfunded liabilities (see below).

• $10 Billion in cuts is equal to 0.07% of the national debt. That's less than 1/10th of 1%!!!

• The current deficit is projected to reach $1.6 trillion - just for this fiscal year.

• Our deficit for the single month of February (the shortest month of the year!) was $223 billion - the largest deficit in our history.

• We would have to invest $60 trillion right now to cover the current unfunded liabilities of our federal government, including the debt and current deficit. In other words, we need $60 trillion today to keep the promises of payments made by politicians who will be long gone when the bills come due.

• Every single US man, woman, and child owes almost $200,000 to pay for the deficit + debt + unfunded liabilities.

The recent events in Japan are showing us that a nation living so close to the fiscal edge cannot afford an unexpected disaster to occur. We are drowning in so much red ink that one unexpected, unpreventable, uncontrollable event could bring our house of cards right down on top of us.

Tea Party Patriots Continuing Revolution Rally in D.C.

From Tea Party Patriots --

This past weekend we asked you if we should stage a protest in Washington, DC, on Thursday, 3.31.11. Thousands of you let us know that we should and we hear you loud and clear. 

On Thursday, March 31, 2011, Tea Party Patriots will be holding a Continuing Revolution Rally on the East Side of the Capitol Building from noon to 1:30pm. While the Congress continues "business-as-usual" with their short term continuing resolutions, we will be there to Continue our Tea Party Revolution and demand they make the tough decisions we sent them there to make. 

• We sent them there to repeal Obama Care and they did, but if they are serious about that vote they won't let another CR pass without removing the $105 Billion in funds already appropriated to Obama Care. 

• We sent them there to cut spending and while they may tell you that they have cut $10 Billion from the budget in a 3 week period, the same day that the last CR passed in the House, an additional $72 Billion was added to deficit... in ONE DAY.

• They pledged to us that they were going to cut $100 Billion in spending this fiscal year, so far they have failed to follow through on that pledge.

• We sent them there to make tough decisions, to be leaders, and yet they are timidly passing mediocre spending reforms as if they are avoiding conflict with the Democrats.

• We sent them there to be BOLD and yet their actions are showing otherwise.

This is merely a continuation of the battles fought over the last two years. Help us continue to gain ground and build on the successes we've had. They are testing the waters and waiting for us to go away. We're not going away! Will you stand on the steps of the Capitol with us next Thursday to help send that message to them loud and clear? Click here to let us know and be on the look out for more details.

Action Alert: Defunding Obamacare / Your calls are needed now!

Action Alert

We need you to call the GOP members of the House Rules Committee (where the first vote is expected in the next 24 hrs) immediately and urge them to support Rep. Steve King's amendment to defund Obamacare.

The defunding of Obamacare is NOT in the Continuing Resolution currently in process!

There are two types of funding in ObamaCare: direct appropriations made by the law itself and separate discretionary spending necessary to execute the law’s myriad provisions. Because it is a type of budget bill, a continuing resolution would only deal with the discretionary spending needed to execute the law, not the money the original ObamaCare law appropriated.

A continuing resolution is a type of appropriations bill that allows the government to continue functioning without having Congress decide how much money to give to each individual federal program or agency. (Weasel Zippers)

The GOP members of the Rules Committee, and their office phone numbers are:

Pete Sessions, TX-32 (202) 225-2231

Virginia Foxx, NC-5 (202) 225-2071

Rob Bishop, UT-1 (202) 225-0453

Rob Woodall, GA-7  (202) 225-4272

Richard Nugent, FL-5 (202) 225-1002

Tim Scott, SC-1 (202) 225-3176

Daniel Webster, FL-8 (202) 225-2176

Keep the pressure on and hold the GOP to its promises!

Please ask the Congressmen to support Steve King's amendment to defund Obamacare in the continuing resolution. 

Republican Study Committee members introduce a Bill to prevent Default on the Debt

It looks like Congressman Jim Jordan is on a mission in D.C.! 

From The Republican Study Committee --

Led by Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA), Republican Study Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH), Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), and Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), RSC members have introduced H.R. 421, the Full Faith and Credit Act.  In the event the statutory debt ceiling is reached, this legislation would direct the United States Treasury to prevent a default by paying principal and interest due on debt held by the public before making any other payments.  The bill has also been introduced in the Senate by Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA).

“The ‘full faith and credit’ of the United States should not hang in the balance on every adjustment to the national debt limit,” said Rep. McClintock.  “States protect their credit by pledging first call on revenues to their debts and so should the federal government.  After all, before you can ‘provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty,’ you have to be able to finance them.”

“A pitiful scare tactic already being used by the Treasury Secretary in the debt ceiling debate is the threat of allowing the federal government to default on its obligations,” said Chairman Jordan.  “This is government mismanagement at its worst.  Secretary Geithner knows full well that he has the authority to prioritize federal spending so that default is not an option.  This bill will take Secretary Geithner’s disastrous scenario completely off the table.”

“America's sterling credit rating is vital to our future prosperity,” said Rep. Foxx.  “This bill offers a simple safeguard to protect our credit and prevent a sovereign debt crisis.  It's the sort of common sense solution that we can easily put in place without wading into the debate over raising the debt ceiling.”

“This important piece of legislation ensures America’s debt rating and the threat of default on our debt cannot be used as political weapons.  This bill will remind the markets and the world that America will never default on its debt while giving Congress time to have a meaningful, reasonable discussion about how to rein in out-of-control spending and prevent our country from sliding further into debt,” remarked Rep. Garrett.

# # #

Keep up the good work Congressman Jordan!

Jordan, Garrett and DeMint Unveil the Spending Reduction Act

Jordan, Garrett and DeMint
Unveil the Spending Reduction Act

Outline $2.5 trillion in spending cuts to help resolve growing debt crisis

Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), Chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC), Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Chairman of the RSC Budget and Spending Task Force, and Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC), Chairman of the Senate Steering Committee, unveiled the Spending Reduction Act, which begins to address the rapidly growing national debt by making substantial spending cuts immediately and throughout the next decade.

“The national debt has grown from $8.6 trillion four years ago to more than $14 trillion today,” said Jordan.  “This mountain of debt, nearly the size of our entire economy, threatens to create a whole new financial crisis.  Every day we refuse to change course and instill some fiscal responsibility, the problem grows even larger.  Unless Washington acts soon to cut spending, massive tax hikes, economic stagnation, and national bankruptcy will rob our children of the opportunity to reach for the American Dream.”

“The Spending Reduction Act gives us a $2.5 trillion head start in the race to preserve the fiscal stability of the United States,” said Garrett.  “This bill represents the first step in the process, not the last.  To achieve long-term fiscal stability, we must finish the race by making the tough decisions Congress has put off for far too long.  Only after we tear down barriers to job creation and make reforms to our entitlement programs can we truly resolve our debt crisis.”

“Our nation stands on the edge of a fiscal cliff and we face a stark choice: go over the edge into bankruptcy and declining freedom or choose to make the hard decisions today to save our country for our children and grandchildren," said Senator DeMint. "I'm proud to stand with Congressmen Jordan and Garrett against the wave of wasteful Washington spending. The Spending Reduction Act begins the difficult task of shrinking the federal bureaucracy that threatens our future prosperity. Congress must take the steps now to balance the budget, pay off our debt, and preserve freedom for future generations.”

Compared to current projections, the Spending Reduction Act would save taxpayers $2.5 trillion through 2021.  It starts by keeping House Republicans’ pledge to take current spending back to 2008 levels and repeal unspent funds from the failed “stimulus.”  

At the beginning of the next fiscal year on October 1, 2011, spending is further reduced to 2006 levels and frozen there for the next decade.  To help achieve these savings, the bill shrinks the size and cost of the civilian federal workforce and specifically targets over 100 budget items and spending reforms.

###

Support the Economic Freedom Act

Below is the Press Release from Congressman Jim Jordan (OH-4) and his proposed Economic Freedom Act.  Please contact Ohio's members of Congress and ask them to support Congressman Jim Jordan's "Economic Freedom Act".  Contact information is listed below.

From Congressman Jim Jordan (OH-4) --

Economic Recovery Through Private Sector Growth

The American economy lost over 7 million jobs, and the American people are more than 4 trillion dollars deeper in debt today because the tax-and-spenders in Washington, D.C. failed to heed President Reagan’s words:

“Government is not the solution to our problem.
Government is the problem.”

The multi-trillion dollar government stimulus programs and taxpayer-funded bailouts have failed. A growing private sector economy is the only “stimulus program” that will create the jobs needed to restore America’s economic strength.

Congressman Jordan and Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) have introduced H.R. 5029, the Economic Freedom Act, a plan to unleash the power of America’s private sector economy.

The Economic Freedom Act would terminate the TARP and repeal the remaining stimulus, replacing them with a real stimulus plan to create jobs by:

           Reducing The Payroll Tax by Half for 2010 Providing immediate stimulus by increasing workers’ paychecks and improving the bottom line for employers.

Eliminating The Capital Gains Tax Encouraging the risk-taking and investment that is at the heart of the entrepreneurial spirit

Reducing the Corporate Tax Rate to 12.5% Improving America’s competitiveness in the global market and providing incentives for expansion and job creation

Permanently Eliminating the Death Tax Ensuring that small businesses and family farms, the engine of our economy, will continue creating jobs for future generations

Providing Immediate Business Expensing Encouraging long-term reinvestment in business, increasing competitiveness and creating jobs

Click here and listen to Congressman Jordan explain the EFA.

###

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Contact Info:

Below is the contact information for Ohio's members of the U.S. House.

Rep. Steve Chabot, OH-1
D.C. Office Phone: (202) 225-2216
D.C. Office Fax: (202) 225-3012
Email: https://chabot.house.gov/contact-me/email-me

Rep. Jean Schmidt, OH-2
D.C. Office Phone: (202) 225-3164
D.C. Office Fax: (202) 225-1992
E-mail: http://www.house.gov/schmidt/contact.shtml

Rep. Mike Turner, OH-3
D.C. Office Phone: (202) 225-6465
D.C. Office Fax: (202) 225-6754
E-mail: http://turner.house.gov/Contact/

Rep. Bob Latta, OH-5
D.C. Office Phone: 1-800-541-6446 (OHIO)
D.C. Office Fax: 1-800-278-8203
E-mail: https://latta.house.gov/Contact/default.aspx

Rep. Bill Johnson, OH-6
D.C. Office Phone: (202) 225-5705
D.C. Office Fax: (202) 225-5907
E-mail: https://forms.house.gov/charliewilson/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm

Rep. Steve Austria, OH-7
D.C. Office Phone: (202) 225-4324
D.C. Office Fax: (202) 225-1984
E-mail: http://austria.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=7&sectiontree=4,7

Rep. John Boehner, OH-8
D.C. Office Phone: (202)225-0600
D.C. Office Fax: (202)225-5117
E-mail: SpeakerBoehner@mail.house.gov

Rep. Marcy Kaptur, OH-9
D.C. Office Phone: (202)225-4146
D.C. Office Fax: (202)225-7711
E-mail: https://forms.house.gov/kaptur/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm

Rep. Dennis Kucinich, OH-10
D.C. Office Phone: (202)225-5871
D.C. Office Fax; (202)225-5745
E-mail: http://kucinich.house.gov/Contact/ContactForm.htm

Rep. Marcia Fudge, OH-11
D.C. Office Phone: (202)225-7032
D.C. Office Fax: (202)225-1339
Email: http://fudge.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=190&sectiontree=4,190

Rep. Patrick Tiberi, OH-12
D.C. Office Phone: (202)225-5355
D.C. Office Fax: (202)226-4523
Email: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

Rep. Betty Sutton, OH-13
D.C. Office Phone: (202)225-3401
D.C. Office Fax: (202)225-2266
E-mail: http://sutton.house.gov/about/emailform.cfm

Rep. Steven LaTourette, OH-14
D.C. Office Phone: (202) 225-5731
D.C. Office Fax: (202) 225-3307
Email: http://latourette.house.gov/contact/contact-form.aspx

Rep. Steve Stivers, OH-15
D.C. Office Phone: (202)225-2015
D.C. Office Fax: (202)225-3529
E-mail: https://stivers.house.gov/contact-me/email-me

Rep. Jim Renacci, OH-16
D.C. Office Phone: (202)225-3876
D.C. Office Fax: (202)225-3059
E-mail: https://renacci.house.gov/contact-me/email-me

Rep. Tim Ryan, OH-17
D.C. Office Phone; (202)225-5261
E-mail: https://forms.house.gov/timryan/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm

Rep. Bob Gibbs, OH-18
D.C. Office Phone: (202)225-6265
D.C. Office Fax: (202)225-3394
E-mail: https://gibbs.house.gov/contact-me/email-me

*** Please note: some members of the House are using the "Write your Representitive" U.S. House email program and refusing to accept emails/comments from people outside their District.  For residency verification a zip code and at times an address is requested.

If you live within the District and do not wish to use your own address or if you live outside the District and still want to comment, you can enter the zip code and/or address of the local District Office for the member you are trying to contact.

Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn Introduces Health Care Choices Act

Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn (TN-7) introduced a bill that will allow people to purchase health insurance across state lines...

Congressman Marsha Blackburn (TN-7) introduced the Health Care Choices Act today. She was joined by Rep. Fred Upton, Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Rep. Joe Pitts, Chairman for the Subcommittee on Health, and over sixty other co-sponsors.

The Health Care Choices Act replaces onerous Washington mandates with true competition for health coverage by permitting the sale of health insurance products across state lines. The Act will allow consumers to shop for health insurance just like they do for other insurance products- online, by mail, over the phone, or in consultation with an insurance agent in their hometown. It opens the consumer to greater insurance options than those offered in the state where they live.

"The health care law we repealed yesterday forces the cost of health insurance ever higher through Washington driven mandates. The Health Care Choices Act will drive down the cost of insurance through competition. Once we remove the artificial barriers created by state lines, insurance companies will be free to compete for your business; giving consumers the policies they want at a price they can afford." Mrs. Blackburn said.

In speaking about the bill Chairman Upton said: “Competition is one of the most powerful market forces. It drives down cost while improving quality, and it creates a vast array of options to meet consumers’ individual needs. Yet rigid federal constraints prevent Americans from shopping for health insurance the way they shop for car insurance and consumer products, looking at the costs and benefits offered by providers from coast to coast. I’m pleased to cosponsor this bill to empower Americans, and I welcome this and all efforts to replace Obamacare with commonsense solutions designed to bring down costs, expand access to coverage, and protect the doctor-patient relationship.”

The PROUD Act; The DREAM Act's Little Brother

After having the nightmarish back-door amnesty DREAM Act act shot down the left is again ignoring the will of the American people with a newly named Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants bill -- The PROUD Act.

From Rep. Joe Baca --

Today, Congressman Joe Baca (D-Rialto) introduced legislation to allow motivated immigrant high school graduates to apply for United States citizenship after meeting certain academic requirements, which would replace the naturalization exam, and paying a reduced fee.  The People Resolved to Obtain an Understanding of Democracy (PROUD) Act, mandates that any high school graduate who can furnish transcripts proving completion of grades 6 through 12, displays an understanding of United States history, government and civics, and can prove they are of good moral character be allowed to apply for U.S. citizenship.

“America is the land of opportunity, we are blessed to live in a nation where people of diverse backgrounds can come together as one,” said Rep. Baca.  “The PROUD Act is important legislation that puts our most responsible and successful immigrant students on a streamlined path for citizenship, and at the same time motivates all our students to do their best and to stay out of trouble.”

Currently, the minimum age to take the United States citizenship exam as part of the naturalization process is 18 years.  The PROUD Act would amend the Immigration Nationality Act to allow exemplary non-citizen high school graduates, who are of age, to apply for citizenship as long as they provide the necessary academic transcripts, proof of essential civic knowledge, and are in good moral standing within the community.

“It is wrong to have policies that unfairly punish the innocent young people who came to America by no choice of their own as children,” concluded Rep. Baca.  “By recognizing those hard-working, immigrant students who are here to make a better life for themselves and their families, the PROUD Act can make a positive impact in schools and communities throughout our nation.  And by increasing the number of high-skilled, citizen workers, this legislation can boost our economic recovery by creating additional tax revenue at the local, state, and federal level.”

Rep. Baca also sponsored the PROUD Act in the previous (111th) Congress.  The legislation was included as a key provision in the larger comprehensive immigration reform legislation introduced in the House of Representatives, H.R. 4321, CIR-ASAP.  Last Congress, the PROUD Act was endorsed by numerous advocacy organizations including LULAC, HACU, the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, MANA, and the National Latino Farmers & Ranchers Trade Association. 

Two Bills introduced to Stop the Over-Regulation of the American People

A great step in the right direction!

From Rep. Don Young --

Alaskan Congressman Don Young has introduced two bills aimed at curbing the overregulation of the American people.  Both H.R. 213, the Regulation Audit Revive Economy Act of 2011 (RARE Act of 2011), and H.R. 214, the Congressional Office of Regulatory Analysis Creation and Sunset and Review Act of 2011, intend to not only review existing regulations but limit future ones as well.

“Quite often contentious regulations are issued through agencies, thus bypassing Congress and the voice of the people,” said Rep. Young.  “This legislative trick by the Executive Branch has contributed to our massive federal deficit and overall debt, while sometimes restricting small business growth.  Hundreds of thousands of pages of regulations are on the books, making the amount of red tape industry has to navigate almost paralyzing.  And more often than not, these regulations are written in convoluted legalese making them near impossible to understand.

“With the abundance of regulations already coming from legislation such as the health care bill and the inevitability of thousands more this year, it is incredibly important that we do this review sooner rather than later.  The excess of government has gotten out of hand, and with these bills I am calling on Congress to finally take a hard look at these overreaching rules that stifle American freedoms.”  

For the text of H.R. 213 click here
For the text of H.R. 214 click here

•   There are over 160,000 pages of regulations on the books right now

•   In 2005, the Small Business Administration study found that enforcing all the regulations costs $1.1 trillion per year (Americans paid less in income taxes in 2009)

•   3,500 new rules were adopted in 2009 alone at a cost of $13.6 billion, most of these new rules were a result of the outgoing Bush Administration

•   For the last couple of decades, the federal government has issued on average 4,000 new rules each year in the Federal Register

•   The Code of Federal Regulations in 2006 had 33 percent more pages than in 1980

•   Three years into the George W. Bush Administration, the cost of new regulations hit $4 billion.  One year into the Obama Administration, the cost of new regulations hit $4 billion.

Congressman Bob Latta (OH-5) Introduces Legislation to Permanently Repeal Estate Tax

While a battle still rages in OH to repeal the state version of the Estate Tax, Congressman Bob Latta (OH-5) has introduced a bill that would permanently repeal the federal estate tax.

For more information on repealing OH's Estate Tax please click here.  Below is the press release from Congressman Latta on his introduced legislation for permanent repeal of the federal estate tax...

From Congressman Bob Latta (OH-5) --

Washington, Jan 6 - On the first day of the 112th Congress, Congressman Bob Latta (R- Bowling Green) introduced H.R. 143, a bill that if passed, would permanently repeal the estate tax and ensures that individuals are not taxed on the increased value of an estate by retaining the stepped-up basis at death.  A copy of the legislation can be found here.

The estate tax, also known as the death tax, is a federal tax levied against the assets of a person’s estate when they pass away.  Historically, the estate tax was levied at fifty-five percent of one’s estate over $1 million, but the exemption level was increased over the past ten years after a series of tax cuts were signed into law in 2001 and 2003.   In 2010, individuals were freed from having to pay the estate tax.  On January 1, 2011, the estate tax was reinstated for a two year time period at a 35% rate and a $5 million per person exemption.

“The estate tax is archaic and goes against the grain of hard working American families who strongly believe in a founding principle of our country that with hard work, future generations can be better off than the last. Permanently eliminating the estate tax is an important step in ensuring that our small businesses and farmers, an integral part of our nation’s economy, can grow and prosper into future generations.  While the federal government may have taxed a portion of hard-earned American family dollars in the past, it doesn’t mean they have the right to do the same to future generations,” Congressman Latta stated after introducing the legislation.

H.R. 143 has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.