The following excerpt is from an email newsletter from NC Senator Richard Burr. Senator Burr wrote, "On a more somber note, this week, our national debt reached $13 trillion dollar mark. It is abundantly clear that business as usual in our government must stop. I have co-sponsored several bills that would cut government spending, but many of these failed to garner enough support to be approved. Our budget deficits are a tremendous threat to our nation’s future. We must work together to prevent our children from having to pay off more debt simply because we are afraid to make tough choices about our priorities. The current debt crisis in Europe should be a wake-up call to all of us that we must start making hard choices now.
In this regard, last night, the Senate voted to approve the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010. Originally intended as a bill to fund our military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, by the time this bill got to the floor of the Senate, it was full of spending that is completely unrelated to our troops. I have always been proud to support funding for our troops and our national defense. However, I am disappointed that this year, the supplemental funding bill is – once again – filled with unrelated spending that is not paid for with cuts elsewhere in the budget. I am especially disappointed that money is being taken away from our U.S. veterans to send money overseas. I supported amendments that would have improved the bill and covered its $60 billion cost, but unfortunately, these amendments were once again rejected by the majority in the Senate. I voted against this bill as it takes our country even closer to the edge of financial collapse."
I know there are many things facing our country right now, but one thing we can't take our eye off is our economy. What is being done to lower our debt and get people employed? There is far too much at stake to hope our economy will fix itself.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Bloggers - Are We In Danger Of Being Regulated Or Shut Up?
Bloggers play a role in politics and life in general! Blogging is just one of many ways we stay connected with our world and have the freedom of speech to say what's on our mind. An article posted on redstate.com indicates that this freedom may be regulated or worse. Take a look at the article and take action - contact your congressman and share your concerns.
I am not a conspiracy theorist by any means. However, the actions of the current administration and majority party have me very concerned with the direction our nation is headed.
I am not a conspiracy theorist by any means. However, the actions of the current administration and majority party have me very concerned with the direction our nation is headed.
Foxx Casts Vote To Reduce Wasteful Spending!
The following is a press release from NC Congresswoman Virginia Foxx.
Foxx votes for first ‘YouCut’ proposal
Proposal to cut wasteful $2.5b welfare program got 81k online votes
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (NC-05) today voted to cut federal spending by $2.5 billion annually by reducing spending on a new, wasteful welfare program. This proposal was nominated by 81,000 voters from across the country who participated in YouCut, a new online tool created by House Republicans.
“Americans spoke and we heard them,” Foxx said. “They want us to bring back spending restraint and guard their tax dollars from waste and abuse. It comes as no surprise then that a welfare program that was used to buy flat screen TVs and iPods caught the attention of the most YouCut voters.”
Out of 280,000 votes cast in the first YouCut round, 81,000 were in favor of cutting $2.5 billion from a 2009 program that undermines successful bipartisan welfare reform enacted in 1996 under President Clinton and a Republican Congress. The 1996 reform resulted in welfare caseloads dropping a record 60 percent.
But a $5 billion provision in the 2009 stimulus law undercut these reforms and promoted welfare dependency by handing out money to states that managed to increase their welfare caseloads. In fact, CBS News reported that in some cases funds from the new welfare program were used to buy “flat screen TVs, iPods and video gaming systems.”
“Taxpayers clearly don’t like their tax dollars disappearing into a failed welfare experiment,” Foxx said. “This is just the beginning of a difficult process to clean up the federal budget. Thankfully, fed-up citizens are engaging with Congress to help us trim the deficit and are offering up new ideas for keeping spending in check and creating a culture in Washington of saving, not spending.”
This week’s YouCut vote, which would have forced consideration of H.R. 1277, failed 240-177 with seven Democrats voting in favor. H.R. 1277, the Welfare Reform Restoration Act of 2009, is cosponsored by Foxx.
What is YouCut? YouCut is a new online tool, at http://republicanwhip.house.gov/youcut, that gives the public a chance to vote online or via cell phone for various proposals to reduce federal spending. The site offers five proposals a week for a vote to reduce wasteful or unnecessary spending. The following week House Republicans will offer the top vote-getter for a vote in the House of Representatives.
All North Carolinians can go to http://republicanwhip.house.gov/YouCut to vote for one of the five weekly spending cut proposals, which this week include proposals to chop mohair subsidies and suspend $266 million in new federal land purchases.
Foxx votes for first ‘YouCut’ proposal
Proposal to cut wasteful $2.5b welfare program got 81k online votes
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (NC-05) today voted to cut federal spending by $2.5 billion annually by reducing spending on a new, wasteful welfare program. This proposal was nominated by 81,000 voters from across the country who participated in YouCut, a new online tool created by House Republicans.
“Americans spoke and we heard them,” Foxx said. “They want us to bring back spending restraint and guard their tax dollars from waste and abuse. It comes as no surprise then that a welfare program that was used to buy flat screen TVs and iPods caught the attention of the most YouCut voters.”
Out of 280,000 votes cast in the first YouCut round, 81,000 were in favor of cutting $2.5 billion from a 2009 program that undermines successful bipartisan welfare reform enacted in 1996 under President Clinton and a Republican Congress. The 1996 reform resulted in welfare caseloads dropping a record 60 percent.
But a $5 billion provision in the 2009 stimulus law undercut these reforms and promoted welfare dependency by handing out money to states that managed to increase their welfare caseloads. In fact, CBS News reported that in some cases funds from the new welfare program were used to buy “flat screen TVs, iPods and video gaming systems.”
“Taxpayers clearly don’t like their tax dollars disappearing into a failed welfare experiment,” Foxx said. “This is just the beginning of a difficult process to clean up the federal budget. Thankfully, fed-up citizens are engaging with Congress to help us trim the deficit and are offering up new ideas for keeping spending in check and creating a culture in Washington of saving, not spending.”
This week’s YouCut vote, which would have forced consideration of H.R. 1277, failed 240-177 with seven Democrats voting in favor. H.R. 1277, the Welfare Reform Restoration Act of 2009, is cosponsored by Foxx.
What is YouCut? YouCut is a new online tool, at http://republicanwhip.house.gov/youcut, that gives the public a chance to vote online or via cell phone for various proposals to reduce federal spending. The site offers five proposals a week for a vote to reduce wasteful or unnecessary spending. The following week House Republicans will offer the top vote-getter for a vote in the House of Representatives.
All North Carolinians can go to http://republicanwhip.house.gov/YouCut to vote for one of the five weekly spending cut proposals, which this week include proposals to chop mohair subsidies and suspend $266 million in new federal land purchases.
Foxx To Host Tele-Town Hall
The following is from a press release from NC Congresswoman Virginia Foxx.
Foxx to host America Speaking Out Telephone Town Hall
Tele-Townhall will focus on constituent ideas for national agenda
WASHINGTON, D.C.—On Tuesday, June 8 Congresswoman Virginia Foxx will host an America Speaking Out telephone town hall for Fifth District constituents. Constituents can call into the town hall meeting by dialing 1-877-850-4133 at 5:30 pm and entering the password FOXX (3699).
"America Speaking Out is a part of an effort to give concerned constituents a seat at the table so they can be a part of drafting a governing agenda from the start,” Foxx said. “I've always believed that the best ideas come from the people, not from Washington. Therefore, constructing a governing agenda should begin with the people.”
Constituents will be connected to a live conference call with Rep. Foxx and other constituents in the Fifth District when they call 1-877-850-4133 on June 8 at 5:30 pm. All participants will need to enter a password for the call: the password is F-O-X-X (3699).
“After joining the call, constituents will be able to tell me about their ideas and priorities, Foxx said. “This will also be an opportunity to learn about new online tools for engaging with fellow citizens and Congress on the issues facing America. And I’ll post a list of the ideas submitted on my website, www.foxx.house.gov, for participants to review after the call.”
This telephone town hall is open to constituents in North Carolina’s Fifth District. It is part of an effort called America Speaking Out, which aims to engage the nation in a discussion about the country’s policy agenda. More details on this effort can be found at AmericaSpeakingOut.com.
Foxx to host America Speaking Out Telephone Town Hall
Tele-Townhall will focus on constituent ideas for national agenda
WASHINGTON, D.C.—On Tuesday, June 8 Congresswoman Virginia Foxx will host an America Speaking Out telephone town hall for Fifth District constituents. Constituents can call into the town hall meeting by dialing 1-877-850-4133 at 5:30 pm and entering the password FOXX (3699).
"America Speaking Out is a part of an effort to give concerned constituents a seat at the table so they can be a part of drafting a governing agenda from the start,” Foxx said. “I've always believed that the best ideas come from the people, not from Washington. Therefore, constructing a governing agenda should begin with the people.”
Constituents will be connected to a live conference call with Rep. Foxx and other constituents in the Fifth District when they call 1-877-850-4133 on June 8 at 5:30 pm. All participants will need to enter a password for the call: the password is F-O-X-X (3699).
“After joining the call, constituents will be able to tell me about their ideas and priorities, Foxx said. “This will also be an opportunity to learn about new online tools for engaging with fellow citizens and Congress on the issues facing America. And I’ll post a list of the ideas submitted on my website, www.foxx.house.gov, for participants to review after the call.”
This telephone town hall is open to constituents in North Carolina’s Fifth District. It is part of an effort called America Speaking Out, which aims to engage the nation in a discussion about the country’s policy agenda. More details on this effort can be found at AmericaSpeakingOut.com.
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