E-Newsletters

Last Wednesday, we celebrated national Teacher Appreciation Day.

Almost everyone has had a teacher leave a lasting impact on their life. And yet teachers are tremendously underappreciated in this country. That's a disgrace.

If teacher pay had risen in proportion to per-pupil spending since 1970, the average teacher would make more than $120,000 today. And studies have shown that an exceptional, high-performing teacher can impart a year and a half's worth of learning to a student in just one year.

There is a feeling around Washington that Americans can't make decisions for themselves. There are some people here who really do believe more government is the answer to every problem. The attitude isn't new by any stretch, but under President Obama it's only gotten worse.

We've seen it come to life in the form of health care mandates, strict regulations on family farms, and even limits on how much food our children can eat at school. But probably the best example is at the Environmental Protection Agency.

For those of you who don't already know, today is Tax Day. It comes every April, without fail. As the saying goes, nothing in life is guaranteed - except death and taxes.

U.S. tax policy is difficult, confusing, and time consuming. Loopholes and special interest deductions were bad enough. Now, Obamacare is making it impossible for even accountants to understand.

The tax code needs to be reinvented. It needs to be shortened and simplified so people can understand what they're paying and where their money is going.

That's what the Fair Tax is all about.

Over the past few weeks, Republicans in Congress have had the opportunity to make their priorities known before federal agency budgets are finalized.

One of my priorities throughout this process has been keeping money out of the hands of abortion providers and pro-choice groups like Planned Parenthood.

Just this Congress, I have signed or helped introduce multiple bills that continue our fight for life. One prohibits the use of federal funds for abortion or any health plan that covers abortion.

It's hard to know what – or who – to trust in the debate over Kansas City International Airport.

The Kansas City Aviation Department spent $258 million renovating KCI in 2004. Today, 12 years later, their debt still sits at about $200 million.

But rather than paying off the airport's debt, the Aviation Department has their eyes set on spending more money – and convincing Kansas City that their plan is the only one that can save KCI.

There are nearly 12 million immigrants living in this country illegally; drawing welfare benefits, sending their children to public schools, and pushing down wages for American workers.

And while liberal politicians and poor border protection have contributed to illegal immigration numbers, the problem extends well beyond amnesty and open borders.

Since September 11, thousands of young men and women have given their lives to defend America. We've spent so much in the war against violent Islamic extremism, and we continue that fight to this day.

That's why it's so disturbing to see the Commander in Chief jeopardizing all that our military has worked for just to fulfill a campaign promise.

Last week, President Obama announced his plans to close the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba, which is used as a prison for terrorists that have tried to harm American soldiers across the globe.

A budget can tell you a lot about someone's priorities. For President Obama, a balanced budget has never been a priority.

The President's newest budget raises taxes on Americans by $2.6 trillion, and it is centered around the belief that Washington can solve all of our problems.

Since Republicans took over the House in 2010, we've saved a trillion dollars in discretionary spending, cut our annual deficits in half, and have become the number one producer of energy in the world.