E-Newsletters

Once again, Congress was faced with a debt limit increase last week that did not contain a single measure to help get our spending under control. That's simply the wrong prescription when it comes to ensuring a strong economic future. After the last five years of big-government ideas from the White House and the Senate, it is clearer than ever that simply spending money is not going to fix our problems.

The Winter Olympics in Sochi are now underway. There have been numerous reports about just how ill-prepared the region was to accommodate the spectators and athletes at the games. Hotels where the water is unclean and rooms lack doorknobs seem to be commonplace, and many manhole covers hadn't even been set in place before crowds began arriving.

President Obama's 2014 State of the Union address is as memorable for what he didn't say as what he did.

During the course of his 65-minute speech, the president didn't mention the phrases ‘national debt' or ‘spending' once. It seems that working with the Congress to get our fiscal house in order and reduce our $17 trillion debt remains low on the totem pole for this Administration.

The Constitution says that the president shall "from time to time give to the Congress information of the State of the Union…." That time comes this week as President Obama will report on the condition of our country and outline his legislative goals for the year.

It is one of the great privileges of my job to be able to recommend a select group of individuals for admission to the United States Service Academies each year. The military academies offer a unique and rewarding experience for young men and women. And North Missouri continues to produce some of the most outstanding candidates in the nation.

I am both honored and proud to nominate nine students this year to serve their country:

The second session of the 113th Congress officially convened this past week. And while it may be a new year, I intend to continue finding commonsense solutions to the problems facing our nation using Missouri values as my guiding principles. That starts with our nation's debt and unemployment.

Every occupation has its busy season. For farmers, it's during planting and harvesting. For teachers, it's the hustle and bustle of a new year. For amusement parks, it's the summer season. It's no different for tax accountants who are busy studying up on the over 70,000 pages of tax rules and regulations.

The clock is about to strike midnight on 2013. It has been an interesting year.

The biggest story of the year is the failure of Obamacare. Throughout all of my travel, from Tarkio to Hannibal and Kansas City to Kahoka, the number one concern I heard from constituents was uncertainty about how Obamacare would impact them personally. As we have seen in recent months, Obamacare just does not work, and the failed rollout and millions of cancellation notices have only raised more questions in the minds of Americans.