E-Newsletters

In the President's Inaugural address, he once again mentioned Cap and Trade. I don't believe you can tax your way to energy independence or to a cleaner environment. This cap and tax system would also be devastating for our economy. I believe the best thing to do is increase our supply of American energy.

Here in Missouri's Sixth District we are helping create American energy. Farmers, and the renewable energy they produce, can play a role in reducing our high energy costs. We also are leading the way in wind production.

We all rely on agriculture at least three times a day. From the milk you enjoy in the morning to the dinner you eat at night, agriculture provides our nourishment each and every day. No matter where you live, your grocery store is filled with produce, fruit, meat and dairy products.

I learned a lot from growing up on a farm. I learned about responsibility at an early age by caring for animals and working with my family in the fields. To this day, those lessons I learned about the value of an honest day's work have stuck with me.

There is no doubt that society is changing. Nowadays, many kids have to go to a petting zoo to see what a pig or a chicken looks like. I even read about some folks who fly here to spend their vacation working on a farm. They found the hard manual labor a nice change of pace.

Like a cat with nine lives, the Death Tax just will not go away. I believe it's incredibly unfair that after a lifetime of building up your farm or small business, the federal government taxes you one last time when you die.

The current estate tax was enacted in 1916 to help pay for World War I. Like many taxes, it was meant to be temporary. Initially, the top rate was just 10 percent, but it never did go away.

There is a saying that there is no such thing as a free lunch. If you want to get paid, you have to do your job. A lot of people ask me, why does Congress get paid if they don't do their job and pass a budget? It's a good question.

Last week the House passed a bill that will require both chambers to pass a budget by April 15^th. If they don't, they won't get paid.

One of the unique qualities of Americans is our willingness to help our neighbors in need. In North Missouri, we know when our neighbors are having a hard time or need help getting back on their feet. It's a part of our way of life.

In Washington, however, every disaster has become an excuse to spend money without worrying about the budget. That's what happened last week when the House passed a $50 billion aid package to help victims of Hurricane Sandy.

As we begin a new year, many small businesses and families are preparing their budgets for the year. Some families are hoping to save a little more this year and others may be trying to figure out how to make ends meet.

In Washington, the President will present his budget recommendations in February. However, our Constitution gives the power of the purse to Congress. Congress must approve all spending bills, but they are also required to pass a budget.