HANNIBAL, MISSOURI -- Press Release from Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer
9th District of Missouri
Even though we are still a few days away from the start of the 112th Congress, the new Majority in the House is already outlining an agenda that attempts to address the many concerns that you have been telling us about.
American families are tired of their elected representatives ignoring their voices and concerns and that is why Republicans have presented to the people our Pledge to America. This governing agenda was created after we received thousands of suggestions from people just like you. We listened to your concerns and suggestions and came up with a bold new agenda that reforms government and rebuilds the trust between Congress and the people we are elected to serve. This agenda is built on solutions that reflect the priorities of the American people -- priorities neglected and even openly mocked by the outgoing Majority in Washington. It is now time for a new Majority in Washington to finally listen to the American people. It
includes:
. A plan to create jobs, end economic uncertainty, and make America
more competitive;
. A plan to stop out-of-control spending and reduce the size of
government;
. A plan to repeal and replace the government takeover of health care;
. A plan to reform Congress and restore trust; and
. A plan to keep our nation secure at home and abroad.
My Republican colleagues and I understand that you are fed up with Washington's lackadaisical attitude when it comes to spending your hard-earned tax dollars, and that is why I refuse to accept earmarks. We have to illustrate to American families that we hear and acknowledge their concerns about spending, deficit and debt. I am pleased that House Republicans are leading the way on banning earmarks in the next Congress.
We are going to give Americans a chance to watch the House Rules Committee in action, which will provide complete transparency into a process that involves many of the key decisions made on individual pieces of legislation, including spending bills and the attempts to significantly scale back the new health care law. We don't want important decisions hidden from you, the taxpayer, as has been the practice in recent years. You deserve to know who is making important decisions and why. As members of Congress, we must be held accountable to those we are representing.
During the new Congress we will ensure that members spend more time back home listening to your concerns. In 2011 we will spend a full week each month back in our districts. As someone who travels back home every weekend to get a better handle on the issues you're facing in the district, I welcome the opportunity to spend more time listening and meeting with you.
And while we're talking about traveling back home, I was pleased to see that, unlike outgoing Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker-designate John Boehner has made it clear he will be traveling by commercial aircraft.
In the coming weeks, there are going to be more bold initiatives that will make us in Congress more accountable to you. We must put jobs and American families before spending and government. I expect that the YouCut program, which has been using your ideas to try and reduce spending, will continue with a new Majority that is committed to listening to the folks back home.
The bottom line is that we have to control spending while at the same time creating an environment where American families can enhance their quality of life. Those are my priorities now and will continue to be my priorities in the next Congress.
CONTACT US: As always, for those of you with Internet access, I encourage you to visit my website. For those without access to the Internet, I encourage you to call my offices in Columbia (573-443-1041), Washington, Mo. (636-239-2276), or Hannibal (573-231-1012) with your questions and concerns.
If you want even greater access to what I am working on, please visit my
YouTube site and my Facebook page.
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