Op-Ed
April 6, 2012
Our economy will not recover until there is a clear plan from Washington to stop spending money that we do not have and a plan to pay down the national debt. When I am home in Arkansas, I constantly hear from parents and grandparents who are worried that their children and grandchildren will not be able to live the American dream because our national debt will cripple our economy for generations. Additionally, small business owners tell me they are afraid to hire more workers or expand their business because our economy is so fragile.
March 30, 2012
Agriculture is the number one industry in our First Congressional District. In the fertile Mississippi River Delta we grow cotton, rice, corn, soybeans, wheat and even peanuts. In stark contrast to the Delta stand the Ozark Foothills where we have poultry, cattle, dairy and timber producers. Annually, agriculture in Arkansas is a $16 billion economic juggernaut that employees over 260,000 Arkansans.
March 23, 2012
Medicare is a promise made to seniors who have paid into the program for years. In Congress I am working to strengthen Medicare for today's seniors and the next generation of Americans.
This week the House of Representatives passed the Medicare Decisions Accountability Act. The measure will repeal the controversial Independent Payment Advisory Board, commonly known as IPAB, which would limit seniors' access to Medicare services. I am an original cosponsor of the bill and I was proud to support the legislation when it came up for a vote this week.
This week the House of Representatives passed the Medicare Decisions Accountability Act. The measure will repeal the controversial Independent Payment Advisory Board, commonly known as IPAB, which would limit seniors' access to Medicare services. I am an original cosponsor of the bill and I was proud to support the legislation when it came up for a vote this week.
March 16, 2012
This week I will introduce The Shared Responsibility in Preserving America's Future Act, which would require passage of a balanced budget amendment by the Congress in exchange for a 5 percent surtax on individual income exceeding $1 million annually. While my proposal may turn some heads, I hope it can be the beginning of Republicans and Democrats working together to fundamentally change Washington and start reducing our national debt.
March 9, 2012
Small businesses are the lifeblood of our nation's economy. Family-owned small businesses are more than just a place to work, they are living and breathing enterprises that are often passed from one generation to another. Arkansas is full of successful small businesses and family startups.
March 2, 2012
A quality education can be the spark that ignites imagination and enables young people to pursue their highest dreams. As the father of two young children, I am a strong advocate for local control of education. Teachers and administrators in Arkansas understand the needs of their students better than Washington bureaucrats can.
February 24, 2012
As of today, the price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Jonesboro is $3.45. Just a year ago that same gallon of regular gasoline would have cost $2.96. We have all heard news reports that gas could hit a record $5.00 a gallon this summer. I talked to a factory worker this week in Mountain Home who is already spending 20 percent of his monthly income on gas. At a time when our economy is struggling, higher gas prices will put a huge burden on working families trying to make ends meet.
February 17, 2012
Religious freedom is the bedrock of our democracy. The first settlers to cross the Atlantic made great sacrifices to move their families and livelihoods to an unknown land for the basic right of worshipping God without government intrusion. Early colonial charters and eventually the Bill of Rights were written to ensure that Americans have religious liberty.
February 10, 2012
This winter I had the privilege to nominate nine students from Arkansas's First Congressional District to a U.S. Service Academy. The academies provide a world class education to their students, and a nomination to an academy can be life-changing. The young men nominated are not only brilliant students, they also have given much to their communities and deserve recognition.
• Jordan Reed from Cabot will graduate 7th in a class of 686 and is active in scouting, FFA and Quiz Bowl.
• Jordan Reed from Cabot will graduate 7th in a class of 686 and is active in scouting, FFA and Quiz Bowl.
February 3, 2012
This week I introduced a bill before the House of Representatives that would give farmers a free-market option to prepare for disasters without relying entirely on the federal government. My bill, the Farm Risk Abatement and Mitigation Election or FRAME Act, would establish tax-deferred farm savings accounts to give farmers a choice in responding to disasters.