Opinion Editorial

As a regular commuter across Michigan, I share your frustration with high gas and energy prices. Uncertainty about the high cost of these prices makes it harder for families to live within their budget. It also hurts Michigan's ability to regain its place as a competitive manufacturing state at a time when they are already threatened by additional federal mandates and government regulations.

The recent pattern of federal government abuse is very troubling, undermines citizens' trust in their government and we, the American people, deserve an explanation from President Barack Obama as to why his administration used its vast powers to commit these misdeeds.

Every day we hear new reports of challenges surrounding the implementation of the president's health care law. More workers and businesses are coming forward to express frustration with the law.

Under the law's employer mandate, businesses are forced to provide government-approved health insurance or pay a penalty. The president's recent decision to delay the mandate for a year only underscores what many citizens, businesses, and members of Congress have been saying for a long time: The law is a train wreck.

The public's trust in government has been shaken by a string of recent controversies. It's chilling to learn what's happened under this administration's watch and, as seen from the influx of calls and letters to my office every day, I know you are concerned as well. As your representative, I am committed to pursuing accountability and increased transparency for our federal government. Sitting on the House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform (OGR) has provided me the opportunity to address issues including Benghazi, IRS, and the Department of Justice directly.

It's been more than three years since President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law, and it's becoming obvious that it will neither protect patients, nor make their health care more affordable, but instead will cause millions of Americans to lose access to their current health care, lead to higher premium rates and hurt job creation.

That's why I recently voted to repeal the president's law in its entirety. Until we stop this train wreck of a law, our families and small businesses will continue to suffer under it.

For more than four years the federal government has been talking about how to improve our economy, with little to show for it. Despite stimulus spending, higher taxes and the easing of monetary policy– the middle class continues to struggle and many Americans remain without a job. If we want to put people back to work, we must make the necessary changes now and start with much needed comprehensive tax reform.