Opinion Editorial
June 24, 2015
I come home to Michigan every weekend for many reasons. My wife, my farm, and my truck are all here.
It's also allows me the privilege of directly listening to your common sense concerns and solutions so I can effectively be your voice in Congress.
From roundtables to coffee hours to town hall meetings, I frequently hear about the growing regulatory burden imposed by Washington bureaucrats who have little to no knowledge about what's best for our communities.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a prime example.
Issues:Agriculture
June 15, 2015
THERE ARE obscure but important issues in Washington, and then there's the reform of worker compensation for federal employees — where the importance-to-obscurity ratio is especially high. Kudos to President Obama for repeatedly tackling the issue in his budget proposals, including his most recent one, and to Rep.
June 5, 2015
By U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg and State Rep. Kevin Cotter
"Kind of like pennies from heaven. It gets you a toy or something that you need, is the way we typically look at it."
That's how the Chief of Police from Columbia, Missouri, once described civil asset forfeiture, the process by which law enforcement can seize the personal property — whether cash, cars or personal computers — from Americans with little to no evidence the property was involved in criminal activity.
"Kind of like pennies from heaven. It gets you a toy or something that you need, is the way we typically look at it."
That's how the Chief of Police from Columbia, Missouri, once described civil asset forfeiture, the process by which law enforcement can seize the personal property — whether cash, cars or personal computers — from Americans with little to no evidence the property was involved in criminal activity.
May 18, 2015
Congratulations to the Class of 2015. You mastered a skill or subject matter and now possess a strong foundation for success in today's job market.
Along the way, seven out of 10 of you accrued enough student loans that, on average, could cover a down payment on a house. Today, the student loan debt in the U.S. totals more than $1.2 trillion, with an average of $30,000 in loans per student.
Along the way, seven out of 10 of you accrued enough student loans that, on average, could cover a down payment on a house. Today, the student loan debt in the U.S. totals more than $1.2 trillion, with an average of $30,000 in loans per student.
Issues:Education
May 14, 2015
The pervasive mentality in our nation's capital can be summed up in three words: Washington knows best.
I disagree, and I'm working to change it.
I believe Michigan families — not Washington bureaucrats — are better equipped to make decisions on what's best for their family or small business.
The rise of top-down federal mandates was a reoccurring theme at a panel discussion I recently hosted at the Jackson Area Career Center with local business leaders from Alro Steel, Elm Plating, The Enterprise Group of Jackson, and the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.
I disagree, and I'm working to change it.
I believe Michigan families — not Washington bureaucrats — are better equipped to make decisions on what's best for their family or small business.
The rise of top-down federal mandates was a reoccurring theme at a panel discussion I recently hosted at the Jackson Area Career Center with local business leaders from Alro Steel, Elm Plating, The Enterprise Group of Jackson, and the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.
Issues:Jobs and Economy
April 15, 2015
As much as we dread the arrival of April 15 each year, thanks to the president's health care law, Tax Day is getting even worse.
This Tax Day marks the first time that Obamacare's individual mandate kicks in, forcing individuals to pay a penalty of 1 percent of their income or $95 — whichever is higher — if they failed to purchase insurance. Fines will grow to 2 percent of income or $325 for the next tax filing season. As many as 6 million Americans, many of them unaware of the mandate, could be facing this new penalty.
This Tax Day marks the first time that Obamacare's individual mandate kicks in, forcing individuals to pay a penalty of 1 percent of their income or $95 — whichever is higher — if they failed to purchase insurance. Fines will grow to 2 percent of income or $325 for the next tax filing season. As many as 6 million Americans, many of them unaware of the mandate, could be facing this new penalty.
March 24, 2015
It's far too difficult these days to find common ground in Washington, but when it comes to our moral obligation to eradicate human trafficking, we have a strong foundation for achieving it.
The scope of this heinous crime is not limited to faraway countries -- it happens right here in Michigan and across the United States.
Each year, as many as 300,000 children in the United States are at risk for sexual exploitation in what has become a $9.8 billion criminal enterprise.
The scope of this heinous crime is not limited to faraway countries -- it happens right here in Michigan and across the United States.
Each year, as many as 300,000 children in the United States are at risk for sexual exploitation in what has become a $9.8 billion criminal enterprise.
February 16, 2015
A recent New York Times headline aptly described the story I often hear repeated as I meet with hard working taxpayers across Michigan's 7th District: "Middle Class Shrinks Further as More Fall Out Instead of Climbing Up."
Michigan families work hard to get ahead, but for far too many, a chance at the American Dream is slipping out of reach.
President Obama may sound good talking about "middle class economics," but in reality many of his policies have done more harm than good.
Michigan families work hard to get ahead, but for far too many, a chance at the American Dream is slipping out of reach.
President Obama may sound good talking about "middle class economics," but in reality many of his policies have done more harm than good.
Issues:Jobs and Economy
January 30, 2015
By Sen. Rand Paul and Rep. Tim Walberg
There are many reasons why the Internal Revenue Service is perhaps the least-loved agency in America -- a tax code so complex that it seems like you need an advanced degree to understand it, the dreaded audit process and revelations that certain groups have been targeted based on their political beliefs.
There are many reasons why the Internal Revenue Service is perhaps the least-loved agency in America -- a tax code so complex that it seems like you need an advanced degree to understand it, the dreaded audit process and revelations that certain groups have been targeted based on their political beliefs.
January 30, 2015
The new Congress is less than one month old, and President Obama has already issued eight veto threats, including before some legislation even received an up or down vote.
That number represents the most threats to start a new Congress since 1985 when the practice of issuing formal veto threats began.
The history-making doesn't stop there. President Obama also made more specific veto threats in his recent State of the Union address than any such address since World War II.
That number represents the most threats to start a new Congress since 1985 when the practice of issuing formal veto threats began.
The history-making doesn't stop there. President Obama also made more specific veto threats in his recent State of the Union address than any such address since World War II.
Issues:Jobs and Economy