House Committee on Small Business, Republicans
Straight Talk: Committee Members React to Obama's State of the Union Address
Weekly Update from Sam

Friends:

President Barack Obama delivered the State of the Union address earlier this week.  During the address, the President once again pledged a renewed focus on jobs, promising to ‘invest’ in our economy.

Whether it is called a stimulus, a bailout or an investment - it means more spending. With a record deficit of over one trillion dollars, we cannot allow the federal government to continue this out-of-control spending spree. Americans simply will not tolerate burying their children and grandchildren in more debt.

Many of my colleagues on the House Small Business Committee expressed similar views in their reactions to the State of the Union:

Rep. Steve King (R-IA): “We need to take the shovel out of the President's hands and stop his spending.”

Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO): “Anyone can see that adding to the $14 trillion deficit will do nothing to create jobs or grow the economy.”

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN): “We have heard the President, and his fellow Democrats, talk about creating jobs since 2008, but the fact is they have failed to produce on their promise, while still increasing federal spending. We must create a friendly environment for American businesses to return to doing what they do best – growing our economy and creating jobs.”

We need a new approach in Washington.  The government cannot create jobs, but – with the right polices – it can set the table for economic growth and create certainty for our nation’s small business owners. As the Chairman of the Small Business Committee, I intend to work with my colleagues to cut spending, rein in the scope of government, and eliminate unmanageable regulations and programs that stifle job creation.

(signed)
Sam Graves
Chairman

Latest Committee Action

On Wednesday, the House Small Business Committee held its first full committee meeting to prepare for the 112th Congress.  During the meeting, the Committee adopted its new rules and an oversight plan.
 
The approved oversight plan sets an aggressive agenda that will allow the Small Business Committee to investigate controversial polices and regulations, while the new rules package will ensure all Committee activities and initiatives are readily available on the website for public consumption. 

To view photos from the organizational meeting, click here. You can read a copy of the Committee rules and oversight plan by clicking here.  If you would like to learn about the new members of the House Small Business Committee, click here

Next week, the House of Representatives is not in session due to a Constituent Work Week.  However, you can continue to stay up-to-date on Committee activities by following us on Twitter and visiting our website.

News from Washington

On Tuesday, the House approved a resolution (H.Res. 38) to reduce spending to fiscal year 2008 levels for the remainder of the fiscal year. 

On Wednesday, the House continued its efforts to rein in federal spending and reduce the deficit by voting to end taxpayer financing of presidential election campaigns and national party conventions.  According to the Congressional Budget Office, this legislation (H.R. 359) will reduce direct spending by $447 million between fiscal year 2011 and fiscal year 2016.

January 28, 2011
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