Conaway Chronicle

Last Tuesday I met with the Regional Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Southwest Region, Doctor Benjamin N. Tuggle to discuss key environmental issues affecting West Texas, specifically the Dunes Sagebrush lizard.

During the meeting, I renewed my concerns about the science and process that USFWS is using to advance this listing.  I also highlighted the many voluntary scientific and conservation efforts being led by the Permian Basin community.  We know more about the Dune Sagebrush Lizard’s biology today than we ever have, thanks to the businesses and private citizens in West Texas who have funded the research that the federal government did not do.  I continue to believe that listing the lizard is unwarranted and will be disastrous for the people and economy of Texas.

On Thursday, the House passed a small business tax cut to allow small businesses to keep more of their own money to grow and create jobs. At a time when Americans are facing high gas prices, high taxes and slow job growth, my colleagues and I in the House are doing everything we can to reduce barriers to job creation and economic growth, starting with small businesses that are the engines of job creation.  After voting in favor of H.R. 9, the Small Business Tax Cut I released the following statement:

“This bill stands in stark contrast to the damaging policies coming out of the Senate and the White House which only take more money from struggling businesses and punish them for succeeding. Instead of punishing job creators, Republicans want to reward those who start small businesses, grow jobs and succeed in helping to grow our economy.

“Today’s legislation will cut taxes for small business by 20 percent. This cut will help 22 million American small businesses, most of which are mom and pop run businesses struggling to get by, keep more of their hard earned money so they can survive these tough economic times, buy new equipment, invest in their workers and get ready to succeed.” 

Information regarding the Small Business Tax Cut can be found at majorityleader.gov/smallbiz including:

• Tax Cut Summary
• What Small Business Owners Are Saying
• Charge & Response
• Economic Impact Study by Fiscal Associates, Inc.

In committee last week, the House Agriculture Committee passed a budget proposal that would reduce federal spending by $33.2 billion over the next 10 years.  The measure recommends budget reconciliation cuts required by the House Budget Resolution be met entirely by reforms, elimination of loopholes and the reduction of waste, fraud and abuse in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The House Budget Resolution, H. Con. Res. 112, passed in March, instructs the House Agriculture Committee lawmakers to make policy changes that result in 1, 5, and 10 year savings estimates of $7.7 billion, $19.7 billion, and $33.2 billion, respectively.

During the hearing I offered to my colleagues that “when it comes down to the directions of the Constitution, defense of the nation comes first in the responsibilities of the federal government.”  Following the hearing, I released the following statement:

“Today's decision represents the leading edge of the hard choices needed to be made to save our Republic and ensure future generations enjoy the same opportunities all those who went before them did.

“The Agriculture Committee put forward a proposal that will make significant reforms to SNAP.  Our package contains new measures designed to better catch misuse and abuse in the program and ensure that the folks who actually need SNAP benefits continue receiving them. 

“SNAP will continue to be an important part of the safety net for many Americans in need, however support must continue to come from the communities we live in and the friends and family that surround us.”