Conaway Chronicle: Volume 7, Issue 14

Congressman Mike Conaway | 11th District of Texas

December 21, 2012

Conaway Chronicle Volume 7, Issue 14
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As our family and yours prepares to celebrate Christmas and the New Year, I wanted to take a moment and share with you one last update from Washington.

GOING OVER THE FISCAL CLIFF?

As many of you saw last night, House Republicans offered a bill to address the tax portion of the fiscal cliff – a proposal to avert this crisis that the Democrats refused to support. So today, the threat of the fiscal cliff still looms. If we go over the cliff on January 1, every American will pay more in taxes, and our national defense will be subjected to severe, draconian budget cuts.

Unfortunately, I haven’t seen any actions from the White House that show they want to find solutions. The president even appears to be OK with sending Americans and the economy over the cliff.

With that attitude, it’s hard to believe anything will happen before January 1.

The ramifications of these cuts and tax hikes on our economy and national security may not be fully understood today, but they would be clear if we were to go over the cliff. Once the White House sees the consequences of going over the cliff and the impact higher taxes will have on American families, then they may finally be motivated to do what needs to be done.

TAKING THE GAVEL

As Congress prepares to swear in the 113^th Congress January 3, I’m pleased to announce that I will be serving in two leadership roles. I will be taking over as chairman of the House Ethics Committee, replacing Rep. Jo Bonner of Alabama. I met with Rep. Bonner Thursday, where he presented me with a ceremonial gavel (pictured). I will be one of five Texans to preside as a House committee chairman during the next Congress.

I will also serve a second term as the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management. The subcommittee oversees the farm bill’s commodity title, crop insurance and commodity exchange laws.

As a subcommittee chairman, I will work to pass a fiscally responsible farm bill that is good for Texas and the country while helping to protect our crop insurance program. This Agriculture subcommittee oversees three issues of vital economic importance to Texas’ 11^th congressional district – commodity exchanges, commodity title, and crop insurance. I appreciate this opportunity to serve.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

Suzanne and I would like to wish all of you a very merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year. I look forward to seeing you at one of my events in 2013.

As always, you can follow me on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

Sincerely,

Rep. Mike Conaway, 11th District