THE CONAWAY CHRONICLE, Volume 4, Issue 11

Thank you for reading The Conaway Chronicle, a review of my activities in Congress. This newsletter is to let you know what’s going on in Washington and what important issues are being debated in Congress.

Oppose Making Bank Bailouts Permanent

Earlier this month, the House of Representatives passed HR 4173, Congressman Barney Frank’s (D-MA, Chairman of the Financial Services Committee) Government Takeover of the Financial Service Industry.  Small businesses that are still suffering from the credit crisis last year will find it even more difficult to obtain credit with the passage of this bill. 

While certain reforms are important to ensure that the free market is not impeded by interference or nefarious business practices, this legislation does more to expand government control of the industry than reform. As banks and financial institutions accommodate these new rules, they will be forced to restrict their lending to businesses, ultimately impending job growth and creation.  The formation of a new government overseer to impose Barney Frank’s political agenda will lead to an overreach of federal authority in all aspects of the economy.  The Speaker and the President would find more support in their proposals if they focused on economic solutions that create jobs.

Stimulus II Passes House of Representatives

Last week, I voted against the Democrats’ second stimulus bill, which narrowly passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 217-212.

If the past year has proven one thing about the Majority in Congress, it is that they are good at spending hard-earned taxpayer money. The Majority in Congress  have found yet another way to put this nation even further into debt by passing a second ‘stimulus’ bill, which creates over $150 billion in new federal spending. Their plan will pour billions into the very same programs that received funding in the original stimulus. In many cases, money from the first stimulus has not yet been spent. If spending money really was the answer, then shouldn’t we spend the money we have already borrowed before we borrow another $150 billion?

This bill is not what the American people want. The solution to our current economic situation is not more spending and regulation from Washington. We need to cut spending, reduce the deficit and encourage small business to grow and hire. My hope for 2010 is that we will be able to work together to make common-sense decisions about the best ways to create jobs, help small businesses get back on their feet, and leave more hard-earned money in the pockets of the Americans who earned it.

Click here to see a side-by-side comparison of Stimulus I vs. Stimulus II.

Conaway: Senate Health Care Plan not what Americans Want

Over the weekend, the United States Senate voted to proceed with debate on a government takeover of our nation's health care system, moving them one step closer toward making their 2,700 page government-run health care plan a reality for Americans.

Never in my time in Congress have I seen the people of West and Central Texas so emotional and passionate about an issue, and rightfully so. Over the past months, concerned citizens from across the country have voiced their concerns at town hall meetings, fought to protect their rights on the steps of the Capitol, written to their local papers and news stations, and called their Representatives and Senators in Washington voicing their concerns about this bad legislation. Yet now, during the week of Christmas, the President, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid are putting coal in the stockings of every single hard-working American in this country in the form of a costly, government-run plan that rises costs, funds abortion coverage, cuts Medicare and creates hundreds of billions in new taxes. This $2.5 trillion bill is not what the American people want. I applaud the Senate Republicans for not giving up the fight, and I urge every Senator to reconsider this wrongheaded, partisan plan and work in a bipartisan manner to create a commonsense approach to health care reform.

The Senate is set to vote on final passage of their health care bill on Christmas Eve.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I will be thankful to spend the holidays at home in Texas with my family, and want to encourage all to think about those who are far from their loved ones this holiday season defending our freedoms in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other corners of the globe. It is because of these brave men and women that you and I are able to enjoy the freedoms that we so enjoy this time of year.

Merry Christmas, and have a safe and happy New Year. God Bless.