THE CONAWAY CHRONICLE, Volume 5, Issue 7

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.

Last week, House Republicans released a new governing agenda to the American people focused on addressing their top priorities. This “Pledge to America” is the culmination of months of long engagement with the American people through the America Speaking Out project, which has sought their ideas and priorities for Congress. Among other things, the agenda tackles stopping the January 1 2011 tax increases, cutting the budget immediately, repealing the healthcare legislation and replacing it with solutions to bring down costs, enacting a 72 hour rule on every piece of legislation brought to the House Floor, requiring bipartisan debate on all spending bills, ending government control of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, strengthening and securing our border, and ensuring real accountability and transparency. 

During the month of August and the first week of September, I held 24 town hall meetings under the premise of “America Speaking Out” in District 11. The America Speaking Out project was developed as part of an official effort to increase the dialogue between Americans and their Congress. By visiting their interactive website, Americans are provided a new platform to share their priorities and ideas for a national policy agenda. I want to thank everyone who took time out of their days to come visit with me while I was making my way across District 11. It has been an immense help to me as I have gathered a wealth of information as to what your priorities are as we move forward with our new agenda in Congress.

Town hall meeting after town hall meeting, it was clear to me that there was one message you wanted me to take back to Washington and shout from the top of the Capitol dome: Stop the Spending. I couldn’t agree more. Unfortunately, trying to convince our Speaker and my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to do this is not an easy task. I believe we must cut spending immediately by cancelling unspent stimulus funds, saving $266 billion, and ending the bailouts of private businesses and state and local governments permanently. We need to put a freeze on Congress’ budget, eliminate unnecessary federal programs, hold weekly votes in the House to cut spending, and reform the budget process and address entitlement reform. I am committed to working with my colleagues to restrain spending and put our fiscal house back in order.

Another issue that continues to be hot on people’s minds is job creation. I believe that Washington cannot magically make jobs appear for people back in West Texas, as our President seems to think. However, there are things that can be done to help aid in job growth, such as stopping the tax hikes on working families and small businesses and cutting government red tape. We need to provide incentives for small business growth and reduce unnecessary paperwork. We need spending cuts instead of more stimulus spending.

America cannot endure Washington’s careless spending habits any longer. The Majority’s misguided agenda has sent our country too far in the wrong direction. Having enlisted the voices of the American people, we are now well prepared to move forward and restore the founding principles that this great nation was built upon. I want to thank everyone who has given their input in some form or fashion over the past several months, and we pledge to begin fighting for these solutions today.

A “Pledge to America” can be viewed here.