These are rare and exciting times in our nation. I can’t recall when the general public has been so current and informed on the day-to-day happenings of Congress.
Relatively obscure concepts such as continuing resolutions, lending practices, foreign policy and domestic energy strategy have been in the water of every discussion since I returned home for the District Work Period earlier this week. The intent and spirit of the U.S. Constitution has been a constant subject of our meetings.
Wherever I went people enthusiastically participated in the ebb and flow of the conversation. I saw and heard similarly engaged groups at two different Folsom high school events; among business leaders at chamber gatherings in Citrus Heights and downtown Sacramento; during briefings with utilities, aerospace companies and even amid a group of Foothill vintners in Calaveras County.
No matter where I ventured two subjects dominated discussions: the perilous budgetary practices of government and the toll of unemployment that is being aided and abetted by new and continuing over-regulation.
Nowhere was this more apparent than during exchanges I had with those attending our Town Hall at the Citrus Heights community center Tuesday. Some 225 people came out, many who wanted assurance that aggressive federal spending cuts would continue unabated – or at least until Washington showed evidence of fiscal restraint and the unleashing of the private sector job creation machine.
I had good news and bad news on that front. Whereas we in the House had worked through two Continuing Resolutions to reduce spending by $10 billion over the last several weeks, I cringed when informing constituents that during the month of February alone our deficit increased by $228 billion.
Most of my colleagues in the House get it, and we understand that the people we represent get it. But there remains a chasm between these hardworking Americans on the ground and those in the rarified Washington air who no longer face the people or reality. A prime and actual example of the disconnect: suggesting that defunding public broadcasting ought to be balanced by some sort of quid pro quo for reduction on the amount we spend on national defense!
Similarly, the people are fed up with federal regulations that stifle the economy, growth and contribute to some of the highest sustained unemployment figures in the country. For this reason I explained my “no vote” on the Dodd-Frank Act to the California Association of Mortgage Professionals. That legislation creates a terrible precedent in the mortgage industry – and another bureaucracy in the Consumer Financial Protection Agency.
As Co-Chair of the Congressional Wine Caucus and their congressman, I made it clear to a gathering of vintners and grape growers in Murphys that I would fight for them and against a new version of an old and bad idea: the Community Alcohol Regulatory Effectiveness Act (H.R. 1161). Last year’s version of this, the Comprehensive Alcohol Regulatory Effectiveness Act (CARE ACT) was more upfront with its name: REGULATORY, but no less lethal than this year’s in killing jobs and curtailing commerce. H.R. 1161 essentially would rescind or hamper the ability of the 100 wineries in our district and the 2,700 throughout California to ship their products directly to other states, as is permitted now in 38 states. California wines are preferred throughout the country and the world. To restrict their interstate availability would severely damage the industry, the California economy and cost countless jobs.
Your encouragement and my staff’s good work went to good effect as I was able to win approval of my H.R. 4 to repeal an onerous IRS paperwork mandate that would have harmed businesses all over the country. It was wonderful this week to be able to share this news and thank supporters at a Round Table discussion at the Citrus Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce, and later, with a group from Cal Chamber.
Well, the bill is in the Senate now and we’re optimistic this repeal of a bad idea will become reality. But there is much more to do, and I know you will be watching.
Sincerely,
Daniel E. Lungren
Member of Congress
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