As I traveled our Third District this week and hosted a Town Hall in Galt on Tuesday evening it was heartening to see and hear that the majority of people I met support what we are doing and the way we are going about it.
The goals of creating jobs and getting our economy back on track are the spearhead of all of our efforts. The people I visited with exhorted us to continue to reduce spending and rid the private sector of regulatory straitjackets – both keys to creating jobs and reviving the economy.
Though some came to our Town Hall to try and “occupy” and disrupt the conversation by interrupting serious adult discussions, they did not succeed. I can assure you the greatest support and spontaneous applause came after people stood and thanked us for voting down another stimulus program disguised as a “Jobs Bill,” and implored us to continue to remove any and all government barriers to private sector solutions.
One man in the audience hit the nail on the head, calling the bulk of the President’s Jobs Bill another stimulus. He then elaborated: “What we need are jobs, not taxes. What this administration has done has failed. The laboratory experiment has gone awry here and we’re seeing that 2 ½ years down the road. It has victimized businesses and run businesses out of the country . . .We need to partner with business. Business brings jobs, not the government. ”
Even though the unfortunate emphasis of the President’s program seems to be government funded stimulation to the economy, we have looked at the other parts of his plan – despite what he has been telling the media daily, to the contrary. We have passed some things that made sense. I am referring to a bill that will provide training and other assistance for Veterans so they can more easily get employed when they leave service. This passed in the House last week with more than 400 votes.
On the regulatory front we have been scrutinizing EPA emission restrictions that adversely affect the operation of boilers and the cement industry. There is a balance between public safety and regulations that force plants and institutions to shut down because there is inadequate time to get things up to code.
On the trade front, we all worked together to remove regulatory barriers to free trade with Columbia, Panama and Korea. This was something where both Democrats and Republicans agreed and worked with the President. These agreements will mean more jobs in the U.S.
My colleagues and I measure bills on their ability to create jobs. Sometimes this can occur by simply reducing regulation or the uncertainly of pending regulation. This is where the problem is and this is where we are spending time and finding success.
I continue to gain insight into our economic woes by meeting with business constituents from the District. The National Federation of Independent Businesses’ local members updated me on new and continuing obstacles faced by their mostly small business membership. I had the privilege of delivering the keynote address to the Building Owners and Managers Association in Sacramento and in the process learning of the challenges their members face.
Last weekend I had the uplifting experience of meeting several people affiliated with Street Soccer USA and witnessing how the small victories of sports can help turn around the lives of those facing addiction problems. Working closely with Volunteers of America, the Mather Community Campus transitional community uses street soccer to help mend broken dreams and launch people off into new independent lives.
It is good and inspiring to be home and get first hand reports on how people are coping in these difficult times. Washington could use some of the Can-Do attitude I observed.
Sincerely,
Daniel E. Lungren
Member of Congress
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