Just as the welcome rains fell over the Sacramento Region this week, I welcomed fresh input from you all during my travels around The District as I prepared to head back to Congress and represent you.
It is good we are able to have honest conversations about the issues that we agree or even disagree about.
At the beautiful Citrus Heights Community Center Tuesday during our recent Town Hall, nearly two dozen of you made your way to the microphone to make a statement, offer a suggestion or simply ask a question. It is obvious all of you wish to make our country and community better.
As I told the group Tuesday and at subsequent Town Halls during the week, it is your unvarnished opinions and comments about the business in Washington that have the greatest effect on how I develop my positions and arrive at my votes.
One young man strode to the podium and delivered an on-point statement the likes of which is rarely heard inside the Beltway back in Washington.
Though he briefly prefaced his comments by identifying some of his affiliations, he said he thought he represented a composite of the crowd and the community that night, and he had boiled his concerns down to the essence. He allowed that there were others issues, but only two key ones.
“National Defense – because if we’re dead, none of the rest matters.
“The Economy – because if the Economy’s great, everybody is benefitting.
“Congressman Lungren, keep it simple. Don’t get sidetracked. In the bigger perspective, do what you’re doing. You’re a common sense guy.”
After his brief statement he was roundly cheered.
It is hard to argue with that kind of thinking because nearly all of the bills and concerns and initiatives introduced in Washington every year are – in some way, shape or form -- dependent on our national freedom and the success of our free enterprise system.
But others approached the microphone presenting an A to Z list of topics and concerns. We listened and took notes. The people of Citrus Heights and surrounding areas asked about everything from Defense Authorizations to Veterans Benefits, Chinese Debt to the Debt Ceiling, Intellectual Rights to the Internet, Cyber Security to Social Security, Transportation Bills to Tri-Care health plans.
It is impressive how well informed constituents are in our District. An example was a woman who asked for the details of H.R. 3606, the JOBS ACT passed recently in the House by an overwhelming majority. She wanted more details and some elaboration about how it would help. I voted for the bill because it would increase the growth of start-up businesses, increase capital formation and pave the way for more small-scale businesses to go public and create new jobs.
President Obama has indicated he will sign the bill. But In order to proceed, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) bill must first pass in the Senate.
Small business development in the private sector is the key to getting back that thriving economy that, as the gentleman at the microphone pointed out, will “benefit everybody.” The obstacles to these benefits are the government and its over-burdensome regulations. Job One of the government? Get out of the way.
As to the gentleman’s other point about maintaining a strong defense, be assured that I will not stand by and watch our military erode. There is a reason we have freedom and we can practice free enterprise to the benefit of all.
President Reagan said it best: “We know only too well that war comes not when the forces of freedom are strong, but when they are weak. It is then that tyrants are tempted.”
Sincerely,
Daniel E. Lungren
Member of Congress
Member of Congress
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