Weekly Columns and Op-Eds
Americans prosper and create prosperity for others when they are able to keep and spend more of what they earn. April is Tax Month, and it can be a reminder that nothing in life is ‘as certain as death and taxes,' to paraphrase Benjamin Franklin. The federal tax code should be consistent, encourage economic growth, and allow Americans to plan with certainty. That is why I supported legislation passed in the House this month to reduce the tax burden on families, farms, and businesses by repealing the federal estate tax (or "death tax") and to make the sales-tax deduction permanent.
Washingtonians are familiar with the key role that the Hanford site played in the defense of our nation during World War II and the Cold War as a component of the Manhattan Project. The legacy of the federal government's work at Hanford left behind 56 million gallons of radioactive and chemical waste in 177 underground tanks. Progress on moving the high-level nuclear waste to permanent storage has needlessly stalled due to the Obama Administration's attempts to shut down Yucca Mountain.
Today, the Middle East is a dangerous place where America's enemies seem to be expanding their reach as America's allies watch anxiously. From the growth of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and the persecution of minority Christians, to a Shia rebellion in Yemen that recently toppled a government assisting the U.S. with counterterror efforts, the region is aflame with strife and uncertainty. Yet it is within this context that President Obama is seeking a comprehensive nuclear agreement with Iran.
The Pacific Northwest is true timber country, blessed with an abundance of forests that provide rich natural resources and recreation in Central Washington. The health and management of public forests like Okanogan and Gifford-Pinchot National Forests are closely tied to job growth and economic opportunity for neighboring rural communities. Too often, however, local communities feel left out when federal decisions are made regarding public land. In Congress, I am committed to addressing that imbalance.
An important part of serving in Congress is responding to questions from constituents on a range of topics, from Obamacare to national security and religious persecution abroad. I always look forward to hearing from constituents who contact my office by telephone, email, or letters. These questions often touch on important issues facing our country, and some deserve a wider audience, which is why I would like to share a couple with you.
As I begin my service in our nation's capital, I have been impressed by the many monuments, memorials and statues that recall the great conflicts that have defined our history, from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War and those of the 20th Century. The burden of keeping our nation free and secure has largely fallen on the shoulders of the men and women of our Armed Forces. These memorials help us feel connected to those who served honorably in the U.S. military and remind me of men like my father, who served a tour in the South Pacific with the Navy during World War II.
After strong, bipartisan opposition from Congress and an outcry from the American public, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) backed down last week over proposed regulations that would restrict the use of popular ammunition for legal firearms.
While ATF's sudden reversal is a welcome victory for Second Amendment rights, the backdoor tactics used to limit available ammunition show why Congress and the American public must remain vigilant.
Last Tuesday, you likely heard or watched as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a speech to a joint session of Congress. I think it was important for all Americans to hear what the Prime Minister had to say about the potential threat posed to Israel if Iran is allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
Imagine if someone used a credit card, but instead of their own name, your children's names were on the card.
It sounds absurd: no right thinking person would consign their children to pay debts they had no choice in incurring.
Yet that is how the federal government operates when it comes to borrowing money from your children and grandchildren to spend today.
Listening to local families, businesses, and farmers in the Mid-Columbia region, I've heard firsthand how the slowdown and partial shutdowns at our 29 ports along the West Coast have had a devastating economic impact on Central Washington's economy.