E-Newsletter

The State of the Union

Americans want results, not just empty rhetoric. However, the President’s State of the Union speech did little to provide much needed certainty. We heard that he wants to freeze the budget, but still continue to spend on new programs. How can you freeze and spend without adding to the deficit? This ‘Houdini accounting’ defies logic.

Jobs continue to be the number one concern in Southwest Virginia and across the nation. With unemployment above 9 percent for 20 straight months, we cannot afford to continue down the path of big government. Following his speech, I hoped the President was serious about streamlining government and eliminating job-crushing regulations, but the proof is in the pudding. Just one day after calls for job creation and economic growth, the Administration released new federal regulations threatening the very future of the coal industry in America.

Even the President’s own experts agree. These new regulations woulddramatically cut production levels and eliminate 7,000 coal mining related jobs, affecting companies that provide a variety of services, including mine safety, as well as the railroads that transport the coal. Regulations of this magnitude would devastate many Southwest Virginian families and communities who depend on coal for their livelihoods. Slashing coal production reduces our ability to tap into valuable domestic resources and will ultimately increase the cost of electricity for everyone in the 9th District. Regulatory schemes like this have become regular fare and are hurting jobs in numerous industries.

Addressing the massive growth of government not only means scaling back regulations, but also significantly cutting spending. According to the Congressional Budget Office(CBO), the federal deficit will reach a record high of $1.48 trillion in 2011 if we continue on this track. Each U.S. household’s share of 2011 spending will equal $32,292.

This past week the House took two important votes to rein in spending. We voted to reduce spending for the rest of fiscal year 2011 (through September 30) to 2008 levels or less.  The House also voted to terminate taxpayer financing of presidential election campaigns and party conventions, cutting $617 million in spending. Cutting spending is not just what we should do; it’s what we have to do. If we want to bolster the economy, more spending cuts just like these are critical.

In the coming week, I will be traveling around the 9th District to meet with local government officials, tour businesses and visit with many constituents. I look forward to seeing many of you on my travels. As always, if you wish to contact my office regarding the many issues before Congress, I invite you to visit my website at www.morgangriffith.house.govor call my Abingdon office at 276-525-1405.