$10 Trillion at a Time

While it’s no secret the federal government has become addicted to spending and debt, what isn’t well known is how quickly the problem is worsening. For perspective, it took our nation 223 years – from 1790 until 2008 – to become $10 trillion in debt.

Sadly, the United States only needed nine more years to add another $10 trillion in debt, raising the mortgage on our children’s future to over $20 trillion by 2017. Of course, this disturbing trend continued accelerating over the next five years causing borrowing to skyrocket further. Just like that, we added another $10 trillion, bringing the government’s crushing debt load to more than $30 trillion by 2022.

It would be convenient to blame the Great Recession and a global pandemic for the rapid increase in government spending. But our country certainly experienced numerous national and international emergencies over the previous 233 years. World War II is the only time in history that our debt, when compared to the total economic output of the US, has been this bad. Then, unlike today, national leaders unified to pay down the debt because they understood the dire consequences of allowing it to skyrocket.

Reckless spending, year after year, has put us in a precarious position, and will make it harder for our children to maintain or surpass the quality of life we have today. We need serious, bipartisan movement on this issue, and fast.

H.J. Res 44 – Evoking the Congressional Review Act for Stabilizing Brace Rule – YEA

Expresses congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) that effectively outlaws the braces that stabilize handguns, making criminals out of millions of law-abiding Americans.

H.R. 1615 – Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act – YEA

Prohibits the use of federal funds to regulate gas stoves as a banned hazardous product.
Prohibits the use of federal funds to enforce a product safety standard that prohibits the use or sale of gas stoves or substantially increases their price.

H.R. 1640 – Save our Gas Stoves Act – YEA

Places limits on draconian energy conservation standards for kitchen ranges or ovens that are a back-door way to ban affordable ranges and ovens preferred by tens of millions of Americans.

H.R. 277 – REINS Act – YEA

Establishes that “major rules” proposed by federal agencies may only take effect if Congress approves the rule. A major rule is one that has resulted or is likely to result in (1) an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; (2) a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, industries, government agencies, or geographic regions; or (3) significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises.
Reins in the federal government from imposing regulations that drive up costs and create economic hardship for all Americans.

Motion to Table H. Res. 489 – NO

A yes vote was to block an effort to hold Representative Adam Schiff accountable for his outrageous conduct promoting the Russian Collusion Hoax, which was designed to deceive the American people about President Trump. A no vote was to bring the measure to censure Schiff to a final vote.

H.R. 288 – Separation of Powers Restoration Act – YEA

Overrides current doctrine that in cases where a court is reviewing an administrative agency’s interpretation of a law passed by Congress, the court should defer to the agency when its interpretation is not unreasonable. This bill would instead require courts to review anew all relevant questions of law, including the interpretation of constitutional and statutory provisions. This would reaffirm the role of each branch of government: the legislature writes the laws, the executive branch enforces the laws, and the judiciary/courts interpret the laws and evaluate if laws violate the US Constitution. This would make it harder for agencies like the EPA to impose radical interpretations of environmental laws that harm farmers, landowners, and businesses.

Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Response warier to latest charges

“Given the serious questions that are raised by the act of an Attorney General of the United States indicting a former president and current political rival to his boss, AG Garland must provide a full readout explaining his rationale. And for the sake of our country, this case better be a slam dunk and involve seriously dangerous crimes. Since this case allegedly involves classified information, it will be difficult to verify this - once again forcing such public accusations in a classified space. A secretive indictment of your political opponent is a terrifying precedent with significant potential to maim our democracy and is a tactic used in dictatorships – not the United States.”

Conduit News

WATCH: AR Congressmen Call for Removal of Pride Flag Outside VA Facilities

U.S. Representative Rick Crawford joined Conduit News to discuss a recent letter sent by more than two dozen members of Congress to VA Secretary Denis McDonough calling for the removal of LGBT flags currently flying at VA facilities.

KAIT8

Piggott and Brookland top list for safest cities in Arkansas

Brookland ranks as the fifth safest city in the Natural State to live in according to Safewise.com. Piggott took first place in 2023 for the safest city as it climbed 4 spots this year.