While this legislation includes a laundry list of burdensome economic policies designed to increase the size and scope of the Federal government and increase taxes in the middle of a recession, below are a few of the main reasons I voted no.

In short, this bill:

• Spends $80 billion to double the size of the IRS and to hire 87,000 new IRS agents to target and audit thousands of American families and businesses.  (The good news is they will be hard pressed to find 87,000 who want to work.)
  
  
• Does little to meaningfully reduce inflation.  According to CBO estimates, this bill would have a negligible effect on inflation this year and would only reduce inflation by .01% at best in 2023.  In other words, the spending in this legislation will help to prolong current high inflation while the tax increases will discourage investments and innovation. 
  
  
• Raises taxes on millions of Americans in every income bracket.  This violates Biden’s pledge that tax hikes would only affect Americans earning $400,000 or more.
  
  
• Implements socialist price controls for prescription drugs that will negatively impact seniors, patients, those with rare diseases, and their families because fewer drugs will be brought to market.  Price controls lead to less investment in new medications.
  
  
• The bill spends more than $350 billion in “Green New Deal” initiatives, primarily in the form of tax credits for the wealthy, while continuing the Biden Administration’s assault on American energy independence by raising taxes on oil, natural gas and coal.

The same Administration and party that promised us the American Rescue Plan wouldn’t lead to high inflation is now telling us their latest tax and spend legislation won’t extend the current recession.  They were wrong then, and they are wrong now.

The American people deserve a full explanation — not a press conference by the Attorney General that reveals little.  Given the FBI’s current track record of political smears and retribution — particularly when it comes to President Trump — one is easily led to assume this is more of the same.  Based on the information publicly available, this raid was unnecessary, unprecedented, and dangerous for the future of the country. 

Republicans on the House Oversight Committee are already seeking answers about the FBI raid and the investigation of Trump.  They are calling on the National Archives and Records Administration to preserve all documents related to the warrant executed by the FBI to ensure the weaponization of the FBI and Department of Justice does not go unchecked.  You can read the letter here.  While I do not serve on this committee, I fully stand behind this effort to seek accountability.

Should Republicans win the U.S. House majority in November, this will be fully investigated along with all the other hoaxes and lies perpetrated by this administration and the Obama Administration.  As the minority party, we can call for all this material and demand answers, but we do not have subpoena power, the ability to call a hearing, or any ability to force compliance with an investigation.  Only the majority party has that ability.

Despite a record number of illegal border crossings, the Biden Administration has officially ended former President Trump's effective 'Remain in Mexico' program.

The program was implemented by the Trump Administration and required certain migrants entering or seeking to enter the United States from Mexico to remain outside of the United States for the duration of their immigration proceedings.  This decreased the incentive for many illegal crossings and gave our Border Patrol a much-needed reprieve from the historic influx of illegal immigrants.  Now, it seems the Biden Administration's only plan is to release migrants into communities across the country as they wait for their asylum proceedings.

In the midst of a national security and humanitarian catastrophe at our southern border, the Administration continues to abandon any attempt to address the current crisis.  Their decision to end the program will create even more chaos for Border Patrol agents while endangering communities across the country.

For this week's good news story, I would like to recognize two brothers from Brunswick County who made it to the Dixie League Baseball World Series this summer.  According to WWAY, "8-year-old Kolton and 14-year-old Camden, play on two different teams in the Dixie Youth League.  Kolton’s team won the 8U World Series game played in Alabama against Alabama.  Camden’s team also played in the 13 to 14 year-old championship game in Louisiana, falling just short of winning it all against Mississippi."  Congratulations!

‘One proud dad:’ Brunswick Co. brothers make it to Dixie League World Series on two different teams

"The numbers of men in all ages have preferred ease, slumber, and good cheer to liberty, when they have been in competition. We must not then depend alone upon the love of liberty in the soul of man for its preservation." - John Adams, October 18, 1790