Kansas Common Sense

Statement

By U.S. Senator Jerry Moran

Dear Friend,

In December, I asked for feedback on my weekly newsletter, "This Week in Congress." Thousands of Kansans responded and I appreciate how many people took the time to share their thoughts. You will see some new additions included in this and upcoming editions of the newsletter, which has been renamed "Kansas Common Sense." This name reflects the wisdom I glean from Kansans and take back to Washington, D.C.

Kansans' recommendations have helped the newsletter become more interactive, so I can hear your thoughts and you can learn more about the work I am doing in Washington and in our state. The new features include:

* Ask Jerry - Readers asked for opportunities to ask me questions, so there is now a way for you to submit questions. My responses will be included in upcoming editions.
* Polls - Kansans asked for -- and deserve -- the chance to have their opinions heard by their elected officials. Your emails, phone calls, letters and comments at listening tour stops are all great ways to share what's on your mind. Additionally, I will be asking for your thoughts through polls periodically.
* Articles of Interest -- I will also be including links to articles I think Kansans might enjoy reading.
* Upcoming Events -- Some readers asked that we share details about upcoming Listening Tour stops and upcoming votes before they take place. When this information is available beforehand, it will now be included.

Thank you for your interest in receiving my weekly newsletter. I hope you enjoy the new additions.

This week's headlines are:

* Pay Down Deficit with Stimulus Funds
* Passage of FAA Good for Kansas Aviation
* President Obama's Budget Fails to Confront Fiscal Challenges
* Given a Fair Competition, American Workers Will Succeed
* First Senate Banking Committee Hearing
* Harmful U.N. Resolution Vetoed in Security Council
* Upcoming Stops
* In the Office

Pay Down Deficit with Stimulus Funds

As one of the few members of Congress to vote against every stimulus and bailout bill, I acknowledged the 2nd anniversary of President Obama's so-called "stimulus package" by introducing legislation to send the $45 billion in unspent stimulus funds back to the U.S. Department of Treasury to be used for deficit reduction.

When President Obama signed into law a 1,100-page "stimulus package," he called the package an "investment," and today the return on his investment is clear: national unemployment hovers between 9 and 10 percent, and we face a record $1.6 trillion deficit and $14 trillion national debt.

It's pretty clear spending our way to prosperity is not working. We must change direction, and that starts with passing the RESET Act. Congress should rescind the $45 billion in unspent stimulus funds and direct them toward paying down the record deficit. We must then get to work on spending cuts, tougher funding standards and monetary and fiscal policies that promote -- rather than stifle -- economic growth.

The language of the RESET Act is also included in H.R. 1, the continuing resolution to fund the federal government for the last seven months of fiscal year 2011 just approved by the U.S. House of Representatives. This proposal is supported by Let Freedom Ring, Restore the Dream Foundation, Americans for Tax Reform, Americans for Prosperity, FreedomWorks, National Taxpayers Union, 60 Plus Association, Liberty Central and Citizens Against Government Waste.

Passage of FAA Good for Kansas Aviation

Aviation represents one of the most important components of Kansas' economy. This week, I voted for passage of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act. This legislation will help provide long-term stability to an industry suffering in the struggling economy. Its long-overdue passage will also help modernize the aviation industry by directing resources toward new technology to make air travel safer and faster. I am pleased that Congress once again rejected the user fee proposal, which would have been devastating to the general aviation community and south-central Kansas' economy.

The multi-year reauthorization bill will improve aviation safety, modernize the nation's air traffic control system, and maintain important investments in aviation infrastructure across the country. The House must now work with the Senate to pass a multi-year reauthorization bill prior March 31 to prevent yet another short-term extension.

President Obama's Budget Fails to Confront Fiscal Challenges

President Obama delivered his fiscal year 2012 budget to Congress this week, which fails to confront the real fiscal and economic challenges before us. The budget includes $8.7 trillion in new spending, proposes $1.6 trillion in new taxes, ignores the recommendations of the president's own fiscal commission, and doubles the national debt by 2012.

Administration officials are proud of the fact that the budget proposal will reduce the deficit by $1.1 trillion over the next 10 years, but that doesn't amount to much when you consider this year alone we face a $1.6 trillion deficit. Erskine Bowles, the Chairman of the president's own fiscal commission said this budget "goes nowhere near where they will have to go to resolve our fiscal nightmare."

Given a Fair Competition, American Workers Will Succeed

On Thursday, I joined a bipartisan coalition of senators at a press conference in the Capitol to support jobs for Kansas workers in the competition to build the next generation of Air Force refueling tankers. The competition for the tanker contract is entering its final stretch, and a decision could be announced in a matter of days or weeks.

Our skilled Kansas work force is ready to support our men and women in uniform with the best tanker. The Pentagon should consider all the facts in this competition, including billions in subsidies that provide an unfair competitive advantage. I have introduced legislation to require the Defense Department to account for these foreign subsidies. With a national unemployment rate of 9 percent, the Pentagon should not be working against American manufacturing and its workers. Given a fair competition, I am confident the Air Force will ultimately make the right decision for America's warfighters, workers, and taxpayers.

First Senate Banking Committee Hearing

On Thursday, I attended my first hearing as a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. The hearing was a progress report on various agencies' efforts to implement provisions of the massive Dodd-Frank Financial legislation which was signed into law last year. Testifying at the hearing were Chairman Ben Bernanke of the Federal Reserve; Chairwoman Sheila Bair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (of Independence, Kansas); Chairwoman Mary Schapiro of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; Chairman Gary Gensler of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission; and Acting Comptroller John Walsh of the Currency.

During the hearing, I mentioned the importance of small community financial institutions to a state like Kansas. The panel agreed that these banks, credit unions and other small businesses were not a cause of systemic risk to our economy. I made a point to ask the panel why -- since these small financial institutions were not a cause of the financial meltdown that shook our economy -- they were being subjugated to the enormous amount of federal regulations. There is a disconnect between Washington and the rest of the country, and the regulations being proposed in Washington are preventing small banks in Kansas from making loans to credit worthy borrowers within our state. Without access to credit, small business, farmers and ranchers are unable to get the financing they need to keep their operations going. I urged the panel to work with me to help solve this very serious problem, which is detrimental to our economic recovery.

Harmful U.N. Resolution Vetoed in Security Council

I strongly encouraged Secretary of State Hillary Clinton this week to direct the U.S. representative at the United Nations Security Council to veto a resolution condemning Israeli settlements. The resolution that was offered Friday did nothing to further the goal of peace and was not in the interest of the United States. Thankfully, the United States continued the 30-year old policy of rejecting any Security Council resolution against Israeli settlements by vetoing this week's resolution.

This was the second time this year that I encouraged Secretary Clinton to oppose a resolution harmful to our ally Israel and the advancement of the peace process. Peace cannot be made at the Security Council. It must be made by the Israelis and Palestinians in direct negotiations.

It is an honor to serve you in Washington, D.C. Please let me know how I can be of assistance.

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