Getting Lost in the Shuffle: The Good News at Home and Abroad

Getting Lost in the Shuffle: The Good News at Home and Abroad
November 11, 2005

With all that's happening in America and the world today many of us are searching for hints of good news. That's why this week I'd like to take a moment to highlight some of the good things you may or may not have heard about recently.

First up at home: A strong economy. The tax cuts of the past few years put the U.S. economy on a hot streak unlike any other in our history. We have seen a two-and-a-half year stretch of uninterrupted quarterly growth of nearly 4% -- the stock market is up, corporate investment is up, and unemployment has retreated to a historically low rate of 5%.

Not even oil and gasoline price spikes have been able to knock the economy out of high gear. It's clear that tax cuts mean more jobs and higher revenue for local governments -- in fact, even with our tax relief, federal tax revenue is up 15% over last year (about $274 billion), shrinking the deficit by over $100 billion.

Reducing the deficit. Of course, federal spending remains out of control. I'm working with my colleagues in Congress to bring an end to pork-barrel spending and rein in the uncontrolled growth of the budget. The Deficit Reduction Act, which will be up for a vote soon, will slow the growth in federal spending over the next few years and save taxpayers more than $50 billion.

All told, the Deficit Reduction Act roots out government waste, reforms mandatory programs, and refocuses taxpayer dollars on where they need to go. As anyone with a family can tell you, getting control of a budget is about setting priorities. This bill is a good first step.

Helping those in need. Considering the high energy costs anticipated this winter, $1 billion in additional funding has been made available for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This program helps families throughout Ohio keep their heat on during the winter months. If you think you may be eligible for LIHEAP, I encourage you to contact the Ohio Department of Development's Home Energy Assistance Program. You can call toll-free at 1-800-282-0880.

Protecting private property. There's other good news on the legislative front. The House of Representatives has approved a measure called the Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2005 (HR 4128) which is aimed at protecting private property and curbing abuses of eminent domain.

You may recall the Supreme Court's recent decision in the case of Kelo v. City of New London. In short, the Supreme Court decided that your property is only your property so long as the government wants it to be. In that case the City of New London seized a group of homes so they could hand the property over to a private developer. Their plan is to bulldoze the homes and put up a string of businesses to increase the city's tax base. This is exactly the sort of abuse our bill, which I co-sponsored, aims to prevent.

Strengthening pensions. We know that today's outdated pension rules have failed to protect the interests of workers, retirees, and taxpayers. This is why I proposed the Pension Protection Act (HR 2830), a bill that makes comprehensive reforms to the defined benefit pension system.

Most importantly, my bill ensures employers will remain in the defined benefit system. It also ensures employers meet their commitment to workers and properly fund their pension plans. And finally, it places the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) on more sound financial footing to ensure taxpayers aren't left holding the bag. The bill is now waiting for a vote by the House.

Helping our nation's veterans. When they return home, our commitment to the brave men and women serving in our armed forces must be as resolute as their commitment to serving and protecting our nation. This is why the Labor Department has developed a new program aimed at helping veterans find work after their service. The website, called "Hire Vets First," is available at www.hirevetsfirst.gov.

It's easy to get swept up in the negativity that plagues our media and political discourse. This is why it's important sometimes to step back and look at the good things that are happening too. We have good times and we have rough times -- through it all, America remains a mighty, prosperous, and caring nation.

http://johnboehner.house.gov/News.asp?FormMode=Detail&ID=1054