Op-Ed: Let's Try Common Sense

Op-Ed

Op-Ed: Let's Try Common Sense

On January 27th, President Barack Obama delivered the State of the Union Address. As he discussed critical issues like job creation, the economy, health care and energy, the President said, "Rather than fight the same tired battles that have dominated Washington for decades, it's time to try something new… Let's try common sense." I could not agree more.

Reviving our economy and fostering job creation is the most important challenge we must overcome this year. Kentuckians have struggled with double-digit unemployment rates since May 2009. Across the country, 3.5 million net jobs have been lost since the so-called stimulus legislation was signed into law last February. These facts alone illustrate that the Democrat Majority's strategy of bigger government, unsustainable spending and higher debt has failed to address the central problems in our economy.

It is time to try something new. We must enact fiscally responsible policies that will increase our competitiveness and reward entrepreneurship and ingenuity. That is why I support targeted tax relief and streamlined regulations to help grow Kentucky's small businesses, improve their ability to create local jobs, and put money back into the hands of those who can use it directly to support their families and stimulate our economy.

Enacting a comprehensive energy policy that takes advantage of our domestic energy resources is one of the best things we can do to foster economic growth and create jobs. For years, Republicans have advocated for safe, clean nuclear power plants, encouraged offshore drilling and fought for the expansion of clean coal technologies. I was pleased that President Obama discussed employing American innovation to develop a variety of our nation's energy resources. However, I am vehemently opposed to the "cap and trade" climate change legislation passed by the House last summer.

We must take steps to preserve our environment for future generations, but we must do so without creating new hurdles for families, small businesses and communities across America. Imposing a "cap and trade" program amounts to a national energy tax, and that is dangerous economic policy that we cannot afford. Instead, we must work together to create a common sense plan that will allow us to responsibly develop our energy resources, reduce consumption, end our overreliance on foreign oil and bring new energy jobs to our economy.

In this time of economic instability, Congress must reexamine all legislative priorities to ensure they will not restrict growth, raise the cost of doing business with the U.S. or pile more debt onto future generations. It is with this in mind that we must start over on health care reform and craft new legislation that will fix what is broken in our health care system, reduce cost and increase access to health insurance.

House Republicans introduced the Common Sense Health Reform and Affordability Act (H.R. 4038), a responsible approach to health care reform that would reduce costs for all Americans, increase access to health care coverage and save the taxpayers' money. Unfortunately, our bill was rejected along party lines in November. I remain convinced that we can use the framework in H.R. 4038 to craft important and meaningful health care reform that satisfies the demands of the people.

During his address, President Obama urged Democrats and Republicans to come together for the American people. He said, "We were sent here to serve our citizens, not our ambitions. So let's show the American people that we can do it together." Republicans remain ready to heed the President's call and reach across the aisle to craft responsible, common sense legislation that will address our nation's greatest challenges.

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