Weekly Columns

After experiencing a self-described "shellacking" in the midterm elections, many believed President Obama finally got the message that the American people are fed up with wasteful spending. Unfortunately, his State of the Union address last week demonstrated that he still doesn't get it.

As the Associated Press pointed out, "Obama offered far more examples of where he would spend than where he would cut." The speech was full of new spending projects, from construction of high-speed rail to creation of mythical "green" jobs.

Each week the 112th Congress has been in session, House Republicans have passed legislation to bring spending levels down and begin restoring balance to the budget. First, we passed new rules reducing congressional operating budgets by 5 percent and instituting a requirement that any new spending in one part of the budget be balanced by cuts elsewhere. Last week brought the repeal of President Obama's unpopular, $1.2 trillion government health care program. And this week, the House votes on a resolution to reduce spending to 2008 levels.

After an appropriate pause to honor the victims of the tragic Arizona shooting, Congress resumes legislative activity with a vote to repeal the controversial, unpopular health care law.

The 112th Congress was sworn in last week, and the new Republican majority immediately went to work implementing the priorities the American people voted for in November's historic election. Citizens demanded spending cuts, more accountability and transparency, and a return to the principles of limited government set forth in the Constitution. House Republicans passed legislation addressing every one of these priorities in the first week.

The recently released annual status review of the mission in Afghanistan and Pakistan reveals our armed forces have achieved significant gains during the past 12 months. Although Americans can always depend on the skill and courage of our troops, whether they would receive the political support necessary for success in Afghanistan remained an open question this time last year. Prior to the unveiling of President Obama's Afghanistan strategy in December 2009, it was unclear whether the new president would demonstrate the commitment necessary to complete the mission.

One of the last pieces of legislation passed by the 111th Congress before adjourning last week was a hastily crafted funding bill to keep the government functioning until March 2011. In keeping with most of the legislation produced under Pelosi's majority, it is fiscally irresponsible, haphazardly constructed, and out of touch with the priorities of mainstream Americans.

Last week in a rare display of bipartisanship, Congress voted to extend the so-called Bush tax cuts for another two years. In so doing, they effectively stopped a massive tax increase that would have hit every single American taxpayer. I supported this legislation but with some reservations. My personal preference would have been to extend the tax cuts permanently, and to eliminate the death tax completely. And I have serious reservations about a payroll tax holiday that will undermine the solvency of Social Security.

After months of uncertainty, the tax compromise announced last week by President Obama was welcome news -- and not a moment too soon. With tax rates set to increase for all taxpayers on January 1, time is running short for Congress to act to avert tax hikes. The agreement reached between Obama and Congressional leaders is far from perfect, but it is considerably better than allowing taxes to go up for every American.