My Letter to Congress: H.R.17 Citizens' Self-Defense Act of 2009 
Contact Congress
This letter was sent by OpenCongress user
lindenwood
on
October 13, 2011
in support of
H.R.17 Citizens' Self-Defense Act of 2009.
Privacy setting:
PUBLIC
To:
-
Rep. Daniel Webster [R, FL-8] Vote on Passage of H.R.17: Not Voted Yet -
Sen. Bill Nelson [D, FL] Vote on Passage of H.R.17: Not Voted Yet -
Sen. Marco Rubio [R, FL] Vote on Passage of H.R.17: Not Voted Yet
H.R.17 Citizens' Self-Defense Act of 2009
I support H.R.17 - Citizens' Self-Defense Act of 2009, and am tracking it using OpenCongress.org, the free public resource website for government transparency and accountability.
This letter was a reply from the office of Sen. Marco Rubio [R, FL] on October 13, 2011.
Interim Response
Thank you for taking the time to contact me. I have received your
message and I welcome the opportunity to address your concerns. As you
await a response, please know that our office is working towards best
serving the state of Florida. I appreciate hearing your views, and I
understand how important these issues are to you. Please expect my
response in the near future. In an effort to serve you better, please
do not duplicate e-mails into the web-form, as it may serve to delay
the response to your concerns. If you need immediate assistance with a
federal agency, please call (866) 630-7106 toll-free in Florida. You
may also contact the Orlando regional office at (407) 254-2573 or the
Miami regional office at (305) 418-8553. Please do not mail
correspondence to the Washington DC Office as it will delay the
response to your request for assistance
message and I welcome the opportunity to address your concerns. As you
await a response, please know that our office is working towards best
serving the state of Florida. I appreciate hearing your views, and I
understand how important these issues are to you. Please expect my
response in the near future. In an effort to serve you better, please
do not duplicate e-mails into the web-form, as it may serve to delay
the response to your concerns. If you need immediate assistance with a
federal agency, please call (866) 630-7106 toll-free in Florida. You
may also contact the Orlando regional office at (407) 254-2573 or the
Miami regional office at (305) 418-8553. Please do not mail
correspondence to the Washington DC Office as it will delay the
response to your request for assistance
This letter was a reply from the office of Rep. Daniel Webster [R, FL-8] on December 01, 2011.
Message of Perseverance and Optimism in Central Florida
This past Sunday evening we wrapped up a holiday weekend spent with family and friends over good food and fellowship. Some of us had the football games on cheering for another Tim Tebow comeback, others were relaxing with a book or preparing dinner. Later that evening, a "60 Minutes" report aired that gave us all a reason to pause and be thankful for the food on our tables and the roof over our heads.
The "60 Minutes" segment, “A Hard Times Generation,” followed families in Central Florida who have lost their jobs and are now living out of their cars. When staying with family members, crashing in cheap hotels, or finding space at a homeless shelter were no longer available options, they turned to their cars, looking for safe places to park at night so their families would be safe.
The remarkable part of this story is the optimistic and kind spirit that still manifests itself in the children living in these conditions. They believe in helping others; they believe in the American Dream; and they believe in their own future success.
This message of perseverance and optimism is one I’m sharing not only with my six children, but also with my colleagues in Congress. Reliable and trustworthy people across our communities want to work but can’t find a job. They want to provide a safe and secure environment for their children to grow and thrive, but they can’t afford it.
It’s time that Congress channels some of the determination and compassion seen in these struggling families to get them back to work. Put the bickering aside. Cooperate on common-sense proposals that will create jobs. Stop putting politics over substance.
I will continue to work to build bridges that create solutions that help our struggling neighbors and strengthen America for future generations.
Your servant,
Daniel Webster
Member of Congress
Unsubscribe: http://webster.house.gov/Forms/EmailSignup/?Delete=true&MessageID=88268&Email=formageddon+21091@opencongress.org
The "60 Minutes" segment, “A Hard Times Generation,” followed families in Central Florida who have lost their jobs and are now living out of their cars. When staying with family members, crashing in cheap hotels, or finding space at a homeless shelter were no longer available options, they turned to their cars, looking for safe places to park at night so their families would be safe.
The remarkable part of this story is the optimistic and kind spirit that still manifests itself in the children living in these conditions. They believe in helping others; they believe in the American Dream; and they believe in their own future success.
This message of perseverance and optimism is one I’m sharing not only with my six children, but also with my colleagues in Congress. Reliable and trustworthy people across our communities want to work but can’t find a job. They want to provide a safe and secure environment for their children to grow and thrive, but they can’t afford it.
It’s time that Congress channels some of the determination and compassion seen in these struggling families to get them back to work. Put the bickering aside. Cooperate on common-sense proposals that will create jobs. Stop putting politics over substance.
I will continue to work to build bridges that create solutions that help our struggling neighbors and strengthen America for future generations.
Your servant,
Daniel Webster
Member of Congress
Unsubscribe: http://webster.house.gov/Forms/EmailSignup/?Delete=true&MessageID=88268&Email=formageddon+21091@opencongress.org
This letter was a reply from the office of Rep. Daniel Webster [R, FL-8] on December 11, 2011.
Pulling in the Reins on Federal Bureaucracy
You’ve heard me press Washington for what I call the “3 C’s” necessary for an economic turnaround and job creation: capital, certainty and confidence. In my visits with employees at businesses throughout Central Florida, I’ve heard many ideas that would create long-term private sector jobs and restore financial stability to Florida’s families, but many come back to these “3 C’s.” This past week, the U.S. House of Representatives addressed certainty in a comprehensive and thoughtful way.
On Wednesday, we voted and passed the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act by a bipartisan vote of 241-184. This bill, which I co-sponsored, limits out-of-control federal regulations by requiring congressional approval for any federal regulation with an economic impact of $100 million or more.
Of the 4,225 regulations now in the pipeline, 224 are major rules with at least $100 million in economic impact. Assuming those pending major regulations cost only $100 million (many cost much more), that implies at least an additional $220 billion in economic impact over 10 years is in the works.
The REINS Act is an example of how to prevent runaway bureaucratic regulations that stifle the ability of businesses to expand and create jobs. Decades of unchecked spending by both political parties has brought us to this critical moment in history when our nation swims in debt, while our local neighborhoods thirst for job-creation.
Instead of raising taxes on Florida businesses and inhibiting growth with regulatory red tape, we should be making it less burdensome for business to expand and hire. The REINS Act will restrict the ability of unelected federal officials to impose huge costs on the economy and the American people through burdensome regulations.
I encourage the Senate and White House to move forward on this and the 25 other job creation measures sent to them by the House of Representatives. Florida families and businesses can’t wait to infuse growth and hiring into the economy.
For more ideas on building the economy and job creation, visit my web page at Webster.house.gov. I am honored to serve the people of Florida’s 8th Congressional District as your representative in the United States Congress.
Your servant,
Daniel Webster
Member of Congress
Unsubscribe: http://webster.house.gov/Forms/EmailSignup/?Delete=true&MessageID=89581&Email=formageddon+21091@opencongress.org
On Wednesday, we voted and passed the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act by a bipartisan vote of 241-184. This bill, which I co-sponsored, limits out-of-control federal regulations by requiring congressional approval for any federal regulation with an economic impact of $100 million or more.
Of the 4,225 regulations now in the pipeline, 224 are major rules with at least $100 million in economic impact. Assuming those pending major regulations cost only $100 million (many cost much more), that implies at least an additional $220 billion in economic impact over 10 years is in the works.
The REINS Act is an example of how to prevent runaway bureaucratic regulations that stifle the ability of businesses to expand and create jobs. Decades of unchecked spending by both political parties has brought us to this critical moment in history when our nation swims in debt, while our local neighborhoods thirst for job-creation.
Instead of raising taxes on Florida businesses and inhibiting growth with regulatory red tape, we should be making it less burdensome for business to expand and hire. The REINS Act will restrict the ability of unelected federal officials to impose huge costs on the economy and the American people through burdensome regulations.
I encourage the Senate and White House to move forward on this and the 25 other job creation measures sent to them by the House of Representatives. Florida families and businesses can’t wait to infuse growth and hiring into the economy.
For more ideas on building the economy and job creation, visit my web page at Webster.house.gov. I am honored to serve the people of Florida’s 8th Congressional District as your representative in the United States Congress.
Your servant,
Daniel Webster
Member of Congress
Unsubscribe: http://webster.house.gov/Forms/EmailSignup/?Delete=true&MessageID=89581&Email=formageddon+21091@opencongress.org
This letter was a reply from the office of Rep. Daniel Webster [R, FL-8] on December 21, 2011.
It only takes ONE to cut unemployment in half
My commitment to inspire, encourage and serve the citizens of Central Florida has influenced each of my decisions during this first year in the House of Representatives. I asked you for this privilege to serve so I could change the culture in Washington by reining in spending, protecting our seniors, and helping to create jobs and expand our economy. Last week, I was pleased to move forward two critical pieces of legislation that will help people in Florida get back to work and finally simplify a broken budget process in Washington.
H.R. 3681, the One New Employee Act (ONE) will help cut our national unemployment rate in half. With unemployment languishing close to nine percent, I understand if you’re wondering how we can cut it in half with one bill. We can.
The math is simple: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, with nearly 6 million small businesses across the nation, if each hired only one new employee, our nation’s unemployment rate would drop to five percent. You see for the last several years, lawmakers in Washington have burdened, rather than boosted, small businesses across our nation. Small businesses, the backbone of our economy, have seen a steady stream of bureaucratic hurdles, including federal health care mandates, costly regulations, and tax increases. It’s no wonder that small businesses have faced an uncertain economic climate that has them hesitant to hire and expand.
I encourage you to read more about the ONE Act that I sponsored to provide job creators with responsible tax relief as they hire one new employee. You can read the bill and see answers to frequently asked questions on my website, Webster.House.Gov. Your suggestions, feedback, and input are extremely valuable as we work to create jobs here in Central Florida.
The second initiative from last week was a collaborative effort with a broad bipartisan group of colleagues. We put forward H.R. 3669, the Budget Process Improvement Act, to inject common-sense reforms that foster greater accountability, greater transparency, and simplify Washington’s broken budget process. Some of these important reforms include: making sure current unbudgeted fiscal expenditures like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are examined; requiring the Congressional Budget Office to analyze the cost of legislation over a 20 year period; and implementing an accrual accounting method commonly used in the private sector.
I thank the bipartisan group of lawmakers who have come together in a collaborative spirit to introduce the Budget Process Improvement Act. It is with cooperation, not partisan politics, that we can move forward to inject common-sense solutions into the broken budget process. You can read all about the budget reforms in this bill at Webster.House.Gov.
Finally, last week we wrapped up a year full of many frustrating fiscal battles. While the frustration stems from a desire for greater reforms and more significant cuts, I am pleased that we were able to help keep a sinking ship afloat by cutting $95 billion in discretionary spending – this is the largest cut in American history. Cutting discretionary spending for a second year in a row is something that hasn’t been done since World War II. We also eliminated 28 failed government programs, such as the loan guarantee program that wrought disasters like Solyndra and upheld our pledge to ban earmarks by striking all of them from the 2011 and 2012 spending bills.
Although this package is far from perfect, it continues our effort to turn off the spigot of spending in Washington and deliver responsible budgeting that eliminates waste, while providing for our priorities.
Your servant,
Daniel Webster
Member of Congress
Unsubscribe: http://webster.house.gov/Forms/EmailSignup/?Delete=true&MessageID=91005&Email=formageddon+21091@opencongress.org
H.R. 3681, the One New Employee Act (ONE) will help cut our national unemployment rate in half. With unemployment languishing close to nine percent, I understand if you’re wondering how we can cut it in half with one bill. We can.
The math is simple: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, with nearly 6 million small businesses across the nation, if each hired only one new employee, our nation’s unemployment rate would drop to five percent. You see for the last several years, lawmakers in Washington have burdened, rather than boosted, small businesses across our nation. Small businesses, the backbone of our economy, have seen a steady stream of bureaucratic hurdles, including federal health care mandates, costly regulations, and tax increases. It’s no wonder that small businesses have faced an uncertain economic climate that has them hesitant to hire and expand.
I encourage you to read more about the ONE Act that I sponsored to provide job creators with responsible tax relief as they hire one new employee. You can read the bill and see answers to frequently asked questions on my website, Webster.House.Gov. Your suggestions, feedback, and input are extremely valuable as we work to create jobs here in Central Florida.
The second initiative from last week was a collaborative effort with a broad bipartisan group of colleagues. We put forward H.R. 3669, the Budget Process Improvement Act, to inject common-sense reforms that foster greater accountability, greater transparency, and simplify Washington’s broken budget process. Some of these important reforms include: making sure current unbudgeted fiscal expenditures like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are examined; requiring the Congressional Budget Office to analyze the cost of legislation over a 20 year period; and implementing an accrual accounting method commonly used in the private sector.
I thank the bipartisan group of lawmakers who have come together in a collaborative spirit to introduce the Budget Process Improvement Act. It is with cooperation, not partisan politics, that we can move forward to inject common-sense solutions into the broken budget process. You can read all about the budget reforms in this bill at Webster.House.Gov.
Finally, last week we wrapped up a year full of many frustrating fiscal battles. While the frustration stems from a desire for greater reforms and more significant cuts, I am pleased that we were able to help keep a sinking ship afloat by cutting $95 billion in discretionary spending – this is the largest cut in American history. Cutting discretionary spending for a second year in a row is something that hasn’t been done since World War II. We also eliminated 28 failed government programs, such as the loan guarantee program that wrought disasters like Solyndra and upheld our pledge to ban earmarks by striking all of them from the 2011 and 2012 spending bills.
Although this package is far from perfect, it continues our effort to turn off the spigot of spending in Washington and deliver responsible budgeting that eliminates waste, while providing for our priorities.
Your servant,
Daniel Webster
Member of Congress
Unsubscribe: http://webster.house.gov/Forms/EmailSignup/?Delete=true&MessageID=91005&Email=formageddon+21091@opencongress.org
This letter was a reply from the office of Rep. Daniel Webster [R, FL-8] on February 12, 2012.
Streamlining Government Through Good Stewardship
Streamlining government through good stewardship
In hearing from hardworking taxpayers all across Central Florida, a resounding theme I’ve heard is that Washington is broken. What do people say is the cause? A lack of leadership, a lack of accountability, and a lack of sensibility. What we need is a thorough fiscal house cleaning that will lead to greater efficiency, increased confidence, and long-term economic growth.
This week, I supported initiatives that do just that: cut spending, reduce our debt, and increase public trust.
Currently, federal executive-branch agencies hold an extensive amount of property - 429,000 buildings and over a million total properties. In fact, did you know that the federal government is the largest owner and manager of real estate in our country? If we sold all excess federal properties, the proceeds, according to the Office of Management and Budget, could approach an estimated $15 billion – serious savings – on top of even more savings reaped annually from eliminating the hundreds of millions of dollars to maintain and operate these unused facilities.
H.R. 1734, the Civilian Property Realignment Act is a cost-saving initiative that achieves a reduction in the size of the federal real property inventory through selling or redeveloping underutilized properties, increasing the utilization rates of existing properties, and expediting the disposal of surplus properties. More importantly, this bill shows real respect for the hardworking taxpayers who pay for government buildings and space. You can do more with less if you do it efficiently. If you’re interested in hearing more, check out my speech as I managed the debate for this bill earlier this week on youtube.
Another opportunity for good stewardship came this week with H.R. 3581, the Federal Budget and Transparency Act. This bill improves transparency and offers comprehensive reforms to a messy and reckless Washington budget process. Through this reform, federal government accounting methods will now include not just the direct borrowing costs to the federal government, but also the costs of the risks to which the federal government is exposing taxpayers. The goal is to bring federal accounting up to the same standards to which private lenders adhere and to reveal more clearly the state of federal finances.
Washington not only spends too much, it isn’t fully honest about how much it’s spending. By implementing H.R. 3581, we take necessary steps to change the way business is done so the taxpayers can have more confidence in our government.
Bold, collaborative ideas like these are serious steps that steer our nation back in the right direction, toward economic growth.
The final item we voted on this week was the STOCK Act, a bill that increases public trust by ensuring that those who have the privilege of serving in public office at in all three branches of government do not profit from insider information. Transparency and trust are critical at all levels of government and today’s passage of the STOCK Act will help shine even more light on a city that has operated behind closed doors for entirely too long.
Have other ideas on how to reform Washington spending habits to create jobs? Let me know on my Facebook page. I am honored to serve the people of Central Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Your servant,
Daniel Webster
Member of Congress
Unsubscribe: http://webster.house.gov/Forms/EmailSignup/?Delete=true&MessageID=96748&Email=formageddon+21091@opencongress.org
In hearing from hardworking taxpayers all across Central Florida, a resounding theme I’ve heard is that Washington is broken. What do people say is the cause? A lack of leadership, a lack of accountability, and a lack of sensibility. What we need is a thorough fiscal house cleaning that will lead to greater efficiency, increased confidence, and long-term economic growth.
This week, I supported initiatives that do just that: cut spending, reduce our debt, and increase public trust.
Currently, federal executive-branch agencies hold an extensive amount of property - 429,000 buildings and over a million total properties. In fact, did you know that the federal government is the largest owner and manager of real estate in our country? If we sold all excess federal properties, the proceeds, according to the Office of Management and Budget, could approach an estimated $15 billion – serious savings – on top of even more savings reaped annually from eliminating the hundreds of millions of dollars to maintain and operate these unused facilities.
H.R. 1734, the Civilian Property Realignment Act is a cost-saving initiative that achieves a reduction in the size of the federal real property inventory through selling or redeveloping underutilized properties, increasing the utilization rates of existing properties, and expediting the disposal of surplus properties. More importantly, this bill shows real respect for the hardworking taxpayers who pay for government buildings and space. You can do more with less if you do it efficiently. If you’re interested in hearing more, check out my speech as I managed the debate for this bill earlier this week on youtube.
Another opportunity for good stewardship came this week with H.R. 3581, the Federal Budget and Transparency Act. This bill improves transparency and offers comprehensive reforms to a messy and reckless Washington budget process. Through this reform, federal government accounting methods will now include not just the direct borrowing costs to the federal government, but also the costs of the risks to which the federal government is exposing taxpayers. The goal is to bring federal accounting up to the same standards to which private lenders adhere and to reveal more clearly the state of federal finances.
Washington not only spends too much, it isn’t fully honest about how much it’s spending. By implementing H.R. 3581, we take necessary steps to change the way business is done so the taxpayers can have more confidence in our government.
Bold, collaborative ideas like these are serious steps that steer our nation back in the right direction, toward economic growth.
The final item we voted on this week was the STOCK Act, a bill that increases public trust by ensuring that those who have the privilege of serving in public office at in all three branches of government do not profit from insider information. Transparency and trust are critical at all levels of government and today’s passage of the STOCK Act will help shine even more light on a city that has operated behind closed doors for entirely too long.
Have other ideas on how to reform Washington spending habits to create jobs? Let me know on my Facebook page. I am honored to serve the people of Central Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Your servant,
Daniel Webster
Member of Congress
Unsubscribe: http://webster.house.gov/Forms/EmailSignup/?Delete=true&MessageID=96748&Email=formageddon+21091@opencongress.org
This letter was a reply from the office of Rep. Daniel Webster [R, FL-8] on February 28, 2012.
Small Business, BIG Priority
Dear Friend,
Much discussion in Washington about tax reform has been centered on the corporate tax rate. While I agree that this sector needs reform, I believe lawmakers need to put small businesses, the backbone of America’s economy, front and center of any discussion on reform ideas that will revitalize our economy.
Small businesses make up 95% of all business entities in the United States. They also hire 54% of all private sector employees. A jobs plan that doesn’t provide serious reforms to give this critical segment of our economy the tools and freedom they need to thrive isn’t a complete plan.
Last week, I had the privilege of traveling around Central Florida to hear directly from business owners about successful ways they have navigated a tough economy and what they need to grow, expand, and ultimately hire more Floridians. We discussed everything from the need for access to capital and freedom from burdensome regulations, to the need for skilled workers and training programs.
I heard about the role the government can play - or simply get out of the way - to help build confidence and certainty. We talked about molding public policy to reflect the importance of small businesses to our nation’s economic growth and about how difficult it is to find other lawmakers in Washington who know or understand the needs of a small business.
Listening and truly hearing what these business owners had to say was extremely beneficial. While I’m a small businessman by background, it still helps to hear directly from others in different industries about ways to strengthen their companies to spur economic growth right here in Central Florida’s communities.
I appreciate the new ideas I heard last week; there are some excellent initiatives I plan to follow up on and will keep you posted. But, the message I’m bringing back to Washington is one that I’ve been discussing for quite some time and was strongly reinforced on this week’s jobs tour: make small business a big priority.
I heard about the role the government can play - or simply get out of the way - to help build confidence and certainty. We talked about molding public policy to reflect the importance of small businesses to our nation’s economic growth and about how difficult it is to find other lawmakers in Washington who know or understand the needs of a small business.
Listening and truly hearing what these business owners had to say was extremely beneficial. While I’m a small businessman by background, it still helps to hear directly from others in different industries about ways to strengthen their companies to spur economic growth right here in Central Florida’s communities.
I appreciate the new ideas I heard last week; there are some excellent initiatives I plan to follow up on and will keep you posted. But, the message I’m bringing back to Washington is one that I’ve been discussing for quite some time and was strongly reinforced on this week’s jobs tour: make small business a big priority.
Your servant,
Daniel Webster
Member of Congress
Unsubscribe: http://webster.house.gov/Forms/EmailSignup/?Delete=true&MessageID=98996&Email=formageddon+21091@opencongress.org
Much discussion in Washington about tax reform has been centered on the corporate tax rate. While I agree that this sector needs reform, I believe lawmakers need to put small businesses, the backbone of America’s economy, front and center of any discussion on reform ideas that will revitalize our economy.
Small businesses make up 95% of all business entities in the United States. They also hire 54% of all private sector employees. A jobs plan that doesn’t provide serious reforms to give this critical segment of our economy the tools and freedom they need to thrive isn’t a complete plan.
Last week, I had the privilege of traveling around Central Florida to hear directly from business owners about successful ways they have navigated a tough economy and what they need to grow, expand, and ultimately hire more Floridians. We discussed everything from the need for access to capital and freedom from burdensome regulations, to the need for skilled workers and training programs.
I heard about the role the government can play - or simply get out of the way - to help build confidence and certainty. We talked about molding public policy to reflect the importance of small businesses to our nation’s economic growth and about how difficult it is to find other lawmakers in Washington who know or understand the needs of a small business.
Listening and truly hearing what these business owners had to say was extremely beneficial. While I’m a small businessman by background, it still helps to hear directly from others in different industries about ways to strengthen their companies to spur economic growth right here in Central Florida’s communities.
I appreciate the new ideas I heard last week; there are some excellent initiatives I plan to follow up on and will keep you posted. But, the message I’m bringing back to Washington is one that I’ve been discussing for quite some time and was strongly reinforced on this week’s jobs tour: make small business a big priority.
I heard about the role the government can play - or simply get out of the way - to help build confidence and certainty. We talked about molding public policy to reflect the importance of small businesses to our nation’s economic growth and about how difficult it is to find other lawmakers in Washington who know or understand the needs of a small business.
Listening and truly hearing what these business owners had to say was extremely beneficial. While I’m a small businessman by background, it still helps to hear directly from others in different industries about ways to strengthen their companies to spur economic growth right here in Central Florida’s communities.
I appreciate the new ideas I heard last week; there are some excellent initiatives I plan to follow up on and will keep you posted. But, the message I’m bringing back to Washington is one that I’ve been discussing for quite some time and was strongly reinforced on this week’s jobs tour: make small business a big priority.
Your servant,
Daniel Webster
Member of Congress
Unsubscribe: http://webster.house.gov/Forms/EmailSignup/?Delete=true&MessageID=98996&Email=formageddon+21091@opencongress.org
This letter was a reply from the office of Rep. Daniel Webster [R, FL-8] on April 17, 2012.
Town Hall Discussions
Dear Friend,
This week I had the privilege of meeting with many of you at our town hall community discussions. Our conversations consistently centered around three key areas: getting our fiscal house in order, creating jobs, and restoring your personal financial security.
When it comes to curbing Washington’s reckless spending habits, we first have to transform the mindset in our nation’s capital. Our government believes that if you have it, you must spend it; and, if you don’t have it, you just borrow it. This mindset has contributed to a government devoid of responsibility, spending money with no thought of consequences. This foolhardy path will lead to further crisis and will continue to wreck our nation’s fiscal stability.
To illustrate just how quickly our government is burning through borrowed money, I started each town hall meeting with a ticking National Debt Clock. As I’m sitting here writing to you, our national debt is at $15,634,797,231,288.13. How much has it increased by the time you’ve read this?
We have two choices: continue the tax-and-spend policies that have burdened our nation with trillions of dollars of debt, or choose a different path, one that will lead us to a place of hope and restore America to a nation of prosperity with a brighter future. The Path to Prosperity is a plan that recently passed the House of Representatives with my support, that is committed to the timeless Constitutional principles of liberty, limited government, and equality under the rule of law. Embracing these principles, it seeks to reduce our crushing burden of debt, restore balance to our federal government, safeguard and strengthen vital programs like Medicare for seniors, and provide a sustainable pathway forward to a brighter future for our children and grandchildren. This graph below illustrates the stark differences between these two paths. Status quo or inaction is not the answer.
Whether it is a household budget or your business' finances, we each have a personal responsibility to keep our own fiscal house in order. As for me, I made the decision to reduce expenses from my congressional office budget and returned nearly half of a million dollars back to the U.S. Treasury to reduce the federal deficit. Read about it in this USA Today article.
What would happen if every member of the U.S. Congress or every federal department, bureau, or agency looked for ways to save rather than to spend? Even with a significantly reduced budget, I was still able to serve and represent the needs of our community. Government can do more with less and, for the sake of our future generations, should.
If you missed my town hall meetings, take a look at the slide presentation and provide your input through my app, available on both iTunes and the Android Market and through Twitter or Facebook. I look forward to hearing from you.
Your servant,
Daniel Webster
Member of Congress
Unsubscribe: http://webster.house.gov/Forms/EmailSignup/?Delete=true&MessageID=105545&Email=formageddon+21091@opencongress.org
This week I had the privilege of meeting with many of you at our town hall community discussions. Our conversations consistently centered around three key areas: getting our fiscal house in order, creating jobs, and restoring your personal financial security.
When it comes to curbing Washington’s reckless spending habits, we first have to transform the mindset in our nation’s capital. Our government believes that if you have it, you must spend it; and, if you don’t have it, you just borrow it. This mindset has contributed to a government devoid of responsibility, spending money with no thought of consequences. This foolhardy path will lead to further crisis and will continue to wreck our nation’s fiscal stability.
To illustrate just how quickly our government is burning through borrowed money, I started each town hall meeting with a ticking National Debt Clock. As I’m sitting here writing to you, our national debt is at $15,634,797,231,288.13. How much has it increased by the time you’ve read this?
We have two choices: continue the tax-and-spend policies that have burdened our nation with trillions of dollars of debt, or choose a different path, one that will lead us to a place of hope and restore America to a nation of prosperity with a brighter future. The Path to Prosperity is a plan that recently passed the House of Representatives with my support, that is committed to the timeless Constitutional principles of liberty, limited government, and equality under the rule of law. Embracing these principles, it seeks to reduce our crushing burden of debt, restore balance to our federal government, safeguard and strengthen vital programs like Medicare for seniors, and provide a sustainable pathway forward to a brighter future for our children and grandchildren. This graph below illustrates the stark differences between these two paths. Status quo or inaction is not the answer.
Whether it is a household budget or your business' finances, we each have a personal responsibility to keep our own fiscal house in order. As for me, I made the decision to reduce expenses from my congressional office budget and returned nearly half of a million dollars back to the U.S. Treasury to reduce the federal deficit. Read about it in this USA Today article.
What would happen if every member of the U.S. Congress or every federal department, bureau, or agency looked for ways to save rather than to spend? Even with a significantly reduced budget, I was still able to serve and represent the needs of our community. Government can do more with less and, for the sake of our future generations, should.
If you missed my town hall meetings, take a look at the slide presentation and provide your input through my app, available on both iTunes and the Android Market and through Twitter or Facebook. I look forward to hearing from you.
Your servant,
Daniel Webster
Member of Congress
Unsubscribe: http://webster.house.gov/Forms/EmailSignup/?Delete=true&MessageID=105545&Email=formageddon+21091@opencongress.org
This letter was a reply from the office of Rep. Daniel Webster [R, FL-8] on May 10, 2012.
Speak Out,
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This letter was a reply from the office of Rep. Daniel Webster [R, FL-8] on May 15, 2012.
Flushing Out Intrusion on Your Privacy
REMINDER: After May 15, I may not be able to send you Webster Wire email updates unless you become a subscriber.
Over the next several months, Congress will be considering positive solutions to help put Central Floridians back to work, protect your privacy from government intrusion, and restore fiscal responsibility with common-sense savings. As your U.S. Representative, I want to keep you informed on these issues that impact Central Florida and receive your input.
In a recent edition of the Webster Wire, I asked Central Floridians to tell me what they would cut from the federal budget. After thousands voted online to cut the intrusive American Community Survey, I introduced and passed legislation to deliver on my promise. You cut. I listened.
I hope you’ll sign-up for the Webster Wire today. It is an honor to serve you, and I look forward to engaging with you and listening to your views.
Your servant,
Daniel Webster
Unsubscribe: http://webster.house.gov/Forms/EmailSignup/?Delete=true&MessageID=109536&Email=formageddon+21091@opencongress.org
Over the next several months, Congress will be considering positive solutions to help put Central Floridians back to work, protect your privacy from government intrusion, and restore fiscal responsibility with common-sense savings. As your U.S. Representative, I want to keep you informed on these issues that impact Central Florida and receive your input.
In a recent edition of the Webster Wire, I asked Central Floridians to tell me what they would cut from the federal budget. After thousands voted online to cut the intrusive American Community Survey, I introduced and passed legislation to deliver on my promise. You cut. I listened.
I hope you’ll sign-up for the Webster Wire today. It is an honor to serve you, and I look forward to engaging with you and listening to your views.
Your servant,
Daniel Webster
Unsubscribe: http://webster.house.gov/Forms/EmailSignup/?Delete=true&MessageID=109536&Email=formageddon+21091@opencongress.org
Note to Congressional staff & elected officials reading this: this letter was sent through Contact-Congress features on OpenCongress.org, a free public resource website, but in the future we seek to compel the U.S. Congress to adopt fully open technology for constituent communications. For more information how your office can better handle public feedback through an open API and open standards, contact us -- even today, there are significantly more efficient and responsive ways for our elected officials to receive email feedback than the status quo of individual webforms. For greater public accountability in government, we must make the process of writing one's members of Congress more accessible and empowering. Looking ahead, we will release more data from Contact-Congress letters and Congressional response rates back into the public commons. This will result in a new open data source on bills & issues people care about, as well as encourage best practices in constituent communications and make it possible to grade members of Congress on their responsiveness & citizen satisfaction.
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