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Congresswoman Virginia Foxx

Over the past several months, Americans from all walks of life have spoken out about how they want the federal government to operate.  While Washington liberals have pushed an agenda of borrowing, spending, higher taxes, and bailouts, North Carolinians have joined the chorus of voices that want less spending, lower taxes and a smaller, more effective government.

I am constantly meeting with constituents, touring small businesses and listening to North Carolinians’ concerns.  I hear from job creators and talk with people who are struggling with unemployment.  While Democrats have refused to change course from their failed policies, my fellow Republicans and I have been listening to our constituents and we’ve put forth a governing agenda that reflects your priorities.

It’s time for a fresh approach.

This new agenda, A Pledge to America, is the product of countless conversations with everyday Americans and it available at Pledge.GOP.gov.  It embraces the principles of smaller and more accountable government, lower taxes, fiscal responsibility, protecting life and American constitutional values. The agenda also provides for a robust national defense that confronts and defeats the terrorist threat.

The foremost issue that North Carolinians want us to address is getting Americans back to work. Here in North Carolina more than one in ten people are unemployed and looking for jobs. For 16 consecutive months, the nation’s unemployment rate has been at or above 9 percent.

It’s pretty clear that a Washington-focused approach of starting new government programs has failed. We need real solutions, such as permanently stopping job-killing tax hikes, reining in Washington’s red tape and repealing job-killing mandates to help the private sector create jobs.

North Carolina families and small businesses have been making hard choices in order to balance their budgets, and many have told me that they want Washington to do the same. That’s why Republicans are ready to stop cold the federal government’s out-of-control spending spree.

In particular, we want to cut spending to pre-stimulus levels, which will save $100 billion immediately and $1.5 trillion over ten years.  We’ll also require a cap on new spending, make Congress cut its own budget and learn to do more with less. Plus, we want to finally end the TARP bailout and put an end to government control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

During town halls and conversations I’ve had this year, countless people have told me that they want health care reform that actually lowers costs, not the massive, job-killing government takeover imposed by Washington liberals this spring.  They understand that the new health care law will drive up costs, create new taxes, force people off of coverage they like and use taxpayer dollars for abortion services.

The Pledge to American is a promise to fight to repeal this law and replace it with common sense medical liability reforms, the ability to buy health insurance across state lines and accessibility to health care for all, regardless of pre-existing conditions or past illnesses.

Finally, I know that North Carolinians are frustrated with more than Washington’s spending and failed policies. They also want changes to how Washington enacts policies. It’s high time we rebuilt people’s trust in Congress with some fundamental changes to how the people’s business is done.

Bills should be read, debated, discussed and understood before votes are cast. We will publish all legislation online for at least three days and require that the bills we pass are based on a specific constitutional authority. Republicans are also calling for changes that will make it easier for reform-minded legislators to get a vote on amendments that cut spending.

This is just a small fraction of the governing agenda that my Republican colleagues and I have brought forth in the Pledge. America deserves real transparency and accountability in Washington. Above all, it’s time that the People’s House returned to doing the people’s business. Those in charge of the 111th Congress could change direction today by bringing these vital reforms up for a full and open debate, so the voice of the American people can once again be heard in Washington D.C.

Learn more at Pledge.GOP.gov.

U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx represents the Fifth Congressional District of North Carolina.  She currently serves on the House Rules Committee.  You may contact her office toll free at 1-866-677-8968 or e-mail her from her website, www.foxx.house.gov.