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This week brought news that the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office predicts Obamacare will cause the loss of  2.3 million jobs over the next decade. While the President’s ill-conceived healthcare law continues to have disastrous consequences for our economy, it’s important to highlight what The Congress has been doing  to help stabilize our economy and put people back to work. 

Budget
As a proud fiscal conservative, I was skeptical of the compromise Bipartisan Budget Agreement (BBA) when it was presented to the House of Representatives in November. Too many budgets are filled with creative accounting, gimmickry and illusory savings.  However, while imperfect, this agreement advanced the conservative goal of substituting the arbitrary sequester cuts with better-targeted permanent savings 

The BBA replaced $63 billion in temporary defense-heavy sequestration cuts with $85 billion in targeted, permanent spending reductions to unsustainable government programs. These cuts included reforming the federal employee pension program, cost-sharing for unions and corporate pension insurance and reducing waste and fraudulent payments to prisoners and identity thieves.

By exchanging temporary savings for permanent savings, this budget is expected to save $23 billion more than the  sequester over a ten year window. Further, the “auto-pilot” spending reforms will continue to generate savings for generations to come. I will continue to work for tighter budgets that control our debt and force government to live within its means, but it’s good to have a budget framework in place that will take us through the next two years.

Spending
One of the Congress’ first achievements this year was to pass a bipartisan “omnibus” spending bill to appropriate funds in accordance with the budget agreement and avoid another federal government shutdown.  First, an omnibus spending bill is not ideal. The appropriations process is an important tool for holding the vast federal bureaucracy accountable to Congress, and it’s my sincere hope that this year will bring a return of regular order involving hearings, oversight and the elimination of wasteful spending on ineffective programs. That said, this bill has many virtues.  It’s $21.4 billion below overall fiscal year 2013 post‐sequester spending and $46 billion below the Senate 2014 budget. I am proud that with this bill, $165 billion in discretionary cuts have been made since 2010.

The budget deal and subsequent enactment of the omnibus spending bill should help provide some much needed stability for businesses in our ailing economy.  However, much more must be done to create the conditions necessary for growing both the economy and  the job market.

Jobs
Last year, the House passed several bills aimed at encouraging job creation. Legislation I authored, the Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills Act, or simply the SKILLS Act (H.R. 803) would reform the current, jumbled federal workforce development system. My bill would streamline 35 duplicative federal programs with a one-stop-shop for job seekers to find the help they need.  H.R. 803 also focuses attention and resources on the most in-demand jobs, so workers’ time will be spent developing expertise more useful for getting hired in the 21st century workplace.  The House passed the SKILLS Act with bipartisan support almost a year ago and it currently awaits action in the Senate.

Stalled in the Senate
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has compiled a “To Do List” for the Senate consisting of fifteen bills, including H.R. 803, which awaiting action in the Senate. Much of this legislation passed overwhelmingly and with  bipartisan votes. Collectively, these bills would decrease energy costs, allow workers to have more flexibility to spend time with their families, and increase transparency in how your tax dollars are spent. These are worthwhile initiatives, for while Congress cannot create prosperity, we can work to ensure entrepreneurs and business owners aren’t crushed under red tape. 

As always, if you would like more information, or if there are any concerns you have, or issues that I can help you with, please do not hesitate to contact me at www.foxx.house.gov.