Hartzler: Obama spending spree is destroying jobs and harming our economy

In her first weekly report, Fourth District Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, R-Mo, takes a few slaps at President Obama and the federal health care bill:

Republican members of the U.S. House began this week on the heels of a rousing retreat in Baltimore in which our commitment to reducing federal spending was reiterated. Speaker John Boehner reminded us that an illness is inflicting Washington - an illness of spending - with the debt a symptom of that illness. He gave us added incentive to do what we already intend to do - carry out the will of the American people to stop the Obama spending spree that is destroying jobs and harming our economy.

After a quick visit home I made it a priority to travel to Pulaski County before I caught a plane to DC to meet with commanders at Fort Leonard Wood to review the recovery efforts in the wake of the December 31st tornado that damaged or destroyed 144 homes at the Fort. I was impressed to learn that the personnel at the post are already well into the process of cleaning up and expect rebuilding projects to soon get underway. We can all thank God that no one at the Fort was killed or seriously injured when the twister touched down.

Back in Washington we began the task of repealing the ObamaCare government takeover of health care. Many of us had promised we would work to stop this job-destroying legislation and replace it with common sense reforms to reduce costs. We took an important step in that direction on Wednesday with our overwhelming vote in favor of repealing the law. We were even joined by a handful of Democrats, making this a true bipartisan effort. I cosponsored this repeal bill which now goes to the Senate for its consideration.

Wednesday was also the day members of the House Armed Services Committee learned of our sub-committee assignments. I was fortunate enough to be given the chance to sit on the Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, the Subcommittee on Readiness, and the Subcommittee on Military Personnel - all of which are important to citizens of the 4th Congressional District, especially those serving at and living near Fort Leonard Wood and Whiteman Air Force Base. All Army and Air Force acquisition programs are dealt with through the Subcommittee on Tactical and Land Forces. The Subcommittee on Readiness addresses military readiness, training, and logistics as well as military construction, installations, and family housing issues. The Subcommittee on Military Personnel deals with all issues relating to pay, Tricare, and military voting. I look forward to speaking out on behalf of members of the military who vote by absentee ballot so they get their ballots in plenty of time to have them returned and counted. Anything less is unacceptable.

Our major votes for the week:

H.R. 2 - the repeal of the government health care takeover. I voted "yes."

H.R. 9 - which instructs the committees of jurisdiction to recommend legislation that expands access and improves affordability of healthcare and health insurance. I voted "yes."

In the coming weeks the House will focus on cutting runaway federal spending. The first week we reduced our House budgets by 5%, but that's only the start. Each week we will be bringing up a proposal to cut spending - many of them ideas submitted and voted on by citizens at the YouCut web site (http://majorityleader.gov/YouCut/). This week we passed a measure to save $35 million on printing costs over 10 years by stopping the mandatory printing of 200 copies of each bill. Next week, we will continue to cut until we have made our government more efficient, effective, and fiscally responsible. In coming months, we'll advance major proposals which will reduce the budget by hundreds of billions of dollars. I invite you to be part of the process and make your voice heard by going to the YouCut web site or by contacting my office at www.hartzler.house.gov with your ideas. Together, we'll restore government of the people, by the people, and for the people.