Congress’ first week in session after being sworn in last week was taken up mostly with security measures related to the tragic shooting in Tucson. The vote on revoking Obamacare was put off until this week. More on that later.
Republican Members of Congress then took a bus trip to Baltimore for the annual Republican Retreat to strategize on how best to move forward with the agenda this year. I’m pleased to report that the spirit that prevailed among Republicans during the campaign last year, of restrained spending, less government, and focus on the economy still prevails. Whereas it’s important to acknowledge that Democrats still control the Senate and the Presidency, Republicans in the House appear united in their commitment to fight against the spending spree mentality which has prevailed in Washington over the last few years.
And consistent with reducing the growth of government, the House will take up this week the debate and vote on repealing Obamacare. I intend to vote in favor of the repeal, just as I promised during the campaign. Of course it’s unlikely that the Senate will follow suit, and even if they did, President Obama would certainly veto the repeal. So we must have a plan B. And that is to fight the funding of the implementation of the new health care bill. This will give the American people the final say on their health care in the Presidential election which is less than two years away.
One other item over the last week which might be of interest. After attending the retreat in Baltimore, I took a side trip to Florida to give a speech to over 1,000, mostly Jewish, attendees from all over the country, at a Summit on the “Deligitimization of Israel.” I was asked, as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, to fill in for the Foreign Affairs Chairman, Ileana Ros-Lehtenan, who was unable to attend. “Deligitimization” is the campaign to isolate Israel as a rogue state, akin to apartheid-era South Africa. “Deligitimization” has been identified as the second most dangerous threat to Israel, after Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. And Israel after all is a U.S. friend and ally, and a vibrant democracy in a region where democracy has otherwise failed to flourish.
As I write this week’s blog, I’m on a flight from Cincinnati back to Washington. It’s an honor to once again represent you in Congress. I’ll report back to you next week.
