The Latest News from Washington

Pro-Growth Budgeting Act

This past week, I introduced the Pro-Growth Budgeting Act. This legislation requires the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to provide lawmakers with what is known as a “dynamic” score of legislation in order to determine the impact a policy would have on real world economic factors like the nation’s gross domestic product, job creation, and business investment. Right now, the CBO is not required to provide such an analysis to lawmakers. In order to develop the right solutions to address the nation’s fiscal and economic challenges, it is vital we have a better understanding of the actual costs and the macroeconomic impact of proposed policies.

This analysis would be provided to policymakers in addition to the current “static scoring” CBO already provides, and it is part of a larger package of reforms that House Budget Committee members are putting forward to update the budget process in Congress.  I am proud to have the support of House Committee on the Budget Chairman Paul Ryan and my colleagues on this important measure, and I am especially grateful for the support of Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Ron Johnson (R-WI) who have sponsored this effort in the Senate.

Full Faith and Credit Act

Last Thursday, the Full Faith and Credit Act passed the House of Representatives. This plan ensures that the federal government will not default on the nation’s nearly $17 trillion in national debt. We hope the Senate and the White House will stop inviting the threat of a default and join us in supporting this common sense solution.

Taking the threat of default off the table is an important step toward securing principled and proactive solutions that tackle the catalysts of our spending-driven crisis. This means reining in government spending and implementing pro-growth tax reform. Restoring fiscal sanity in Washington is the key to jumpstarting our nation’s economy and empowering the American people to reach for their dreams.

Troubling Revelations About Administration’s Response to Benghazi

Since the day we learned that four Americans – including Ambassador Chris Stevens – were killed during a terrorist attack on the American diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya, the House of Representatives has called on the Obama Administration to tell the American people the truth about what happened and what more might have been done to protect American lives. In testimony this past week before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, three State Department officials gave an emotional account of what happened in Benghazi. They described their frustration and dismay to both the reaction of the Administration at the time of the attacks and the Administration’s public statements in the days that followed.

We are also now learning that there appears to have been a concerted effort on the part of folks in the Obama Administration to make changes to the talking points government officials would eventually use to describe to the American people the nature of the Benghazi attacks and who might have been responsible. Specifically alterations were made to remove a mention of a connection to terrorism and terrorist organizations.

The reports that are emerging contradict what the White House has continually told the American people about how the Administration went about deciding what and what not to share with the public after four Americans were murdered. This is unacceptable, and the House of Representatives must continue to practice robust oversight so that we get the facts and pursue the right course of action to protect Americans and American interests abroad.