Calling on President Obama for a Balanced Budget
February 11, 2013
Dear Friend,
For years we have watched Washington spend our money with little - if any - regard for fiscal responsibility. I believe we have no time to waste in ending the fiscal recklessness that has endangered the prosperity of this nation. That is why this past week the House of Representatives passed “Require a PLAN Act” which states that if President Obama does not submit a budget that balances in 10 years or less, he will have to produce another budget that does. President Obama was supposed to submit his budget this past Monday – as required by law – but he failed to meet this deadline for the fourth time in five years. 'Require a PLAN Act' sends a clear message that the House is not going to let President Obama drive our nation into fiscal oblivion. You can learn more about it here.
Nutrition Nannies Strike Again
Well, they’ve done it again. Just when we thought USDA had heard America loudly and clearly, they dreamt up another way to insert themselves into what should be the affairs of parents, teachers, and schools. This time they are going after schools’ vending machines and snack bars. At least there is a policy argument that perhaps the federal government may regulate what goes on school lunch trays because they subsidize those lunches. But, the last time I checked, Uncle Sam is not handing out allowance money for kids to spend on snacks.
I find it very ironic that the same Obama Administration that supports policies of school nurses giving birth control to students without parental consent believes that parents and kids cannot be trusted on their own to decide whether a child will have Oreos or an apple as an after-school snack. Only in Washington does that make sense!
The comments from folks across America made a difference last time in stopping (at least temporarily) the school lunch and breakfast mandates that were only filling our trash cans – rather than students’ stomachs – and I am calling on you to help again. Please send your written comments to Julie Brewer, Chief, Policy and Program Development, Branch, Child Nutrition Division, Food and Nutrition Service, P.O. Box 66874, Saint Louis, MO 63166.
More Exciting News for Kansas Producers
Just last week I shared with you the news that Japan had relaxed its import restrictions on American beef. This past week, we received more good news: the EU will begin to allow for limited imports of live pigs and beef. Additionally, they may also allow imports of tallow (animal fat) for biofuels. We are the largest livestock-producing district in the entire country, so I am very excited by this forward movement in trade talks, and look forward to continuing to break down other nonscientific trade barriers. The greatest force for economic prosperity in the world is the free market, and we are excited by the news that Kansans and producers across America will have more opportunities to sell their products overseas.
Manhattan Office Hours
Staff will be available to assist constituents in the Manhattan office (727 Poyntz Ave, Suite 10 in the Commerce Bank Building) on the following dates and at the following times:
- Tuesday, February 12, 2013: 1:00PM-3:00PM
- Wednesday, February 13, 2013: 11:00AM-1:00PM
Other upcoming staff office hours include:
- Friday, February 15, 2013, 1:00 PM-2:00 PM: Sternberg Museum of Natural History in Hays
- Tuesday, February 26, 2013, 10:00 AM-11:00 AM: Seward County Community College (Student Union, 2nd Floor Conference Room)
- Tuesday, February 26, 2013, 1:00 PM-2:00 PM: Grant County Library (Conference Room)
- Wednesday, February 27, 2013, 10:00 AM-11:00 AM: Garden City Community College (Kinney Room in the Beth Tedrow Student Center)
- Thursday, February 28, 2013, 10:00 AM-11:00 AM: Colby Community College (Student Union, Fireside Lounge)
Town Halls - Nine Announced!
I will host nine town hall meetings next week, including:
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Morton County Town Hall
8:00am – 9:00am
The Flying Monkey
350 Morton St, Elkhart
Stevens County Town Hall
10:00am – 11:00am
4-H Building at the Stevens County Fairgrounds
1130 Trindle, Hugoton
Grant County Town Hall
12:00pm – 1:00pm
City Hall, City Council Room
115 West Grant Avenue, Ulysses
Haskell County Town Hall
4:00pm – 5:00pm
Haskell County Courthouse – Courtroom
300 S Inman St., Sublette
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Ellsworth County Town Hall
2:00pm – 3:00pm
City Hall, City Council Chambers
121 W First St., Ellsworth
Rice County Town Hall
4:00pm – 5:00pm
Lyons State Bank – Community Room
104 East Ave North, Lyons
Friday, February 22, 2013
Pawnee County Town Hall
8:30am – 9:30am
Larned Chamber of Commerce – Jordan Room
502 Broadway St., Larned
Hodgeman County Town Hall
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Hodgeman County Courthouse – First Floor Lounge
500 Main St., Jetmore
Ness County Town Hall
3:00pm – 4:00pm
Ness County Old Bank Building
102 West Main St., Ness City
Guests in the Office
This week, your D.C. staff and I had the privilege of meeting with Dr. Schulz, Dr. Trewyn, and Sue Peterson of K-State (pictured below) to discuss ongoing projects at the University. We also met with representatives of the Kansas Rural Health Association, including Dr. Michael Kennedy, Associate Dean for Rural Health Education at KUMC, Chad Austin, Jodi Schmidt, Roger Massey, Jessica Parrish, and Scott Rempel; Sharon Loftspring and her daughter, Elana, representing the National Neurofibromatosis Coalition; Leonard Silkey, Tom Page, Emily Schlenker, and Serena Nickell on behalf of the National Federation for the Blind; Fred Conboy on behalf of Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area; Manhattan First United Methodist Church Pastor Patrick McLaughlin; Bob Thesman, Kim Howard, and Sherri Schwanz on behalf of the Kansas NEA and KNEA President Karen Godfrey; Mike Abate on behalf of the Tulsa District Corps of Engineers; and representatives of the Kansas League of Postmasters and the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, Regional Prevention Center of the Flint Hills.
Sincerely,
Tim Huelskamp