Central and Southside Virginians have made it abundantly clear that the most important issue facing the people of the Fifth District is job creation, and the disappointing May unemployment report highlighted the critical need for real change in our nation’s Capitol.
For over two years, Democrats in Washington have pursued a failed economic agenda based on more spending, more borrowing, more taxing, and more government regulations that has only stalled the economy, stifled growth, and destroyed jobs.
In stark contrast, House Republicans have put forth a pro-growth jobs plan that will move our economy forward by restoring certainty to the marketplace so our job creators in the 5th District and across the country will have the confidence necessary to hire and expand. And this plan builds on our record in this new 112th Congress of cutting trillions in government spending, reducing unnecessary regulations, and working to shrink the size and scope of the federal government.
With government spending increasing by over 80 percent in the last two years and with our debt now standing at over $14 trillion and our deficit at $1.6 trillion, we must continue to enact significant spending cuts and reforms. House Republicans are committed to putting an end to Washington’s reckless spending that threatens to bankrupt our nation, hinders job growth, and leaves our children and grandchildren to foot the bill.
We will continue to reduce onerous regulations that are redundant, bog down our small businesses, and impede private sector investment and job creation. In order to ease the regulatory burden that some estimate costs our economy over $1.75 trillion a year, House Republicans will require congressional oversight, review, and approval of any proposed federal government regulation that will have a significant impact on the economy.
And we will continue to support changes to our tax code, which has grown too complicated and cumbersome and is fundamentally unfair. By streamlining the tax code and lowering the tax rate for businesses and individuals we will increase our competitiveness in the world, generate investment, and create more American jobs.
While these are just a few of the many steps we will take to get our economy back on track, it is my hope that the Administration and congressional Democrats will join with us as we pursue the kind of commonsense policies that remove Washington as the roadblock to job creation and give small businesses and our job creators renewed confidence in our economy.
If you need any additional information on these or any other issues, please visit my website at www.hurt.house.gov or call my Washington office: (202) 225-4711, Charlottesville office: (434) 973-9631, Danville office: (434) 791-2596, or Farmville office: (434) 395-0120.
Robert Hurt is a United States congressman.