Post a Comment On: Bakersfield Observed

 Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) submits his weekly report from Capitol Hill. In his words:

[Image] "I traveled to the Central Coast portion of the district on Monday for the re-opening of Flamson Middle School in Paso Robles.  The school was destroyed by the 2003 San Simeon earthquake and unfortunately
Washington’s Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) did not want to provide funding for its rebuilding, but Bill Thomas and I pushed hard to make its reopening a reality.

  "While in San Luis Obispo I spent my time meeting with community leaders and local business owners, and the most common question I was asked was: what will be done to turn around our country and what
Congress should be focusing on.  As the nation’s unemployment stands at 9.6%, I believe our number one priority should be putting Americans back to work.  In 2009, our nation’s federal domestic spending
increased by 16% to $3.2 trillion and the Washington area experienced a net gain in 41,000 jobs and had the lowest unemployment for large metro areas.
  "Put simply, excessive spending + more regulation + higher taxes = fewer jobs for the nation except in Washington.  We need to focus on the basics: cut spending, control our debt, keep taxes low, and start removing burden regulations that harm small businesses.  After I meet with business owners and I hear about their challenges, I always go back to my days starting up Kevin O’s deli and wonder what it would be like to open my old deli in today’s business climate.
 "The underlying factor in putting Americans back to work will be making sure that we keep America competitive.  The CEO of Intel, Paul Otellini warned last week that “unless government policies are
altered…the next big think will not be invented here.  Jobs will not be created here.”  By looking at the past we see that the $814 billion stimulus was unable to keep unemployment below 8%, the new government
run health care system does include tax increases and a financial reform law will expand government agencies and restricts credit necessary for new job growth.
 " What we need now is a change in environment that enables job creation.  One way to do this would be
lower taxes, yet this January Washington plans to do the exact opposite.  We should be making it easier for our companies to expand and increase their research and development to bring about new products that in turn will produce American jobs.

  "High school football is upon us, so I hope to catch some Driller football games this season.  I hope everyone has a safe Labor Day weekend.