Media

This week in Washington, DC, the critical discussion on the economy and spending continued. The Appropriations Committee began its work to craft legislation to continue the federal government's operations after March 4, 2011, when the current law expires. As we see the proposals come out, there are tough decisions to be made within the next few weeks about what we need to do to get government spending under control. Simply continuing at current levels is not acceptable. We are where we are today with the current deficit and the highest debt in U.S.

My week started with a trip to the USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH (CVN 77), the Navy's newest nuclear powered aircraft carrier, and a true modern marvel. I flew down to the ship as a guest of Admiral Kirkland Donald, the Director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion. We flew from Washington, DC, to Mayport, Florida, where we boarded an aircraft flown by the pilots from the BUSH where she was conducting operations of the coast of Florida.

It was a busy week in Washington that began with the annual State of the Union Address from the President. I had hoped to hear first and foremost the ways that Washington would trim its waistline to cut the deficit. However, the President's address failed to look beyond the "Washington" state of mind by suggesting more deficit spending to fix our economy. He proposed a partial freeze of the current out-of-control spending levels in the federal government. We cannot continue the spending habits that got us to the point of record deficits and national debt.

This past week the House resumed its work after a much-needed pause to reflect on the tragedy in Arizona. As scheduled, the House considered legislation to repeal the onerous health care overhaul law enacted last year. I voted for the repeal in order to continue debate on how to improve our health care system. There is no doubt that America's health care system is in need of fundamental reform.