Fireworks in the ATF Investigation

The Fourth of July is known for fireworks in celebration of our country’s Declaration of Independence. But this year, the date also included some fireworks in a committee hearing room inside the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. For nearly eight hours the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Acting Director Ken Melson was formally interviewed by congressional investigators about the bureau’s policy, known... Read more

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Washington's Wonderland

As Americans celebrated the 235th birthday of the United States with hometown fireworks and backyard barbeques, a divided government in Washington wrestled over taxes and spending needed to reach a long overdue budget agreement. It’s been 800 days since the Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate has passed a federal budget. Without an enforceable rudder to rein in spending, Washington has been sailing along the high seas of deficit-spending as far as the... Read more

 

More Pornography on the Taxpayer Dime

In a stunning revelation this week, I learned that the Justice Department failed to prosecute an Assistant United States Attorney who was found to have at least one image of child pornography on his work computer. According to a report by the Department of Justice’s Inspector General, the Assistant U.S. Attorney also admitted spending a significant amount of time each day viewing adult content during work hours. The report contained what appears to be inexcusable mishandling... Read more

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Exports Help Generate Jobs

Jobs supported by exports pay 15 percent more than the national average. In Iowa and nationwide, manufacturers, farmers and the service sector of the economy need new markets for their products. It’s a matter of retaining and creating jobs here at home. That’s why it’s been such a mistake to let three international trade agreements be sidelined for the last four years. Final approval of these agreements with Korea, Panama and Colombia is important for America’s economic recovery. At long last, this week, the Senate Committee on Finance moved the legislation needed to implement the agreements. Getting to a congressional vote has been a frustrating process. All three trade agreements were signed during the Bush administration, but... Read more