Reducing Government Spending

The need to increase the nation’s borrowing authority has forced Washington to move toward fiscal responsibility. The debate in Washington is now where it needs to be: Where do we reduce spending and by how much, and how do we keep the pressure on the government to live within its means? The burdens of a $14 trillion federal debt are working against economic growth and job creation today. Americans know that the government can’t continue to borrow 42 cents for every dollar it spends, and that it’s morally wrong to leave today’s bills for the next generation to pay... Watch more

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A Step Forward to Stop Abuse of Government Charge Cards

My reform legislation to establish safeguards, controls and penalties for abuse of government charge cards by government workers has been approved by the full Senate, with bipartisan support. Similar action is needed in the House of Representatives. The Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act is about accountability. The public trust has been violated by abusive use of government charge cards. The federal bureaucracy needs to improve the way it manages the use of these cards. I’m not talking... Read more

 

Committee Action to Ban the Dangerous Drug “K2”

This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved my legislation to ban the chemicals used to make the dangerous drug known as “K2” or “Spice.” The bill is named the David Mitchell Rozga Act for the 18-year-old Iowa man who took his own life after using the drug. David Rozga was like many young people who buy this drug so easily at the local mall or online that they think it’s safe and harmless. The deceptive marketing makes the product look “organic” or like a common household product. The opposite is true. Packets of K2 might... Read more

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Keeping Focus on Flood Control; Disaster Relief Also Needed in Eastern Iowa

The Commander of the Northwest Division of the Army Corps of Engineers, Brig. Gen. John McMahon, came to my office yesterday in advance of today’s announcement by the Corps about its schedule for releasing water from upstream dams this fall, as well as its strategy to be ready for the 2012 runoff season. The issue is when to evacuate water being held upstream in order to make room for next year’s runoff, while also allowing time this year for evaluation and repair of dams and waterlogged levees that are downstream. I am evaluating the Corps’ plan (here are documents one, two and three). The Corps needs to fully account for its decisions of the last year, and the Corps’ proposal for what comes next needs to be carefully examined. I will continue to work with... Read more