January 29, 2010 Newsletter Dear Friends,   As an E-Newsletter subscriber, you have asked that I keep you updated on issues that are important to you. Many of you have also asked that I keep you more informed as to how I am representing your views in Washington. January starts the beginning of the second session of the 1111th Congress in Washington, and I hope you have had a great start to the New Year.   First, I would like to express my heartfelt sympathy for the citizens of Haiti who have suffered the losses of loved ones and homes following the tragic earthquake that struck earlier this month. I commend all of those who have selflessly volunteered their money and time to help those in need. It is in times of tragedy such as this that I am truly marveled and proud of our country and her people. The overwhelming outpour of financial support, during a time when many Americans themselves are struggling financially, is incredible.   This month also marks a year since President Obama first took office. This week he gave his first State of the Union address focusing on the exploding debt, record deficits, and reckless spending which has been created by the administration and the Democrat Majority thus costing American jobs across the nation. The President outlined a newfound interest in fiscal responsibility by proposing a three-year non-defense discretionary spending “freeze.” This comes from a President who has just encouraged Congress to pass a $1.9 trillion increase on the national debt limit and has spent more taxpayer dollars in his first year than any other President in U.S. history; specifically, increasing the annual deficit by 308 percent, from $458 billion to $1.4 trillion.   His plan is unfortunately only a small token effort to address a spending problem of monumental proportions. Congress must go much further than this so-called “freeze” in order to put our country back on a sustainable budget path. This is like a person ordering a diet coke with a double-cheeseburger, large fry, and peach pie.   I assure you that I will continue to push back against government-controlled healthcare and will work to bring conservative, common sense solutions to the challenges facing our families today. This starts with the creation of jobs and less government spending.   Respectfully,         Healthcare Reform   January has certainly proven itself to be a challenging month for the Obama Administration and Democrat Leaders in Congress as efforts persist to craft a deal on their government takeover of healthcare.  Last month, as details emerged about ‘sweetheart’ deal-making among Senate lawmakers to garner enough votes to secure passage of a Senate version of healthcare reform, the American people spoke out in force that partisan, back-room deals will not be tolerated.  Despite repeated requests to Majority Leader Reid and Speaker Pelosi to open up the negotiations on healthcare reform, openness and transparency have been trumped by behind-closed-doors talks among a handful of key Democrats and interest groups.  In recent weeks, reports indicate an agreement has been struck with the AFL-CIO and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) which would provide a unique exemption for union workers from being taxed for “Cadillac” health insurance plans which are often part of negotiated benefit packages achieved through collective bargaining.  In addition, many states’ Attorneys General are sounding the question of Constitutionality of preferential treatment of certain states, such as Nebraska and Louisiana, which was achieved through Democrat deal-making last December.   With many aspects of the House and Senate-passed bills being widely different and a difficult procedural road ahead for any healthcare reform package, it remains unclear how or when Democratic Leadership will proceed in their effort to produce legislation which they are confident can be passed and signed into law.  Speaker Pelosi has publicly recognized that the Senate-passed bill would likely fail in the House if the Chamber were to agree to simply agree to the Senate language, a procedure which would expedite the process of resolving differences between the two bodies in order to send a bill to the President.  At the core of the debate on healthcare reform remains federal funding for abortion coverage, the size and scope of taxes to pay for an unprecedented expansion of the role of the federal government in the provision of healthcare to the American people, and the use of taxpayer dollars to provide healthcare benefits to illegal aliens.    Despite differing views on healthcare reform proposals currently under consideration in Congress, a number of critical reforms exist to which I believe both Republicans and Democrats can agree upon, which will have a tremendous impact on the availability, cost and quality of healthcare in our nation. As you may know, I have introduced a package of bills which are targeted at the real problems with our healthcare delivery system, all the while preserving the things which are proven to be successful. This package would assist individuals with significant medical expenditures in retaining coverage through fully funding state high-risk pools and encouraging states which do not have a functional high-risk pool or reinsurance mechanism in place to establish such programs. These efforts would dramatically reduce the cost of coverage for these individuals, particularly those with costly pre-existing medical conditions. My legislative package would also require consumer protections afforded to insurers within the group market to be extended to those purchasing coverage in the individual market, thus increasing access to coverage for millions of Americans. These efforts, among others, seek to improve upon our current system where problems exist, while maintaining individual choice and freedom with regard to their care.  As Congress moves forward in the coming weeks, I look forward to continuing to advocate for real reforms to our healthcare system which will reduce costs, improve coverage, strengthen our nation’s healthcare workforce and ensure the United States remains the leader of the world in medical breakthrough and innovation.    Job Creation               As we continue into the second month of 2010, the many promises we have heard from the Administration and Democratic Leadership about improving our economy and unemployment have largely been left unfulfilled. In the state of Georgia, in particular, our job market has continued to remain stagnant. With the national unemployment at 9.7 percent and Georgia’s above the national average at 10.3 percent, it is clear the President has been unable to deliver on his promise of job creation as a top priority in his “Stimulus” package, simply because job creation has not been placed as a priority by this President and Democratic Leadership.               Job creation must become a top priority if we are to improve the current economic situation. I have supported many pieces of legislation in this Congress designed to stimulate the economy and help spur job creation. I am a sponsor, along with Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), of H.R. 3382, the “Home Improvement Revitalize the Economy (HIRE) Act”, a bill that would provide tax cuts for home improvement and residential products. I also am a cosponsor of a bill by Rep. Gohmert (R-TX) H.R. 143, which provides for a two-month suspension of employment and income taxes designed to help save jobs and boost the economy. I am a cosponsor of H.R. 470, the “Economic Recovery and Middle Class Tax Relief Act” introduced by Rep. Garrett (R-NJ). This bill would make permanent the capital gains and dividend reductions passed by Congress in 2003. It would also provide for a reduction in individual and corporate income tax rates. All of these would help improve our economic growth. Finally, I am a cosponsor of H.R. 25 the “Fair Tax Act” introduced by Rep. Linder (R-GA). This bill eliminates the federal income tax and provides for a national sales tax. This would open up more opportunities for businesses which are fiscally responsible to hire employees.               These are just a few examples of the ways in which I, along with some of my colleagues have tried to work towards legislation which will increase jobs and begin to get the economy back on the right track. I look forward to continuing to improve our economy and job market, while opposing unnecessary and out of control spending which will continue to hamper our recovery.   Fiscal Responsibility Act   On December 16, 2009 I introduced H.R. 4336, the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009. This marked the 4th consecutive Congress in which I had introduced this bill. Currently the bill has nine cosponsors. The bill is an opportunity to tackle the deficit by mandating that members of Congress receive a reduction in pay in years which end with the federal government operating at a deficit. The reduction would be 5 percent in the first year in which it were enacted and a 10 percent reduction from the original salary in each subsequent year in which the budget is not balanced. The bill would also change the way in which the Congressional Cost-Of-Living-Adjustments (COLA) are given. If the government is operating at a deficit, members could not receive a cost-of-living increase. This bill would give members a personal reason to address the deficit, as the pay increases for member of Congress would be directly tied to the federal deficit.               Organizations such as the National Taxpayers Union (NTU) and Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) have expressed their support of this legislation and have each issued letters of support for this bill. This bill is an opportunity to instill much needed fiscal discipline in Congress by directly tying the pay of members of Congress to their ability to control federal government spending.   Homeland Security               On December 25, 2009, Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab attempted to detonate an explosive device while on board Detroit-bound Northwest Flight 253.  Thankfully, the explosives concealed on his person misfired and the lives of the passengers and flight crew were spared.  This thwarted terrorist attack highlights the international risk to United States security, as AbdulMutallab was able to board the plane in the Netherlands with a United States issued Visa.  It further underscores the importance of international cooperation and compliance in ensuring travel security.                Currently in place for flying security are a “No-Fly List” and a “Selectee List.”   The “No Fly List” flags individuals to be prevented from boarding, while the “Selectee List” flags individuals for secondary screening.  Also used is the Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment (TIDE) which supports various watch lists and terror screening systems.  Of growing concern among security measures taken by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are “whole-body imaging scanners,” in which a photo image of a person beneath their clothing can reveal weapons and explosive devices that otherwise cannot be detected in traditional physical pat-down searches.  Although the images are revealing, the face of the individual is not revealed, and images are permanently destroyed as soon as they are viewed by TSA security authority.  In an effort to increase privacy, TSA screeners who view the images are placed in a separate room so they are not able to see the passenger who is being shown on the imaging screen.  Currently, there are only 19 airports which have access to these devices.                I think this attempted terrorist attack highlights a need for heightening all aspects of U.S. security regarding non-citizens entering the United States.  However, it is unfortunate that people around the world wishing to do us harm have in turn caused a violation of our right to privacy in the instance of whole-body imaging scanners. I have received several complaints from my constituents regarding the violation of their privacy in using these machines.   There comes a time when we, as Americans, must decided to what extent we will put our protection ahead of our privacy.  As legislation comes forth in the House of Representatives addressing this issue, I look forward to hearing your opinion on this and other matters of national security.     ###   Did you receive this e-mail as a forward from a friend? If so, sign up here to directly receive my E-Newsletter. Click here to be removed from the list.     December 17, 2009 Newsletter from Congressman Nathan Deal   As an E-Newsletter subscriber, you have asked that I keep you updated on issues that are important to you. Many of you have also asked that I keep you more informed as to how I am representing your views in Washington.                                                   During this holiday season, it is important to remember our men and women in uniform who instead of being home with their families and friends, are oversees selflessly defending our liberties and freedoms. After all, it is because of their ultimate sacrifice that we are able to celebrate this season of peace on Earth, and my sincere gratitude goes out to them at this time more than ever.   I wish you and your loved ones a blessed holiday and happiness throughout the New Year.   Respectfully,         Healthcare Reform   As you may know, the current debate in Washington over healthcare reform continues to mount as Senate Democratic leadership works behind closed doors in negotiations with key Senators to reach the needed 60-vote count, a threshold which has proven difficult to reach thus far among concerns related to the government-run ‘public option’, taxpayer-funded abortion, tax hikes and deep cuts to Medicare, as well as the coverage of illegal aliens through taxpayer-funded government health programs. It is difficult at this time to predict how the Senate will proceed in the coming days and weeks, as well as the procedural expediency with which the bill will be amended, passed, and referred back to the House.  I continue to stand in firm opposition to President Obama’s government takeover of healthcare and look forward to further opportunities to amend the bill as this legislation moves between Chambers.   Appropriations               This past week, the Democratic Majority pushed through a Consolidated Appropriations bill that totaled $1.1 trillion. This bill included a bump of 11.4% from Fiscal Year 2009, as well as a staggering 24.4% rise in spending from FY2008 levels. As we head toward the end of the year, Congress has begun to finally wrap up the Appropriations process for Fiscal Year 2010. On December 10, 2009 the House passed this Consolidated Appropriations Bill which included 6 of the 12 appropriations bills. Included in the package was the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development bill, the Financial Services bill, the State and Foreign Operations bill, the Commerce/Justice/Science bill, the Labor and Health and Human Services bill, and Military Construction and Veterans Administration bill.               I was not in favor of this legislation due to the dramatic increases in spending which were attached. While it is necessary to fund our government agencies, it is irresponsible to do so at such vastly accelerated levels. On top of the increased funds given to these agencies through this appropriation, it is important to note that these agencies received $128.2 billion in supplemental funds in 2009, mostly via the Democratic “Stimulus” package. This bill is yet another example of the out of control spending habits exhibited by the Democratic Majority. To that end, I was joined by all of my Republican colleagues in opposition to this bill. Unfortunately, it passed 221-202.               The House also passed H.R. 3326 the Defense Appropriations bill by a separate vote of 395-34. I voted in favor of this bill which will provide funding for our troops. With passage of these bills, the appropriations process for FY2010 has been completed by the House.    Wall Street Reform               On December 11, 2009 the House passed the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009 by a vote of 223-202. Unfortunately, this bill does little to help hard-working taxpayers and does more to continue the string of taxpayer funded bailouts on Wall Street. By creating a new bureaucratic agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA), the Democratic majority has succeeded only in creating more of a squeeze on credit to small businesses and regular Americans. Furthermore, by creating a new Systemic Risk “bailout” fund for financial institutions with over $10 billion dollars, the Democrats have perpetuated the unpopular and unsuccessful bailout plan which took place a year ago. This program is designed for larger financial institutions to pay into a fund that would swell to anywhere from $150 billion to $250 billion. The funds would then be in place for any of the large institutions to call upon it for assistance. Because this is coming from the companies themselves however, the cost of paying into the fund will most assuredly be passed onto consumers who need access to the credit these institutions have to offer.               Similar to previous legislation passed by the Democratic Majority such as the Credit Card Reform Act, which has caused credit card interest rates to skyrocket and credit limits plummet for the average American, this bill creates another situation in which Congress has placed an undue burden on the backs of honest, hard-working citizens. As in the credit card bill, which according to Pew Charitable Trusts has raised the average credit card interest rate from 13% in December 2008 to 23% in July 2009, this latest financial legislation will have devastating unintended consequences. I understand the unnecessary strains which have been placed on people across the nation and indeed in my own district. I will continue to fight for legislation that opens up credit markets for American families and small businesses and allows our economy to move forward again. Additionally, I will continue to oppose legislation that restricts access to sound financial products and transfers greater authority into the hands of federal bureaucrats.                The CFPA will be an agency that will have broad sweeping authority to regulate financial services and financial products offered to consumers. Even services and institutions that have not been subject to the symptoms which have caused our economy to struggle will be under scrutiny from this agency. This agency will have the ability to dismantle or discontinue services and even financial institutions if the agency deems actions taken to be under the loosely defined “unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices.” This bill was unanimously opposed by Republicans, and as one of the members who voted against this bill, it is my hope that at some point Congress will look at solving the real problems that are ailing our economy and not focus on creating a new government bureaucracy which spends more taxpayer money and expands the size and scope of the federal government.   Water Resource Development Acts of 2010               This year as a part of the Water Resources and Development Act for 2010, I submitted a list of project requests and policy changes to the House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.  The Water Resource Development Act authorizes the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to conduct projects and implement policy for navigation, flood control, hurricane and storm damage reduction, shoreline protection, and ecosystem restoration that is beneficial to national needs.               Our first request I submitted was for the implementation of a system of return flow credits, in which municipalities around the country would be given credit for the return of clean water back into reservoirs, against what they have taken out for use.  Currently, there is no such system in place.  Another request I submitted directed the United States Army Corps of Engineers to update their Water Control Manuals taking into account water supply.  The Water Control Manuals are the reference guides the Corps uses to manage and operate each reservoir.  Based on the recent court decision which states water consumption is not an authorized purpose, the Corps is updating its water control manuals without including water supply.  I found this effort to waste taxpayer dollars, since the Corps would have to inevitably update their Water Control Manuals to include water supply once the Governors of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia came to an agreement in the Tri-State Water Dispute.  A third policy change I requested was to authorize all federal reservoirs in the State of Georgia for water supply.  This will direct the Corps to start looking at these reservoirs to determine the feasibility of using them for other purposes as well as for what they have already been authorized.  Lastly, I submitted a request to the committee asking for a study to be conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers to assess the impact of authorizing Lake Lanier for recreation.                I submitted these requests because I felt that they were in the best interest of the Ninth District and the state of Georgia.  You may view my letter to Chairman James. L. Oberstar and Ranking Member John Mica of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, as well as a brief summary of each project proposal on my website at www.house.gov/deal.  They are listed on the left-hand side of the page under WRDA Requests 2010.    Labor               Recently, unions have begun an effort to change the longstanding ‘majority rule’ used to determine the outcome of representation elections for industries regulated by the Railway Labor Act (RLA).  On September 2, 2009, the Transportation Trades Department (TTD) of the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), on behalf of its 32 affiliated unions, filed a formal request with the National Mediation Board (NMB) seeking to change the majority rule which has been the standard for the 75-year history of the NMB.  The current voting rules are well grounded in the unique language of the RLA. The law does not refer to a majority of voters.  It says that a majority of the workers in a class or craft must vote for a union for it to be certified.  The decision on the right to join a union belongs to a majority of workers, not to the company, not to the government and certainly not to the union.  Under the Board’s proposal a small minority of a work group could impose union representation by allowing certification of a bargaining representative based upon a majority of the ballots cast, not among a majority of the workers in the group.  This latest action only serves as yet another attempt by union interests to take away individual employees’ choice over representation to bolster their enrollment, much like similar efforts to advance imbalanced card-check legislation.               As a Member from the great state of Georgia and the Representative of a number of airline and rail personnel who will be affected by this administrative fiat by the Obama Administration, I have drafted and am currently circulating for co-signatures by my Colleagues a letter to the Chairwoman and members of the NMB expressing strong opposition to this rule and express our view that any change of this magnitude be implemented by the Congress, not by bureaucrats with a history of strong pro-union advocacy.  The formal comment period will close January 4, 2009, and I look forward to continuing to add Members to my letter in the coming weeks.   ### Did you receive this e-mail as a forward from a friend? If so, sign up here to directly receive my E-Newsletter. Click here to be removed from the list.   November 10, 2009 As an E-Newsletter subscriber, you have asked that I keep you updated on issues that are important to you. Many of you have also asked that I keep you more informed as to how I am representing your views in Washington, and with the passing of Speaker Pelosi’s government takeover of taxpayer healthcare last week and on the eve of Veterans Day, I feel it is imperative to reach out to you today.   Tomorrow our nation will celebrate Veterans Day – A national holiday that acknowledges the importance and the sacrifice of the men and women who have defended our country as part of our military forces. As a veteran myself, I know it is because of this sacrifice that our citizens all across our great nation are able to live freely today.  As Thomas Jefferson observed, “the price of liberty is eternal vigilance.” May God sustain us in our quest for a world in which freedom reigns, and may He provide the protection of his providence for those who have served and continue to serve in the uniform of our great nation.     Respectfully,      Nathan Deal     November 10, 2009 E-Newsletter House Approves Much-Anticipated Healthcare Bill    As you know, the President and Democratic Leadership in Congress have been active in recent months working to pass a legislative package to overhaul our nation’s healthcare delivery system, citing the millions of Americans currently uninsured and the rising cost of healthcare as fundamental reasons why a major overhaul is necessary. Healthcare costs, including insurance premiums and other cost-sharing obligations, are consuming an ever-growing share of family budgets, but despite being the worldwide leader in per capita healthcare-related spending, quality of care and patient outcomes remain inconsistent and uncorrelated with spending.   Today, Congress stands at a pivotal juncture in the history of healthcare in the United States. While both Democrats and Republicans agree there are components of our health delivery system which can and should be improved, a significant philosophical divide remains with regard to the appropriate role of the federal government in healthcare decision-making as well as the most effective measures which will encourage uninsured individuals to seek health insurance coverage and reduce costs. I believe the proposal which House Democratic Leadership has put forth is a direct assault on American freedoms. The freedom to choose a coverage option which best meets your needs, freedom to keep what you have if you like it, freedom to choose your preferred doctor and freedom to spend healthcare dollars in a manner consistent with patient wishes. These freedoms will ultimately be undermined should this legislation, as passed by the House, become law.   At the center of debate in healthcare reform remains the establishment of a new government-run health insurance option into which individuals are encouraged to enroll. I believe government-run health insurance will lead to government-dictated healthcare that is forced to ration items and services as a means for cost containment. If the government provided a public health care option, I fear it would tremendously limit patients’ choice among physicians, harm innovation of new cures and treatments, and would prove detrimental to the quality of care provided to the American people. If the public option plan that is established reimburses providers for care at rates far below the cost of providing the care, similar to Medicare and Medicaid, the public plan will drive up the cost of employer-based insurance as providers further shift cost to the private sector.   Additionally, senior citizens who currently receive Medicare coverage through a Medicare Part C plan, generally referred to as a Medicare Advantage plan, have reason for concern as well should H.R. 3962 become law. Medicare Advantage plans were established to provide seniors with greater choice within the Medicare program. In January 2009, 23% of Medicare enrollees across the nation were enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. If this legislation should become law, over one-fifth of our nation’s seniors who are pleased with their current plan will lose their choice in selecting a plan as a result of more than $500 billion in cuts to Medicare, largely within the Medicare Advantage program. I believe this is a step in the wrong direction. Instead, Congress should be taking steps to foster greater choice and competition, not eroding successful programs which drive down costs while enhancing options available to consumers.   Furthermore, the Democrat proposal which passed the House contains an individual and an employer mandate for health insurance coverage, a policy which I believe raises a number of questions on the basis of its Constitutionality. This is based in large part upon interpretation of the scope of the Interstate Commerce Clause which many would argue does not provide the authority for Congress to legislate over individual mandates for coverage. Never before has Congress required an individual to purchase health insurance or face a penalty or possible imprisonment for failure to comply. If the objective of healthcare reform legislation is to make coverage more affordable and accessible to the American people, Congress should be targeting reforms which work to bend the cost curve downward, not in finding new tax penalties to impose on hardworking American families and small businesses who already find it difficult, or perhaps impossible, to access affordable coverage.   I am also concerned that this legislation will allow illegal aliens to enroll in taxpayer-funded public programs. I have been outspoken in my efforts to ensure federal taxpayer dollars are not spent providing Medicaid or State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) benefits to those who have illegally entered into the United States. During Committee Markup of the Democrat healthcare reform bill in July, I offered an amendment which ensures identity and citizenship verification is required prior to enrollment in public healthcare programs, including Medicaid, SCHIP, or the public plan option. Allowing illegal aliens to enroll in taxpayer-funded social welfare programs only exacerbates the problem at hand. We must ensure as a component of healthcare reform that Congress ensure additional ‘magnets’ which encourage illegal immigration are addressed. The amendment was defeated on a party-line vote of 28 yeas to 29 nays. On November 7, 2009, during consideration of the health reform bill in the House Rules Committee, I offered similar amendments but they were also rejected by the Democrat majority. For these reasons in particular, I did not support the Democratic legislation pending in the House.    I support targeted reforms to our healthcare system which are patient-driven and focused on patient and provider choice, higher quality of care, and enact protections for consumers with pre-existing conditions against denial and rescission of coverage when it is most needed. I believe Congress has an opportunity to enact meaningful reforms which do not undermine our employer-based insurance structure by simply equalizing the tax treatment of health insurance to allow an above-the-line deduction for health insurance premiums paid for policies originated within the individual market. As you know, current tax law allows employer-based health insurance to be purchased using pre-tax dollars, but purchases made on an individual basis do not receive this favorable treatment. By correcting this inequity, costs would be significantly reduced for millions of Americans without creating new government bureaucracies at significant expense to taxpayers.   I also support increased transparency of price and quality information with regard to medical care which would serve to foster competition, improve quality and lower the cost of medical care. Medical malpractice reform, as well, is a critical component of reform as rising liability costs continue to be passed on to patients and medical decisions are unnecessarily influenced by the tendency to practice defensive medicine as a result. Unfortunately, despite the President’s promise to include tort reform as a component of any healthcare reform bill he approves, H.R. 3962 fails to adequately address this problem.   I have introduced a package of bills which are targeted at the real problems with our healthcare delivery system, all the while preserving the things which are proven to be successful. This package would assist individuals with significant medical expenditures in retaining coverage through fully funding state high-risk pools and encouraging states which do not have a functional high-risk pool or reinsurance mechanism in place to establish such programs. These efforts would dramatically reduce the cost of coverage for these individuals, particularly those with costly pre-existing medical conditions. My legislative package would also require consumer protections afforded to insureds within the group market to be extended to those purchasing coverage in the individual market, thus increasing access to coverage for millions of Americans. These efforts, among others, seek to improve upon our current system where problems exist, while maintaining individual choice and freedom with regard to their care.   On October 8, 2009, the House proceeded with consideration of H.R. 3692, “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act,” and passed the bill by a vote of 220-215. The measure passed narrowly by three votes as 218 ‘aye’ votes were necessary to approve the bill. Thirty-nine Democrats joined 176 Republicans in bipartisan opposition to the legislation, with only one Republican voting to approve the bill. As Congress moves forward with Senate consideration of healthcare reform legislation and begins the Conference process to combine the House and Senate versions, I will remain active in the debate and continue to represent the views of my constituents in the Ninth District of Georgia.     Appropriations/CR   Congress has failed to act on the majority of the yearly appropriations bills.  Currently, the government is operating under a Continuing Resolution (CR). A CR is designed to continue funding of the government at the current authorization levels. The Democratic Majority has only managed to pass five of the twelve bills to date. Of the bills that we have yet to consider, is funding for Transportation, Military and Veterans, and Education. Not handling these issues in a timely manner has put Congress in a situation where we have had to pass not one, but two Continuing Resolutions to ensure that the government would be able to continue to operate and provide essential services. On October 29th, Congress passed the “Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.” Attached to this bill was a CR that extends until the tentative new target adjournment date of December 18th, 2009. Should Congress fail to complete the annual Appropriations process, it will be necessary at that time to pass another CR, likely to extend well into calendar year 2010.                While the work that remains regarding appropriations involves reconciling bills passed in the House and in the Senate to form a final bill, the bills passed by the House represent a 7.6% increase, or $77 billion, in new and additional spending. As we have already entered the new fiscal year, it is imperative that we work harder to put together appropriations bills that will fund the government at responsible levels and will remove wasteful spending and unfruitful programs.     Homebuyer Tax Credit   On November 5th, the House approved H.R. 3548 the “Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009,” as amended by the Senate. This included a provision to extend and expand the Homebuyer Tax Credit. The $8,000 credit for first time homebuyers was set to expire at the end of the month, but this legislation will extend that deadline until May 1, 2009. Furthermore, the amendment provides for homebuyers who have been in the same principal residence for five consecutive years or more in order to be eligible for a $6,500 credit towards the purchase of a new home.                This tax credit has given a significant boost to the home market and is an imperative piece of legislation to continue to improve opportunities for people to purchase a home. In addition to expanding eligibility for the credits to non-first time buyers, the income ceilings for eligibility has been raised from $75,000 for an individual and $150,000 for joint filers to $125,000 for an individual and $225,000 for joint filers.      Water   On October 28, 2009, Members of Congress from the Alabama, Florida, and Georgia delegations gathered for a meeting hosted by myself and Representative John Lewis, on behalf of the Georgia delegation, to discuss the issue of water usage.  Representative Lewis and I felt it imperative to have the members of the three delegations come together to informally and openly discuss the tri-state water negotiations.               In the July court ruling, Judge Magnuson wrote that it is the duty of the Congress of the United States to ultimately decide how the water in contention between Georgia, Florida, and Alabama will be allocated; therefore, it was important that the congressional members be given an opportunity to sit down and openly express where they and their states are on the issue.  The result of this meeting was a positive step in the right direction.  The members of the three delegations agreed to sign a letter urging the governors to commence talks in effort to resolve this contentious issue.  I am pleased that all 52 members of the Georgia, Florida, and Alabama delegations including representatives and senators signed the letter.  It is my hope this letter will be effective in aiding expeditious negotiations so that a plan may be developed to solve this problem.               No matter the outcome of the discussion between the three governors, Congress will have to pass something at the federal level.  I expect to work closely with Governor Perdue, as well as the members of the Georgia delegation to make sure the issue moves forward.  Since Lake Lanier is in my district I know how important this issue is to both my constituents and the state as a whole.  I will work my absolute hardest and diligently to ensure that the results of the tri-state negotiations will achieve the uttermost benefits for the state of Georgia.     Satellite Home Viewer Reauthorization Act of 2009   I frequently hear from my constituents in the northwest corner of my district in regards to their inability to watch Georgia sports and news.  Instead they are provided with news and sports from Chattanooga, Tennessee.  These out-of-state signals are a result of archaic rules that attempt to provide certain signals to satellite subscribers based on their location in Designated Market Areas and not by the state in which they live.  I have been attempting to rectify this issue for many years as a Member of Congress, but only recently was I afforded the opportunity through the Satellite Home Viewer Reauthorization Act of 2009.               The Satellite Home Viewer Reauthorization Act is a bill that establishes the rules and regulations regarding the transmission of satellite signals, and is reauthorized once every five years.  During a mark-up of this bill in the Energy and Commerce Committee of which I am a member, I was able to include a provision that will allow for the retransmission of satellite signals to consumers from within their own state.  Through my efforts towards ensuring in-state programming, some cable subscribers may have already noticed that this action has been implemented with the availability of Atlanta news on a specific channel.               By providing in-state signals, my constituents in the Ninth District will be able to receive news, sports and weather programming from Atlanta in addition to what is received from Chattanooga.  I believe that consumers have the right to choose the programming that they receive, and at minimum should be provided the means to stay connected within their own communities by having access to in-state programming.             ### Did you receive this e-mail as a forward from a friend? If so, sign up here to directly receive my E-Newsletter. Click here to be removed from the list.   October 30, 2009 E-Newsletter from Congressman Nathan Deal The Fleecing of Freedoms: Speaker Pelosi Unveils Government-Run Healthcare (…again)   On October 29, 2009, during a press conference held on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her Democratic Colleagues unveiled the product of their latest attempt to force through a government takeover of healthcare.  As Members of Congress and the American people begin to flip the cover of Speaker Pelosi’s new 1,990 page bill, it is quite clear that the Speaker and her Democratic Colleagues have spared no expense in advancing a liberal agenda for healthcare reform which will undoubtedly lead to more lost jobs, higher taxes, fewer choices, and the elimination of the freedoms and liberties which are essential for patients and their providers.  As if this is not enough, Speaker Pelosi has also indicated that a Manager’s Amendment, likely to exceed the length of the original House bill, will be released to Republicans and the American people early next week.  At that time, the daunting task of finding the changes made by the Manager’s Amendment will be like trying to find a needle in a haystack, with a 72-hour countdown timer ticking. Washington-Controlled Care Strips Patient-Doctor Autonomy At first glance, the word “shall” appears 3,425 times – nearly two per page – which can be read only one way:  the federal government dictating what the American people can and cannot do with regard to their own healthcare.  New taxes on middle class families and small businesses, massive cuts to Medicare at the detriment of our seniors, higher health insurance premiums for all, and new mandates which will kill jobs is a recipe for destruction of the American healthcare system and the first step forward toward socialized medicine which the American people have already vehemently rejected time and again.    Higher Taxes for the Middle-Class and Small Businesses Despite President Obama’s promise not to sign a bill which will add to our already-unsustainable federal deficit, this legislative package will add another $200 billion to our deficit through budgetary gimmicks purported to fix a flawed formula which is used to pay physicians providing care to Medicare patients.  While problems with the formula, commonly known as ‘Sustainable Growth Rate’, are real, tactics being used by this Administration are nothing more than a ‘golden fiddle’ (click to view my previous comments) to buy the support of organized medicine for a fundamentally-flawed bill.  Separating this provision and moving a ‘doc fix’ outside of the context of the healthcare reform package – exactly as the Democratic Leadership intends to do – is clearly an attempt to affix a $900 billion price tag to a package well in excess of $1 trillion.  President Obama committed during his address to Congress last September not to sign a bill which adds to the deficit, or one which costs in excess of one trillion dollars.  Loopholes for Illegal Aliens to Benefit Further, I have been a strong advocate for requiring identity and citizenship verification for anyone seeking taxpayer funded benefits.  While language pertaining to eligibility has been modified since H.R. 3200, verification requirements are still insufficient to ensure illegal aliens do not benefit from taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits.  Language contained within H.R. 3962 simply requires an individual to match a name and a corresponding Social Security Number, thus exacerbating identity theft and fraud which is already a known issue.  By these factors alone, promises made to the American people will undoubtedly be broken should this legislation become law.  To that end, I am offering an amendment with my Colleagues Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Dean Heller (R-NV) which will ensure proper verification of all individuals seeking taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits. Massive Cuts to Medicare Destroy Seniors’ Choices As a mechanism to pay for this massive takeover, Democrats have proven they are willing to take away the choices our seniors currently have when selecting a Medicare plan.  Medicare Advantage, the only mechanism through which senior citizens are given choice over the direction of their healthcare coverage in the Medicare program, will be devastated through billions of dollars in cuts to this option.  Nearly one-quarter of current Medicare beneficiaries who have a Medicare Advantage plan will be forced to change, despite promises that “if you like what you have, you can keep it.”  As I begin the process of reading the bill, I invite all of my constituents to join me in reviewing this unprecedented legislation and the Manager’s Amendment expected to be released next week.  I hope you will take a look for yourself, consider how you and your family will be affected by Washington’s takeover of the American healthcare industry, and encourage you to contact me to share your perspective on healthcare reform currently pending before Congress.  You may reach me via e-mail here, or contact my Washington office at (202) 225-5211.  I look forward to hearing from you. Links to Speaker Pelosi’s Healthcare Bills H.R. 3962 - Affordable Health Care for America Act as Introduced http://docs.house.gov/rules/health/111_ahcaa.pdf H.R. 3961 - Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009 http://docs.house.gov/rules/health/111_sgr1.pdf   October 23, 2009 - E-Newsletter from Congressman Nathan Deal   Dear Friends,   As an E-Newsletter subscriber, you have asked that I keep you updated on issues that are important to you.  Many of you have also asked that I keep you more informed as to how I am representing your views in Washington.    Below, I am pleased to share with you a few video clips and a press release from the past couple of week’s legislative business.   Respectfully,   Nathan       Please click on the links below:   Congressman Deal Questions HHS Secretary Sebelius on H1N1 Vaccine Availability WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, R-Ga., Ranking Republican on the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in response to current reports of the inability to meet initial distribution projections of the H1N1 vaccine. http://www.house.gov/deal/sebelius.shtml   Rep. Deal Urges Caution: Beware of the Democrats’ “Golden Fiddle” On Thursday, October 22, 2009, Congressman Deal took to the floor of the House to deliver a message to physicians and their patients across our great nation on the issue of healthcare reform. At the core of the issue rests Medicare physician reimbursement and patient access which literally hangs in the balance. Using a political hot-button issue for many, Democrats are taking bold steps to attempt to buy off physicians to garner support for a bill the American people have already rejected. Rep. Deal urges providers not to be deceived by these attempts to advance an agenda for healthcare reform which puts Washington in the driver’s seat of healthcare decision-making for patients and their providers. http://www.house.gov/deal/RepDealSpecialOrderSpeech10-22-09.wmv    Rep. Deal’s Opening Statement on Video Programming Competition Congressman Deal, member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet spoke during a Hearing today to address the challenges of free market competition in the digital age. http://www.house.gov/deal/TelecommHearing.wmv   Rep. Deal’s Opening Statement on Telecommunications and Healthcare Congressman Deal speaks on the need for “orphaned counties” in the Ninth District to receive their own in-state local news, sports, and weather programming. He spoke on this issue during a mark-up of the Satellite Home Viewers Reauthorization Act in the Energy and Commerce Committee. http://www.house.gov/deal/101509.wmv     ###     October 9, 2009 - E-Newsletter from Congressman Nathan Deal   Dear Friends,   As an E-Newsletter subscriber, you have asked that I keep you updated on issues that are important to you. Many of you have also asked that I keep you more informed as to how I am representing your views in Washington.    Below, I am pleased to share with you a few video clips from this week’s legislative business.   Respectfully,   Nathan Deal     Please click on the links below to watch:   Congressman Deal Delivers Floor Statement on Constitutionality of Healthcare Reform http://www.house.gov/deal/SpecialOrderHealthcareReform10-7-09.wmv   Congressman Deal’s Opening Statement on Breast Cancer Legislation  http://www.house.gov/deal/HealthSubcommitteeHearingBreastCancerLegislationOS.wmv   Congressman Deal Appears on Fox Business for a Discussion on Healthcare Reform and the Economy   http://www.house.gov/deal/RepDealFoxBusinessNews10809.wmv     ###