FROM LYNN JENKINS

Republican Leadership Vote


With our nation facing a nearly $14 trillion debt and two consecutive budget deficits of over $1 trillion dollars the new Republican house majority has a lot on its plate. This Wednesday Republicans elected a new leadership team to chart the path toward fiscal responsibility and a less intrusive federal government. Congressman John Boehner of Ohio was unanimously selected as the Republican conference’s nominee for Speaker of the House. Congressman Eric Cantor of Virginia was chosen to hold the post of Majority leader in the next Congress, and Congressman Kevin McCarthy from California was elected as next the Majority Whip.



As I said, Republicans have an uphill battle ahead, but I am confident that the good men and women on the new House leadership team are the best people for the job. Republicans have learned from mistakes of the recent past and will be continually engaging with the American people as we move forward. I look forward to working side by side with my colleagues in leadership to get this nation back on the right track.



Supporting an Earmark moratorium

The Congressional earmark process has been abused for years and is in desperate need of repair. That is why this week I was proud to support a new two year earmark ban. With a $1.3 trillion deficit facing our nation and a Congress that has been on a two year spending spree, it is time to stop the federal government’s out-of-control spending. The Congressional moratorium on earmark requests is a crucial step in restoring fiscal responsibility and discipline to Congress. While I understand earmarks are a small portion of the federal budget, they are often used as incentives for members to vote for big spending legislation they would otherwise oppose. Therefore, I believe eliminating earmarks will have a far reaching impact on the size and scope of the federal government.



Over the last two years, Kansans and folks around the nation have stepped up to take back their government. I have heard their message, and I will continue fighting to protect Kansans’ hard-earned tax dollars and to ensure our children and grandchildren are not buried under an enormous mountain of this generation’s debt.





Congratulations to St. George Elementary for Blue Ribbon School Award

I am honored to be joining the good folks at St. George Elementary School in St. George, Kansas today as they celebrate being named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. The Blue Ribbon School Award is considered the highest honor an American school can achieve, and it is great to see the hard work of the students and teachers at this fantastic school be recognized for their efforts on the national stage.



With an increasingly competitive global economy, effective education will become even more critical in equipping the next generation’s work force. As a parent of two children being educated in Kansas public schools, I have great faith in Kansas’ education system, and have worked hard my entire career to strengthen it. Please be assured that in the 112th Congress I will continue to work to ensure America’s schools remain competitive, accountable, and effective.