The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Democrats’ “doc fix” bill, H.R. 3961, will increase the deficit by $210 billion.  Economists report that the bill will add an additional $1.9 trillion to Medicare’s unfunded liabilities over the next 75 years. Medicare’s current unfunded liabilities already stand at a staggering $37.8 trillion according to this year’s trustees’ report.

The United States is facing an urgent financial crisis that threatens our fiscal and economic stability. Our government is currently borrowing about 50 cents for every dollar we spend. Medicare is already paying out more in benefits than it collects in taxes and Social Security is expected to do the same in less than five years.

I strongly support a permanent fix to the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR).  Today I voted for the Republican alternative that would provide physicians with a 2% payment rate increase over the next four years without adding to our growing deficit.  Using savings generated from a combination of medical liability reform, streamlining and simplifying administrative policies for health insurance plans, and existing resources from the “Medicare Improvement Fund” we can ensure that doctors are properly reimbursed without drowning our country in debt.

One year ago, President Barack Obama’s election win transformed political campaigns by showing the power of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and text messages.

Now Republicans are charging ahead with their own social media agendas, which are becoming more prominent in state elections and day-to-day outreach to constituents.

House Republicans are particularly active. They started the New Media Caucus last year, although it didn’t launch a website until August. Since then, members have been holding one or two briefings a month to teach staffers about new tools. Apple, YouTube and U-Stream, a live video-streaming service, have been on hand to show off the technology.

Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio) is a founding member of the New Media Caucus. His office uses Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube to share information about issues and votes. He also uses a tool called Amplify, which shows what he is reading, and social network Utterli. Constituents can sign up for text-message alerts from his office, and he webcasts townhall meetings on BlogTV.com.

“He saw a void in our own offices’ communication after the Obama campaign … and we’ve been running with it ever since,” said Ryan Walker, Latta’s chief of staff. “It’s been easier than I thought to get people on board.”

Reps. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.), Rob Wittman (R-Va.) and John Culberson (R-Texas) helped launch the New Media Caucus and organized a summer visit to Silicon Valley. House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) has a YouTube channel and uploads his podcasts to iTunes.

“Social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook and Twitter have become an indispensable component of House Republicans’ efforts to communicate our better solutions to the American people,” Boehner said. “The Web allows us to not only deliver a clear, unfiltered message directly to the public, but also serves as an open forum where we can receive feedback from our constituents.”

Boehner, who took his own trip to Silicon Valley, said his blog — gopleader.gov/blog — received thousands of comments and questions about healthcare alone last week.

Some recent gubernatorial races also successfully used social media tactics. Republican Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell’s campaign in Virginia, for example, had 31,000 fans on Facebook, compared with the 200 fans of his opponent Creigh Deeds. The campaign hired an online strategy team that used video, blog posts, e-mail, mobile, Facebook updates, Twitter and an online action network on Ning “to create an echo chamber around the campaign’s message,” said Mindy Finn, a partner at Engage, a political media firm that handled online strategy for McDonnell’s campaign.

Finn said some supporters interacted with the campaign through only one of those social media channels, but many received information through multiple channels.

Republican Chris Christie also won his bid for New Jersey’s governor’s mansion, and had more than twice as many Facebook fans as his opponent, Gov. Jon Corzine.

Adam Conner, associate manager of privacy and public policy for Facebook and former director of online communications for Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.), said that while House Republicans have led the recent social media charge in Congress, he is also working with Senate members, such as John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), in ramping up their use of Facebook.

“It has less to do with party lines and more to do with individuals taking the lead in both chambers and both parties,” Conner said. “A lot of colleagues are following more cautiously and dipping their toes in the water.”

Of the gubernatorial races, Conner said social media is not “a silver bullet.”
“Setting up a [Facebook] page doesn’t automatically win you an election,” he said.

In Congress, social media participation is, in many cases, a question of resources. Members of both the House and Senate are hiring new-media directors. Those who can’t afford to hire online strategists are integrating that role with their media staffers. Job descriptions for press secretaries and communication managers now often require Web skills.

“A year ago, that would never have been a job requirement,” said Shana Glickfield, a Washington new-media consultant. “Very few offices can afford separate new-media directors, but the fact that they’re investing in this area is very telling.”

Democrats are not standing idly by. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) both have new-media specialists in their offices. So does Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.).

There are still some hurdles to jumping on the social media bandwagon. Both chambers have rules about official communications between Congress and constituents, but they have not been thoroughly updated to accommodate sites like Twitter.

“This is still an unpoliced universe when it comes to franking rules,” Walker said. “We don’t want to step out there and be a bad example. … At the same time, we try to make sure we stay true to the medium. It’s a free flow of information. We don’t want to get into the situation where every tweet or post on Facebook has to be franked first. That goes counter to the technology.”

Finn said maintaining an authentic voice online is essential for candidates or officials trying to reach constituents.

“Most recognize the value of engaging with supporters online, but they often fear communicating in an open, non-controlled environment,” she said.

Twitter is fast becoming the most effective tool for many offices. According to TweetCongress, a database of congressional tweeters, 177 lawmakers are on Twitter.
Nick Schaper, new-media director in Boehner’s office, said Twitter may soon surpass YouTube in terms of reaching large numbers of constituents.

Boehner has more than 18,000 followers on Twitter. His GOPLeader Twitter account has 14,000 followers.

“It’s not just us broadcasting the message,” he said. “You get to see what other people are saying and respond to that.”

The IH-610/US-290 interchange is one of the busiest interchanges in the state, and reconstructing the interchange is the first step in the 290 expansion project.  The interchange has not been updated since it was built in the 1970s, and it is a major chokepoint for the movement of goods and passengers from the airport and the Port of Houston.  Northwest Houston is the fastest growing part of Harris County, and 290 is the only freeway serving the area.

This funding would mark the largest single allotment of Proposition 12 funds in the state, and my colleagues Reps. Michael McCaul, Shelia Jackson Lee and I are working to ensure that money comes to Houston for the 290 expansion to improve the quality of life for people who live and work along the corridor.

These important contributions must be taken into consideration by the Obama Administration as they develop ocean policy.  According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s Fisheries Service, recreational saltwater anglers pumped more than $31 billion into the U.S. economy in 2006, with Florida, Texas, California, Louisiana, and North Carolina receiving the largest share.  At the national level, saltwater anglers are estimated to have spent $5.8 billion on trip-based expenses, such as ice, bait, and fuel, and another $25.6 billion on fishing equipment and durable goods like fishing rods, fishing tackle, and boats. 

In addition to being an economic driver for Texas and the nation, recreational fishermen are some of most dedicated marine conservationists.  Local and national fishing organizations are often the leaders and experts on coastal and marine conservation.  Recreational fishermen have a long history of contributing both time and money to protecting the health of the oceans.

Please find additional information on this issue provided by the organizations below.

Congressional Sportsmen Foundation

Shimano

Center for Coastal Conservation

Coastal Conservation Association

American Sportfishing Association

Terrorists who kill innocent people and do not abide by international law should not be housed on U.S. soil and granted the same rights as American citizens. President Obama and House Democrats support the idea of bringing terrorists onto U.S. soil as a way to honor the Constitution.  Bringing terrorists to the U.S. and affording them constitutional protections does just the opposite – it weakens our judicial system and undermines our Constitution. From this day forward, acts of war on our country will be treated as capital crimes.

We also honor and remember those soldiers who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.  Texans’ and Americans’ hearts are heavy with sadness over the senseless killings that occurred at Fort Hood.  We will never forget the brave men and women who lost their lives. Together we honor their service and salute their proud legacy as they are laid to rest.

In the aftermath of the most recent attempt at a government takeover of an industry, I would like to invite you to a town hall meeting this Thursday, November 12 at Hunter’s Creek Elementary School, 10650 Beinhorn Road, Houston, TX 77024 from 6:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. (CST).  This meeting is an opportunity for me to listen to your views and concerns over the direction of our economy and our country.

As a dedicated fiscal conservative, I work every day to keep the government out of your pocket and out of your life.  I look forward to hearing from you.

I started a non-profit called Combat Wounded Marines Fund. The Combat Wounded Marines Fund is a non-profit dedicated to raising money for disabled Marines wounded in combat. We are putting on a Golf Tournament in honor of Eric to raise money for wounded Marines living in the Houston area. The tournament is on Saturday November 21 at Wildcat Golf Club. For more information go to www.combatwoundedmarines.com. You can also email combatwoundedmarines@gmail.com with any questions.

During a day like this I also remember the high caliber individuals I had the great honor to serve with. When I think back I am still impressed with the fact that I was surrounded by so many individuals with such high moral character. I will never have that type of working relationship for the rest of my life. We were completely selfless to each other and became family. I miss them.

I feel guilty that I am not still on active duty leading Marines into combat. The war in Afghanistan is still raging and it is tough for veterans like me to sit and watch it on television knowing that we could be there playing a part and looking out for our brothers in harms way.  One reason I started this non-profit is so that I can continue to look out for my fellow Marines.

Semper Fi,

Captain John Urquhart, USMC

Museums and libraries must first be determined as eligible through the State Agency for Surplus Property in their state. Artifacts, which will be released as they are no longer needed by the Space Shuttle Program, may be viewed by eligible institutions that have been given a log-on and password at the Web site http://gsaxcess.gov/NASAWel.htm.

The artifacts are free, but eligible recipients must cover shipping and special handling fees. Shipping fees on smaller items will be relatively inexpensive, while larger items may involve extensive disassembly, preparation, shipping, and reassembly costs. NASA will work closely with potential recipients, on a case by case basis, to address any unique special handling costs.

The artifacts are offered in batches. For eligible museums and libraries, the current screening period ends November 29, 2009. A new batch of artifacts will be made available in January 2010.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.