Congressman Kenny Marchant (TX-24) issued the following statement after the Obama Administration formally rejected construction of the Keystone XL pipeline:

“I strongly disagree with the President’s decision to reject the Keystone XL pipeline project. His shortsighted decision puts politics before the good of the country and is a slap in the face of our close ally, Canada. Our ailing economy could have used the injection of several thousand private-sector jobs and lower energy costs. Instead the Obama Administration sat on the Keystone pipeline decision for several years, and now we may lose this opportunity to China.

“House Republicans have been fighting for an energy strategy that leverages all our natural resources to help strengthen the economy and our national security. The President’s own Jobs Council recommended this as well, yet the President refuses to listen.”

Congressman Kenny Marchant (TX-24) released the following statement regarding H.R. 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act:

“I do not support the Stop Online Piracy Act (H.R. 3261) currently before the House of Representatives. I believe in the protection of American intellectual property, but this bill will cause more harm by undermining the fundamental freedoms and functions of the Internet. Congress needs to slow down its approach to addressing a serious concern of online piracy and counterfeiting. It is my hope that we can work together to protect the basic rights of innovators without hindering free speech and ongoing ingenuity.”

Congressman Kenny Marchant (TX-24) released the following statement responding to President Obama’s four appointments to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the National Labor Relations Board, circumventing the Senate’s constitutional role of advice and consent:

“I am deeply disappointed in the President’s recent decision to make ‘recess’ appointments while Congress remains in session. This political move shows a blatant disregard for the Constitution and an abuse of executive power.

“Especially troubling is the President’s appointment to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) of Richard Cordray who was previously rejected by the Senate. The American people have been denied transparency and accountability over a powerful agency that has the potential to hinder job creation.”

Congressman Marchant has sent a letter to the President expressing his objections to the recent appointments. He also joined 70 colleagues in cosponsoring a resolution of disapproval over the President’s actions.

With our campaign now underway, and a New Year beginning, I’d like to take a moment and share my legislative priorities for 2012.

Reforming the Tax Code

As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, I am committed to advancing legislation that will lead our nation on a path to prosperity and job creation.

First and foremost: Our tax code is too large and too complicated. The tax code needs to be reformed to close loopholes, lower rates, and simplify the system for all taxpayers. This reform can be accomplished while preserving deductions for: (1) interest paid on home mortgages; (2) charitable contributions; and (3) insurance and annuity payments.

We now have the highest corporate tax rate in the industrialized world. Unfortunately, millions of Americans are currently out of work. Lowering the corporate tax rate would create jobs by sending a message to companies that America is a great place to invest, and by letting the world know that America is open for business.

Cutting Spending      

I will continue the fight to get our nation’s budget under control. The seriousness of our nation’s debt problem cannot be understated.

The bottom line is this: We must stop spending money we don’t have and passing the debt to our children and grandchildren.

Our Founding Fathers envisioned a federal government that was limited in size and scope. Today, we have a federal government that grows larger and less accountable by the day.

Our nation simply cannot afford the government we have. Bold spending cuts will move us in the right direction and ensure a prosperous economic future for generations of Americans.

Fighting Unnecessary Regulations    

Federal overregulation costs our economy an estimated $1.75 trillion each year.

A large share of this burden falls on small businesses in the form of compliance costs. When small businesses are focused on navigating unnecessary federal regulations, they aren’t growing and they aren’t hiring.

I will continue to fight the rulemaking authority of rogue executive agencies that bypass Congress and needlessly invade the daily lives of Americans.

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Thank you for your support,

Kenny Marchant

Washington,
Dec 13 -

Congressman Kenny Marchant (TX-24) and 65 other members of Congress sent a letter to Chairman Dave Camp and Ranking Member Sander Levin of the House Ways and Means Committee urging for extension of the sales tax deduction set to expire at the end of 2011. Marchant released the following statement:

“At the end of this year the sales tax deduction will expire leaving Texans with a higher, unequal federal tax burden. Residents of ‘income tax’ states are able to deduct their state and local income taxes. It’s only fair that Texans should be able to do the same by deducting their state and local sales taxes.

“Since its enactment in 2004, the sales tax deduction has received bipartisan support because of the tax parity it provides to those living in states without an income tax. I’ve joined my colleagues in urging the sales tax deduction be extended before year’s end. The certainty from a swift extension is vital for continued economic growth and job creation among Texas’ families.”

According to the Texas Comptroller, the sales tax deduction saves Texans about $1.2 billion per year. As a cosponsor of H.R. 476, Congressman Marchant supports making the state and local sales tax deduction permanent.

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