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.

###

Congressman Kenny Marchant (TX-24) issued the following release calling for the resignation of Attorney General Eric Holder.

“I call upon Attorney General Holder to resign his post as our nation’s top law enforcement official. Ever since the first details of Operation Fast and Furious emerged, Attorney General Holder has been less than forthright with Congress as to his knowledge of Fast and Furious. Unfortunately, this ill-conceived operation has already led to the killing of a border patrol agent.

“Our country has an Attorney General who seems to be engaged in active deception of Congress and, yet, at other times seems to know very little regarding what happened. The Justice Department’s leadership has been compromised and Congress still isn’t receiving answers as to who knew what and when. It is clear that Attorney General Holder cannot continue to serve under this cloud of controversy and should step down immediately.

“I also join House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith in calling for the appointment of a Special Counsel to investigate whether or not Justice Department officials intentionally misled Congress. The American people deserve to have answers and I am confident a Special Counsel would shed light on what really happened.”

###

Congressman Kenny Marchant issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 358, the Protect Life Act, a bill he cosponsored.

“Today I was proud to stand up for innocent, unborn human life when I voted for the Protect Life Act. This vote shows that the House of Representatives is committed to ensuring that taxpayer money is not used to fund abortions.

“When Obamacare was passed, it was with the promise – and a Presidential Executive Order – that abortions would not be paid for using taxpayers’ dollars. Over 70% of Americans supported such protections during the health care debate. Unfortunately, since the passage of ObamaCare, at least three states have considered federally funded abortion programs under the health care law.

“The Protect Life Act guarantees that taxpayers will not pay for abortions under ObamaCare. It also protects the conscience rights of medical practitioners and hospitals, and requires insurance companies in the ObamaCare exchanges to provide at least one insurance coverage option that does not cover abortions. I am proud of my House colleagues for passing this legislation, and encourage my Senate colleagues to follow suit.”

By Kenny Marchant

Special to the Star-Telegram

Link to Story

Last week President Barack Obama sent Congress the long-delayed trade deals with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. The trade agreements will provide the U.S. — and Texas in particular — bold solutions to economic recovery.

There is an excellent case for the trade deals to pass. Simply put, the trade agreements create more jobs, increase exports and broaden economic growth.

Jobs

At a time when U.S. unemployment hovers above 9 percent — including 8.5 percent in Texas — engines of job growth are needed. As the independent International Trade Commission points out, the three trade agreements would increase U.S. exports by $13 billion. Such growth could create approximately 250,000 new jobs in America, according to the president’s measure.

While more jobs are good news for the country as a whole, Texas in particular stands to benefit from increased trade. In today’s globalized economy, Texas depends more than ever on world markets.

Exports of manufactured goods alone support an estimated 732,000 jobs in Texas, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. The trade deals are expected to boost jobs in Texas powerhouse industries such as manufacturing, agriculture and chemicals, to name a few.

Businesses in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are positioned for big gains. DFW Airport, one of the world’s leading trade gateways, already handles almost 65 percent of all international air cargo in Texas. The trade agreements would increase shipments of goods from DFW to some of the most lucrative Latin American and Asian markets.

Exports

Trade benefits all shapes and sizes of businesses. In 2008, for example, 22,294 export firms in Texas were small and medium-sized enterprises with fewer than 500 employees. That translates to the fourth highest number of export firms in the country. With enhanced capacity to sell goods and services to Colombia, Panama and South Korea, the number of small and medium-sized businesses — the backbone of America’s economy — should only increase.

No matter the business size, open markets make the United States a significantly more competitive trading partner. As the trade deals languished in Washington over the last several years, global competitors raced ahead: the European Union struck a trade deal with South Korea, a Canada-Colombia pact took force, and emerging economies — notably Brazil, China and India — aggressively courted new markets. If Congress fails to pass the trade agreements, America risks being left behind as other countries strike new trade alliances.

Economic growth

Lessons from history make plain that economic isolationism inflicts serious damage to our domestic economy and severely disrupts the global economic system. Look no further than the Smoot-Hawley tariff of the 1930s, which increased trade barriers in a particularly fragile economy, and led to disastrous results and contributed to the Great Depression. Protectionism, whether in the form of high tariffs or stalled trade deals, is a false comfort that not only fails to spur economic growth, but in fact sets us backward.

It may be tempting to look inward during periods of economic slowness, but it is during such periods that countries benefit most from economic boosts available through trade. The International Trade Commission estimates that the three trade pacts will increase U.S. gross domestic product by nearly $10 billion. The beneficial impact will be particularly relevant to Dallas-Fort Worth, one of the nation’s leading commercial hubs.

While the trade agreements are no silver bullet to fix the economy, they put America on the right path. I applaud those who have long pushed for the agreements, notably Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp, Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas and former Dallas Mayor and current U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk. But unless Congress quickly passes the trade deals, America will be senselessly deprived of a proven path toward economic recovery.

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your continued support and friendship.  My 2012 re-election effort is underway, and I need your help to be prepared for what will be a long, hard fight to cut spending and encourage private sector job creation. 

The Democrat Leadership in Washington, DC is determined to increase their numbers in Congress and retake the majority.  If the Democrats succeed in knocking off just 25 Republicans in the House and retain control of the Senate and White House, they will have enough votes to pass any bill they want in Congress. 

Without the GOP’s ability to kill President Obama’s legislative agenda in at least one chamber of Congress, the Democrats will have complete, unchecked power. 

And with their liberal agenda of raising taxes, expanding the federal government beyond its constitutional limits, taking over our healthcare system, and increasing the national debt to levels never seen before-that’s something that Americans like you and I cannot afford. 

I’ve never backed down from the big-government agenda of the Democrats. And with your strong support, I will continue the fight for lower taxes and less government regulation, the fight to pass a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution, and the fight to stop out-of-control Washington spending. 

Recently, National Journal released their rankings of the most conservative members of Congress in 2010.  I was proud to be ranked the 14th most conservative member of Congress.  This ranking was based on my strong conservative record of cutting spending and taxes, fighting for limited government and economic freedom, and advocating for a strong national defense. 

I’m asking you today to look at the wrong direction President Obama and the Democrats are taking our nation and to lend me a hand in the fight for our shared conservative values.  I’m asking for your support today so that I can continue our effort to fight the Obama agenda in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

I refuse to back down in this fight to restore our nation to its constitutional principles.  And with your help, I will continue to stand up for America and stand up for Texas.     

Please stand with me today and make a secure online contribution of $25, $50, $100, $250, or whatever you are able to help me run an aggressive campaign.

Also, please click here to visit our new campaign Web site. And click here to “Like” our campaign Facebook page, and follow our campaign on Twitter for the latest news and updates. 
 
Best regards,
 
Kenny Marchant

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Kenny Marchant (TX-24) issued the following release regarding bill H.R. 3038, The Airport Security Options Act, which he authored.

“The Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) decision earlier this year to put a blanket freeze on all airport applications for opting out of TSA screening is extremely troubling to me. That is why I introduced The Airport Security Options Act. My bill would allow airports to opt-out of TSA and move forward with hiring certified private security firms to conduct airport screening if they choose. At this point in time when we know terrorist elements are trying to subvert the nation’s security apparatus, we ought to be encouraging airport security innovation, not discouraging it.

“In just the last week, I have witnessed firsthand two incidents which can only be described as invasive and unwarranted. In one instance, I saw a senior citizen receive a horribly degrading pat-down. In yet another instance, I saw a woman accosted by TSA when she requested the pat-down be conducted in private. We ought to look at ways to make traveling safe and less of a hassle than it has become for law-abiding citizens. Airports like Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, which has an enviable safety record, are proof that we don’t have to forfeit liberty in the name of security.

“The controversy surrounding TSA’s new screening procedures has led many airports to consider other security options. Unfortunately, the TSA-imposed freeze is preventing airports from doing what they believe is in the best interest of travelers. I also believe the security industry’s best practices will be hurt as new methods for passenger screening are discouraged. Improving service and safety of travelers is paramount for airports. It is prudent for airports to periodically review their relationship with TSA.”

WASHINGTON-

Congressman Kenny Marchant (TX-24) issued the following release regarding bill H.R. 3008, the Social Security Child Protection Act, which he authored.

“Identity theft is one of the most common and frustrating crimes a person can endure. In an attempt to stop children’s identity theft, I have introduced H.R. 3008, the Social Security Child Protection Act that will provide relief to the most vulnerable victims of identity theft in our society – our children.

“The Social Security Administration’s (SSA) policy currently states that a new Social Security number can only be issued if damages from identity theft can be produced. This does little to protect children whose numbers have been compromised. With little to no history behind their number, the SSA should be able to protect a child-victim of identity theft by issuing them a new number. Waiting for a crime to occur on a stolen number in lieu of preventing a crime is irresponsible.

“I realized the gravity of the situation when I learned that the SSA will issue a new number to someone with superstitious beliefs about their assigned number. Yet the SSA will not take the step of protecting young Americans by issuing a new number to replace one that has been stolen. We need common sense legislation to correct this problem. If enacted, my legislation would provide relief to young victims whose Social Security numbers have been compromised.”