Jobs, budget highlight GOP concerns, Hartzler says

Having ousted longtime Democratic Rep. Ike Skelton last November, Hartzler was pleased with her appointments to the Armed Services and Agriculture committees because they will address vital concerns to her 4th Congressional District.

"In his opening remarks, Speaker Boehner reiterated that the American people have spoken and we've got to rein in runaway federal spending because it's bankrupting the country and mortgaging our children's future," she said from a telephone interview from Washington.

Noting Boehner had taken the preliminary step of asking all 435 House members to cut their budgets by 5 percent, Hartzler said the economy must be stabilized before jobs can be reclaimed.

"Now is the time to take bold steps to get our country back on the right track," she said. "We have a window to make tough decisions and make government more efficient and effective. We need jobs because we have almost 10 percent unemployment. Washington's poor policies are a large reason for it."

She had just met with Armed Services Chairman Buck McKeon of California and expected to see Ag Chairman Frank Lucas of Oklahoma soon.

Asked how jobs can be created, Hartzler said the so-called Bush income tax cuts, recently extended for two years, should be made permanent while the "Obamacare" healthcare package passed last year is repealed.

She added that lowering corporate taxes would make the nation more competitive in the global economy. "I met a woman in Buffalo during the campaign who said her business would have hired 30 more people, but they didn't because they would've had to provide full health coverage," said Hartzler.

"They had 30 employees and had been paying each one an individual stipend. Going over the 50-employee limit would have put them out of business."

She predicted that House Republicans will use their 242-193 majority to repeal Obamacare, cancel its funding and send the matter to the Senate, where the Democrats have a 53-47 advantage. "It will be up to the Senate to see if they continue going against the will of the American people or listen to the people," Hartzler said.

"The House will take action and then see what the Senate and President Obama want to do."

The former state representative said there are similarities between the Missouri General Assembly in Jefferson City and the U.S. House inasmuch as "good people from all over are here to do their best for the people they represent.

"But it's hard to get your hands around the size and scope of everything here from the number of representatives to the number of government programs and size of the federal budget," she said.

"I feel so privileged to be the voice of the 4th District and fight for our values. I'm impressed with the beauty of our nation's capitol and all that the people before us have done to pave the way for the opportunities and freedoms we have today, and I'm energized to get started and thankful to be part of history and help turn this country around."