Newsletter: Making Way for Sustained Growth

Statement

Dear Friends,

I spent much of last week meeting with Idaho business leaders, representing a broad spectrum of our recovering economy. I spoke to the Boise Metro and Coeur d'Alene chambers of commerce, the Coeur d'Alene Rotary Club and visited individual businesses in the Treasure Valley and Kootenai County.

While they reported improvement, great uncertainty remains. Customer confidence is shaky. Companies rent equipment rather than buy, while many entrepreneurs are forced to use credit cards to borrow.

Growth requires predictability and stability. Unfortunately, our federal government is at the root of much of the doubt that's stifling long-term economic health.

The most important steps we can take in Congress are on the fiscal front.

A serious move to tackle our $18 trillion deficit by cutting government spending would do wonders to restore confidence.

We also should reform a Tax Code that kills jobs with its complexity and arbitrarily picks winners and losers. I support a flat tax, with rates as low as possible.

I also heard from businessmen and women about regulations. Across our economy, resources are shifting from the front lines where customers are served, relationships built and innovation spurred. Sadly, jobs are moving to back offices where clerks, accountants and lawyers fill out federal forms.

Those expenses eat into profits and are passed on to consumers. Coupled with tax reform, streamlined regulations and smaller government would repatriate jobs to American shores.

Idaho business also needs to compete in a global economy. That's why I support free and fair trade and immigration reforms that include a modern guest worker program.

The economy has improved in significant part because Republicans in Congress have worked to limit the growth of government. Annual deficits are down from $1.4 trillion in the 2009 fiscal year to $486 billion in fiscal 2014. I'm proud of helping make that happen.

Much remains to be done, however. For many Americans the recovery hasn't reached them, as they work multiple jobs to stay afloat. Far too many hard-working Idahoans have been left out of American Dream.

I consider it my duty as your congressman to do everything I can to help restore hope for all Americans.

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