Randy's Blog

RSS Feed
Posted by Randy | May 20, 2013
I thought you might be interested in a recent article I read in The Washington Post, which detailed a disturbing trend: The GSA has failed to fully pay 1,334 federal contractors, shorting small businesses by over $3 million. Today’s economic environment is uncertain enough, but when you add in federal agencies that cannot be trusted to fulfill their half of the bargain, small businesses become discouraged from competing and hesitant to invest, stunting our entire country’s economic growth.

As the backbone of the American economy, entrepreneurs and small businesses are crucial contributors to our nation’s economic success. I will continue to work to promote policies that create a healthy economic environment which encourages small businesses to do what they do best: grow, innovate, creat jobs, and lead our country forward.
Posted by Randy | May 20, 2013

I wanted to share with you an article I wrote that was published by National Review, regarding China as a military competitor.  We must acknowledge China’s military ambitions and their potential consequences for U.S. interests in the region.  By assessing the intentions of the Chinese, the United States will be better prepared to evaluate our interests in Asia and act accordingly.  

As Chairman of the Congressional China Caucus, I want to hear your thoughts on how the United States should address China’s military modernization. 

Time to Admit China Is a Military Competitor

By J. Randy Forbes

May 17, 2013 1:56 PM

The early-May release by the Defense Department of its annual report to Congress on China’s military developments is a prime opportunity to reevaluate how the United States frames the future of its security relationship with Beijing. For too long, politicians and pundits of both parties have refused to clearly state the obvious: The U.S. and China are engaged in a long-term peacetime competition with economic, diplomatic and, yes, military components. The sooner Washington begins speaking honestly about our relationship with China, the sooner we’ll have policies that adequately address the challenges facing our two countries.

As China’s economic development continues and its regional aspirations expand, its military modernization has continued apace. This reality, and the necessity of the United States’ remaining a force in Asia-Pacific for the sake of regional stability, makes many in Washington uncomfortable. Indeed, the pressure to refrain from speaking openly about the issue has led some U.S. officials to begin referring to China as a national “Voldermort.”

It’s immensely counterproductive to avoid speaking openly and truthfully about the Sino-American rivalry and its future trajectory. By failing to acknowledge China’s military ambitions and their potential consequences for U.S. interests in the region, American policymakers are choosing timidity when resolute leadership is required.

The reality is this: Over the past decade, China has been developing military capabilities designed to deny the United States access to the waters and airspace of the western Pacific. Through the acquisition of anti-ship ballistic missiles designed to target American aircraft carriers, advanced aircraft capable of hitting U.S. and allied bases around the region, and large numbers of modern submarines, Beijing has clearly signaled its intention to subvert the balance of power that has anchored peace in Asia for six decades, and to do so in ways inimical to American interests.

This is not simply the case of a rising power seeking a military befitting its economic might; rather, China has specifically geared its military development to areas of perceived American weakness with the objective of restricting U.S. action in East Asia.

Speaking clearly about Beijing’s actions and intentions is not a fatalistic acceptance that Sino-American conflict is inevitable, or even likely. Instead, by realistically appraising Chinese intentions, the United States will be better prepared to assess our interests in Asia and act accordingly.

With 80 percent of global trade traveling by sea, a substantial amount of that through the waters of East Asia, allowing the United States to be pushed out of the region is simply unacceptable. American military power, particularly our navy, has ensured the peaceful, liberal order that currently predominates in East Asia. As our fleet has slowly atrophied from the nearly 600 ships of the Reagan era to 283 today, the ability of the United States to uphold its obligations and interests around the world has become sorely tested. Even as the Chinese are developing sophisticated systems to target our perceived vulnerabilities, the U.S. is expected to experience major shortfalls in areas from attack submarines and surface combatants to Air Force long-range bombers. Understanding, and speaking clearly about, our interests in Asia and the challenges we face is critical to fixing the military gaps we have incurred over the last decade.

The Pentagon’s latest report on Chinese military modernization is an excellent opportunity for leaders in both parties to begin the process of speaking honestly about the China challenge. Our future relations with China are not preordained. Sound policy based on American strength and rooted in longstanding American interests is achievable only through recognition that China is a long-term competitor of the United States across a range of areas, including the military. The sooner we are comfortable admitting this fact, the better our chances of marshaling the resources to maintain a free and prosperous Asia.

Posted by Randy | May 17, 2013
Last Friday, Lois Lerner, Director of the Exempt Organizations Division at the IRS, apologized for the Agency requiring certain conservative groups to submit excessive paperwork regarding their 501(c)(4) tax exempt status. 

Her apology was issued just days before the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) was scheduled to release its oversight report of IRS activities.  This report not only confirmed that the IRS was in fact targeting conservative organizations, but that this has been going on since 2010. 

Groups with the word “patriot” in their names, and those with the mission of “educating on the Constitution and Bill of Rights” have been subjected to enhanced scrutiny in their applications for tax exempt status.  The TIGTA report indicated that 160 applications were open from 206 to 1,138 days, some more than three years and crossing two election cycles.               

The Department of Justice launched an investigation in conjunction with the FBI, and the House Ways and Means Committee is holding a hearing today to further investigate this matter and bring to light why these groups were targeted. 

While these investigations are pending, and Americans are calling into question the integrity of what should be a non-partisan, non-political government agency, I have introduced the Prevent IRS Overreach Act, H.R.1993, to prohibit the IRS from hiring any personnel for the purpose of implementing the healthcare law.  Read more about this bill here.

Question of the week:  Do you believe the Prevent IRS Overreach Act is a necessary step in ensuring protection for the American people?

(  ) Yes.
(  ) No.
(  ) I don’t know.
(  ) Other (leave your comments below).

Take the instaPoll here.

Find the results of last week’s instaPoll here.
Posted by Randy | May 16, 2013

I wanted to share a recent article from AEIdeas, the American Enterprise Institute blog, further highlighting the destructive nature of the health care law.  The article notes that, according to a recent Gallup poll, 48% of small business owners believe that the law will be bad for their business.

The increased taxes and regulations are bad enough, but when you add in the uncertainty surrounding implementation of the health care law, businesses are not expanding. Even worse, they are closing their doors.  

Access to health care should not come at an unacceptable price to our small business community.  I will continue to support the repeal and defunding of this law, and promote policies that encourage, not stifle, economic growth. 

Posted by Randy | May 15, 2013
Today, I questioned Attorney General Eric Holder before the House Judiciary Committee in regards to the lack of personal accountability of members of this Administration. A pattern has emerged of senior Administration officials "accepting responsibility," but failing to suffer any personal repercussions for actions which have resulted in the murder of Americans and the degradation of our Constitution. 
  • 4 Americans dead in Benghazi  under the watch of Secretary Clinton
  • U.S. Agent Brian Terry and over 150 Mexicans dead because of Fast and Furious under the watch of Attorney General Holder
  • U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement released over 2000 criminal illegal aliens, some convicted of aggravated felonies under the watch of Director Morton
  • IRS agents targeted conservative groups and used government positions to act as political operatives working to influence the electoral process under the watch of Commissioner Miller                 

Watch the exchange here

These senior officials have one thing in common – they all have said there’s nothing they could have done to prevent these things from happening. 

Now, the IRS is preparing to implement over 30 tax related provisions of the President's healthcare law.  I have introduced legislation - "The Prevent IRS Overreach Act"- to get the IRS out of healthcare. Read more about the bill and weigh in with your thoughts below.   

Posted by Randy | May 14, 2013
I wanted to bring to your attention a recent article, as well as timeline, both indicating that officials at the IRS knew that conservative groups were being targeted. 

Last April, I joined my colleagues in sending a letter to the IRS Commissioner expressing deep concern over these actions impacting free speech, and requesting information for the basis of the excessive requests for information from particular organizations

The House Ways and Means Committee is holding a hearing on Friday to further investigate this matter and bring to light why conservative groups were targeted.  We must remain vigilant to protect the tax information of individuals and organizations, and ensure that they are not targeted again.
Posted by Randy | May 09, 2013

At the end of April, the Treasury Department announced that it would pay down $35 billion of the nation’s debt for the first time since 2007.  In February, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the federal government would run a deficit of $845 billion this year, 24 times the amount the Treasury is paying down. 

Earlier this year, Congress passed the No Budget, No Pay Act, which required the House and Senate to pass a budget, but also suspended the debt limit until May 18th.  Last week, the Treasury Department said, “If Congress fails to increase the debt limit by May 19, Treasury can use extraordinary measures to create additional borrowing room."

Today, the House will consider the Full Faith and Credit Act, H.R.807, to direct the United States Treasury, in the event the debt ceiling is reached, to pay the principal and interest due on debt held by the public before making any other payments. 

As the Heritage Foundation said, “to see significant reductions in the national debt, lawmakers need to show greater fiscal discipline…” 

Paying off some of the debt is a good first step, but we cannot continue on the same path of reckless spending and repeated debates over further increasing the debt ceiling. I introduced the Congressional Accountability Pay (CAP) Act, H.R.284, to address situations like this.  The more Washington spends, the less Members of Congress should receive in their paychecks.  Read more here.

Posted by Randy | May 09, 2013
This week, the Senate passed the Marketplace Fairness Act, S.743, to enable states to require online sellers with more than $1 million in annual revenue to collect sales tax on transactions outside their borders.  Under current law, sellers must have a physical presence in a state before the state can require retailers to collect sales taxes.    

Supporters of this bill believe that small businesses and brick-and-mortar stores are at a competitive disadvantage with online retailers, many of which do not have to collect sales taxes.  As such, proponents say that this bill is needed to level the playing field by enabling the collection of a sales tax that is already due.   

On the other hand, opponents of this bill argue that it would burden small businesses, forcing them to comply with state and local tax laws from around the nation. Additionally, they argue that the measure would violate state sovereignty, force businesses to be tax collectors for other states without benefitting them, and dissuade entrepreneurial and start-up businesses. 

Question of the week:  Do you believe that states should have the authority to require online sellers to collect sales tax from individuals living outside their borders?   

(  ) Yes.
(  ) No.
(  ) I don’t know.
(  ) Other (leave your comments below).


Take the instaPoll here.

Find the results of last week’s instaPoll here
Posted by Randy | May 08, 2013
I wanted to bring your attention to a recent Washington Post article regarding fees the federal government pays on empty accounts, further highlighting the need to address Washington’s spending problem. 

Examples such as this are just one reason I believe strongly in the role of Congress to provide continued oversight of the Executive Branch.  In this fiscal environment where each American’s share of the deficit is more than $53,000, many remain unemployed and taxes have been increased (and some are threatening more tax increases for the middle class), all government spending must be looked at with the highest degree of scrutiny and transparency. My goal is always to ensure the taxpayer gets the absolute most for each tax dollar.

We must put forward policies that are in the best interest of the American people. I will continue to work to curtail this alarming spending trend and will advocate restraint and fiscal control when addressing our nation’s budgetary needs.  We owe it to the people of this country to be wise stewards of their money.

I introduced the Congressional Accountability Pay (CAP) Act, H.R.284, to address situations like this.  The more Washington spends, the less Members of Congress should receive in their paychecks.  Read more here.
Posted by Randy | May 08, 2013

As Congress moves closer to considering immigration reform, an L.A. Times article discusses the different approaches the House and Senate are taking.  The House is planning to move individual bills; however, the Senate is poised to take up one large reform package. 

Which approach do you prefer?