Providing policymaking insight in our nation's capitol. Updated regularly by Representative Mike Conaway and his staff on the issues Texans care about.
Congressman Mike Conaway today was awarded for his outstanding pro-taxpayer voting record last year. The 362,000-member National Taxpayers Union (NTU), a nonpartisan citizen group, has announced that Conaway is among only a few dozen 2009 “Taxpayers’ Friend Award” recipients out of the entire House of Representatives and Senate.
“Given today’s economic climate, fiscal discipline is more important now than ever,” NTU President Duane Parde said. “Fortunately, taxpayers have a staunch ally in Conaway, to whom National Taxpayers Union is proud to present a ‘Taxpayers’ Friend Award.’
“Conaway’s pro-taxpayer score of 93 percent was one of the best in the entire Congress,” Parde continued. “By voting time and again to reduce federal spending, taxes, and debt, Conaway has led by example in the fight to defend overburdened taxpayers across the country.” Learn more about the award here.
GOP Demands Information on Massa Probe
March 11, 2010, 12:51 p.m.
By Jennifer Yachnin
Roll Call Staff
Republican House lawmakers will formally demand an investigation to determine Democratic leaders’ knowledge and reaction to allegations that ex-Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) sexually harassed his aides, Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) announced Thursday.
The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, which lost jurisdiction over Massa when he resigned, closed its inquiry Wednesday.
Massa announced last week that he would not seek re-election, citing a recurrence of cancer. That decision was followed days later by his announcement that he would resign before his term expired.
He denied harassing his aides in two national television interviews Tuesday night, even as he acknowledged having used profane language and aggressively tickling a male aide.
House Republicans plan to demand a new investigation focusing on when Democratic leaders first learned of the allegations against Massa and how they responded.
Hello! My name is Madelon Osborne. I am 20 years old and I am from Menard, Texas. Currently, I am enrolled at Texas Tech University where I am a junior. My major is Agricultural Communications.
The summer after I graduated from high school, I won a trip to Washington, DC. During my visit I spent “a day in the life of a Congressman.” I was really impressed by a Tech intern that I met. During a Capitol tour we spoke, and I was amazed by everything she was getting to do, see and experience. After that encounter, I knew that if the opportunity was available, I wanted to be a Congressional intern too.
My internship has been a once in a lifetime opportunity and an incredible experience. Congressman Conaway’s office is full of brilliant people that are so friendly and helpful. Most of my duties as an intern include regular office tasks and giving Capitol tours (which I love). I have been fortunate enough to sit in on several briefings that were very interesting. I have been able to experience, first-hand, the challenges faced by our Congressional leaders and I have observed the political processes. This internship has broadened my horizons and helped me develop leadership skills that I am sure will provide valuable experiences for future endeavors.
In Washington, I currently live in the “Texas Tech house” which is located two blocks from Capitol Hill. It takes me six minutes to walk from the Tech house to the Longworth building where Congressman Conaway’s office is located. There are nineteen Tech students staying in the Tech house; we have a lot of fun together! There are always places to go and things to do- the city never sleeps. Read the rest of this entry »
Watch Senator McCain talk about Medical Malpractice Reform and how Texas has been instrumental in lowering medical costs and recruiting new physicians.
Watch Mike discuss his amendment to the National Intelligence Authorization Act to audit the Intelligence agencies. He’s on a mission to audit huge sectors of the federal government.
Politico
By: Lisa Lerer
February 24, 2010 05:28 AM EST
Republicans, major business groups and a handful of coal-state Democrats are launching a barrage of attacks against the Environmental Protection Agency, hoping to stop new rules that would regulate greenhouse gas emissions across the economy.
In December, EPA officially declared greenhouse gases a danger to public health and welfare under the Clean Air Act. The action was mandated by a 2007 Supreme Court ruling.
The White House has repeatedly said that the administration would prefer to regulate the emissions through congressional legislation — but has also noted that with no legislation in sight, the agency has no choice but to move forward with the new “endangerment” rules. Read the rest of this entry »
TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iran began making higher-grade nuclear fuel on Tuesday, state television reported, and the Pentagon said the United States wanted a U.N. Security Council resolution on Iran “within weeks” over its nuclear program.
The Islamic Republic, which denies its program has military aims, announced on Sunday it would produce uranium enriched to a level of 20 percent for a Tehran research reactor making medical isotopes for cancer patients.
This followed a failure to agree terms for a proposed nuclear swap with major powers, under which Iran would send most of its low-enriched uranium abroad in return for such fuel.
“Enrichment to 20 percent started in the Natanz facility under the supervision of the (International Atomic Energy Agency),” state television quoted Iranian nuclear agency chief Ali Akbar Salehi as saying.
It said he made the statement at the site of Iran’s enrichment plant in Natanz. Salehi earlier on Tuesday told Reuters that preparatory work had started and that production would officially be launched in the afternoon.
Iran currently enriches uranium to a level of 3.5 percent while 80 percent or more is needed for a nuclear bomb.
The Pentagon said the United States wants the U.N. Security Council to approve a resolution “within weeks, not months,” laying the ground for new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. They would be the fourth set of sanctions.
Despite Iranian denials, Western powers fear Iran is enriching uranium with a view to producing nuclear weapons. Read the rest of this entry »
The House Members return today for legislative session. Democrat leadership has announced that they plan to bypass a bicameral conference committee to merge both the House and Senate health care bills, and have opted to instead “ping-pong” the Senate bill. Under this strategy, the House will take up the Senate bill and amend it, then send it back to the Senate for final approval. Republicans, including Congressman Conaway, are outraged that the Democrat leadership has chosen to exclude Republican Members in the negotiations and conduct such talks behind closed door. This is a disservice to the American people and certainly conflicts with President Obama and Democrat promises for fairness and transparency.
Major issues must still be resolved between the House and Senate, including: 1) Illegal immigrants’ ability to purchase coverage in the exchange; 2) Federal funding of abortion; 3) The government-run option vs. the federally overseen “Multi-State Plan”/ exchange; 4) Financing the expansion of coverage through a surtax on the “wealthy” and small businesses vs. a union opposed tax on “Cadillac plans” and the Medicare payroll increase for the “wealthy”; and 5) Independent Medicare Advisory Board (IMAB), also known as “MedPAC on Steroids”.
Congressman Conaway stands with the American people in fighting against a government takeover of health care and for reforms that will cut down on the cost of care, allow for individual choice, and maintain quality of care. Sarah Beatty- Senior Legislative Assistant on Healthcare
Hi, my name is Meghan Mayer and I am from Midland, TX. I am currently in my final year at Baylor University where I am majoring in Business Marketing and Management. I have been working in Congressman Conaway’s office since the first week of September and I can’t believe my semester is already up.
I came into this internship not knowing what to expect, and being a business major, I felt unprepared to work in a political office. From the first day I started working, the staff has been patient, helpful, and an absolute joy to work with. Throughout my internship, I have gotten the chance to work closely with each member of the staff, and with their help, I have learned a great deal about everything that goes into the legislative process. This experience as a whole has made a big impact on my life. . In my mind, going to Washington on my own and working with all the different offices and personnel, has prepared me to graduate with confidence. Meghan Mayer-Intern in the Washington DC office
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Congressman Mike Conaway today was awarded for his outstanding pro-taxpayer voting record last year. The 362,000-member National Taxpayers Union (NTU), a nonpartisan citizen group, has announced that Conaway is among only a few dozen 2009 “Taxpayers’ Friend Award” recipients out of the entire House of Representatives and Senate.
Hello! My name is Madelon Osborne. I am 20 years old and I am from Menard, Texas. Currently, I am enrolled at Texas Tech University where I am a junior. My major is Agricultural Communications. 
