March 15th, 2013

Hello – Spring break season is upon us, and it has been great welcoming scores of Kansans to their Capitol. Though the White House has shut its doors to students and families visiting Washington, the people’s Capitol building is open for business. Here’s an update of what we have been working on:

After Four Long Years, Senate Democrats Introduce Budget

Ordinarily, the President proposes a budget and the Congress then uses it as a starting point for debate on the nation’s fiscal priorities. Unfortunately, due to lack of leadership in the White House, the Administration has not given the American people a plan forward on the most critical issue of the day, the nearly $17 trillion debt. This could explain why a budget proposal from Senate Democrat Leadership released this week raises taxes by a whopping $1 trillion and actually increases spending in the next year alone by $162 billion. In fact, the Democrat’s budget taxes more and cuts less spending than what the President is reported to have proposed in negotiations on reducing the debt. Perhaps they should get on the same page. If this budget were to be approved, our debt would rise from $16.7 trillion to $24.3 trillion in 2023. That number would make up 94 percent of our economy. This is not a serious proposal. The American people deserve better.

Voting to Defund Obamacare

Ordinarily, the President proposes a budget and the Congress then uses it as a starting point for debate on the nation’s fiscal priorities. Unfortunately, due to lack of leadership in the White House, the Administration has not given the American people a plan forward on the most critical issue of the day, the nearly $17 trillion debt. This could explain why a budget proposal from Senate Democrat Leadership released this week raises taxes by a whopping $1 trillion and actually increases spending in the next year alone by $162 billion. In fact, the Democrat’s budget taxes more and cuts less spending than what the President is reported to have proposed in negotiations on reducing the debt. Perhaps they should get on the same page. If this budget were to be approved, our debt would rise from $16.7 trillion to $24.3 trillion in 2023. That number would make up 94 percent of our economy. This is not a serious proposal. The American people deserve better.

After Four Long Years, Senate Democrats Introduce Budget

I have long said Obamacare should be repealed in its entirety. This was an overreaching, vague, and irresponsible law resulting in over 20,000 pages of new regulations, thus far. It’s a trillion dollar tax on the American people. It steals from Medicare. The massive regulations hurt patients and employers alike. This law is destroying jobs when we need them the most, which is why, this week, I cosponsored, then voted for, Senator Ted Cruz’s (R-TX) Continuing Resolution amendment to defund Obamacare. The Amendment failed by a party line vote of 45 to 52, and I’m disappointed a majority of my colleagues in the Senate failed to see the wisdom in defunding this new entitlement.

Standing Up for U.S. Sovereignty

This week, I joined my colleague Senator Jerry Moran and members of the House of Representatives to reaffirm our opposition to the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty by introducing a bipartisan concurrent resolution opposing the treaty. At a press conference on the joint House and Senate resolution I made the following statement. You can watch the video of the press conference by clicking here.

This treaty is flawed and just another example of this Administration continuing to lead from behind, using international agreements to force their agenda on the American people. We don’t need more treaties with the UN. We need an entire national security reset and a way forward that does not allow an organization like the UN, with its many faults and failures, to dictate U.S. policy.

The UN Arms Trade Treaty was intended to address import and export controls on conventional weapons, aiming to eliminate illegal trade and access by rogue parties. But the Treaty has grown to include provisions on civilian ownership. This could infringe upon American citizens’ 2nd Amendment rights.

I want to remind Americans one thing in regards to encroachment by the UN on U.S. sovereignty: NOT ON OUR WATCH. The UN will not be given the right to violate our Constitution’s 2nd Amendment nor tell Americans what guns they may own or what laws this nation will follow. That will not be the case as long as I am a Member of the United States Senate, where we are charged with ratifying treaties such as this.

Roberts Regulation Review

I was thrilled last week to announce the launch of the Roberts Regulation Reviewon my website. This page will serve as a regulation clearinghouse to inform and allow Kansans to weigh in on proposed regulations. We will post summaries of new regulations, as well as links to the full text, and link visitors to the correct page of Regulations.Gov to submit comments directly to the appropriate department. 

The first regulation review featured on the new site is the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s newly proposed snack rule. The USDA has opened a required 60 day comment period on new school snacks or “competitive foods” proposed rules. These new rules will determine what is available to students in vending machines and in a la carte offerings of school meals. Visit the new Roberts Regulation Review microsite by clicking here.

White House Cancels Public Tours

Mere weeks after the New York Times reported President Obama may be selling White House access to the Obama campaign’s highest donors, the White House alerted Congressional offices they would indefinitely cancel all White House tours, blaming sequestration cuts. 

This is perception politics run amok. The White House spends tens of thousands of dollars each year on Christmas decorations and elaborate events, but when asked to trim its budget they opt to close the White House gate to the American people. To the thousands of Americans visiting the nation’s capital this spring break and summer I want to be clear, while the Obama White House may close, the People’s Congress will not. My office will be here, we will be open and we will be honored to give you a tour of your Capitol, free of charge.

Here are a couple of the tour groups who visited my office this week:

Restoring Integrity to Food Stamp Program – Save $36 billion

Times are tough right now for millions of Americans and government spending is out of control. We need to ensure that precious taxpayer dollars are getting to those in the greatest need. This is why I have introduced legislation to restore integrity to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, to save $36 billion over 10 years in taxpayer dollars while ensuring those in need still receive benefits.

My bill is a package of straightforward, commonsense reforms that have garnered bipartisan support in the past to address, waste, fraud and abuse. We can and should restore integrity to SNAP for those who rely on it while being more responsible to the taxpayer – and we can achieve billions in real savings without ever affecting food on the table.

Read more about my legislation by clicking HERE and watch my floor speech on the introduction of the Improve Nutrition Program Integrity and Deficit Reduction Act by clicking HERE.

Kansas Comes to Washington

One of my favorite parts about this time of year is all the Kansans who are able to visit Washington and make their voices heard on the priorities for their communities or their causes. Here are some of the groups who have been to my office over the last few weeks.

School Nutrition Associations of Kansas

Scott, KS Special Olympic Athlete

Southwest Kansas Coalition

Check Senator Roberts’ Website, YouTube and Facebook Sites for Updates

You can visit my YouTube site for more information on what’s happening in Washington, D.C. and Kansas by visiting www.youtube.com/SenPatRoberts. It's a great place to find speeches and debates on the Senate floor, press conferences, interviews and Senate hearings. You can also stay updated on all these happenings on my Facebook and Twitter sites.

If you wish to contact me about an issue or want more information, please visit my website, roberts.senate.gov.