Congress Cuts Its Budget, Takes First Step to Repeal Job-Killing Health Care Law, & More

We will be bringing you the weekly emails from the Speaker of the House John Boehner as the Republicans are now officially in the majority in the House after being sworn in on Wednesday. This is a great idea so that everyone can be kept in the loop on what is happening in the House instead of relying on some members of the media.

Email from Speaker of the House John Boehner:

Congress Cuts Its Budget, Takes First Step to Repeal Job-Killing Health Care Law, & More

January 7, 2011 | Speaker Boehner Press Office | Permalink

Welcome to the first weekly email from the office of the new Speaker of the United States House of Representatives: John Boehner. The 112th Congress opened for business this week, and lawmakers moved quickly to enact reforms aimed at making it easier to cut government spending and remove barriers to job creation. Here’s what was happening in the House this week:

Taking the First Steps Towards Repealing the Job-Killing Health care Law

The new majority took the first steps toward repealing the job-killing health care law. If fully implemented, ObamaCare would destroy more than 1.6 million jobs, cost taxpayers more than $2.3 trillion, and add more than $700 billion to the deficit.

Several House leaders and committee chairmen released a report on the heath care law that passed last year over the objections of the American people. Entitled ObamaCare: A Budget-Busting, Job-Killing Health Care Law, it outlines the impact the new law is having on American jobs and our national budget. It’s definitely worth checking out.
Cutting Spending & Changing the Way Congress Works

The House adopted new reforms that make Congress more open and accountable, and make it easier to cut spending. For example, all bills will now be posted online at least three days before a vote. And any proposed spending increases must be offset by spending cuts – not tax hikes.

A coalition of reform-minded groups, including Americans for Tax Reform, praised the reforms as important tools for cutting government spending.

The House cut $35 million from its budget, keeping a promise made in the Pledge to America.

Lawmakers read the U.S Constitution aloud on the House floor for the first time in history.

Also This Week: Boehner Elected Speaker, 112th Congress Sworn-In

Boehner delivered his opening remarks in which he said, “The people voted to end business as usual, and today we begin carrying out their instructions.” [VIDEO]

We posted video of Boehner’s reunion with 10 of his 11 brothers and sisters at Andy’s Café – the tavern in southwest Ohio where he worked for his father, mopping floors and waiting tables. [VIDEO]

House Republicans broadcast the opening session of the 112th Congress live on Facebook – another first.

These emails will be changing in the weeks and months ahead to make them easier to read and use, so please don’t hesitate to contact us here if you have ideas on how we can improve them. Thank you in advance.

- Speaker Boehner’s Press Office