Blaine Luetkemeyer RSS Articles

Luetkemeyer Column- Adoption: A Gift and a Blessing

Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The month of May is National Foster Care Month which provides a great opportunity to spread awareness not only about foster care but also adoptions. While I support a dedicated month to raising awareness of these children and honoring the dedicated foster families, caregivers, and volunteers who serve them, our attention to this vulnerable population must be continuous. There are several activities and celebrations throughout Missouri to help build awareness about foster care and adoption, and I encourage everyone to participate in any way you can. Community organizations arrange and host programs and events to share positive stories about foster care and adoption and also draw attention to the thousands of children in foster care and waiting for permanent families.

There are very alarming statistics not only in Missouri but throughout the U.S. about these children. In Missouri alone, there are more than 10,000 foster children hoping for the chance to find a home. In the U.S. there are 400,540 children living without permanent families in the foster care system. There are 115,000 children that are eligible for adoption, but nearly 40 percent of these children will wait over three years in foster care before being adopted. And according to the U.S. State Department, in 2011, American families adopted more than 9,000 children internationally. Americans adopted the highest number of children from China followed by Ethiopia, Russia, South Korea, and Ukraine.

I will continue to support efforts to promote adoption both in the United States and abroad. There is nothing more important than doing our best to give as many children the chance to grow up with a caring family. With the help of more Americans, the lives of these young people will change for the better.

There is no doubt in my mind that the strength of our great nation is tied to the strength and stability of our families and the ties that bind our families together to provide a nurturing environment for our children to grow and succeed.

We must all work together to provide the smoothest possible transition for children into loving homes. Investment in our adoption and foster care systems is a moral imperative because it provides the opportunity for life for thousands of children who deserve the love of a nurturing and caring family. I remain committed to giving these children the opportunities they need to find a loving home.

Luetkemeyer Renews 2010 Inquiry Into IRS’ Stonewalling on HSUS’ Tax-Exempt Status

Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Three years after launching an investigation with a constituent-driven inquiry questioning the tax exempt status of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and subsequent stonewalling by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-3) is renewing his inquiry. Luetkemeyer is also raising serious questions about IRS Exempt Organizations Division Director Lois Lerner’s political ties to HSUS in light of her recent apology for targeting conservative non-profit groups seeking tax-exempt status.

In a letter dated May 17, 2013 to U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Luetkemeyer called for an investigation into the handling of his request made to then-IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman in March, 2010 about constituent concerns regarding HSUS’s significant lobbying activities as a tax-exempt group. Luetkemeyer also sent a letter to Inspector General for Tax Administration J. Russell George requesting that he perform his own investigation into the matter.

In May, 2010, Luetkemeyer had shared those concerns in both a personal conversation and letter to Lerner who has been tied directly to the political arm of HSUS. Since launching his inquiry, Luetkemeyer has received repeated non-responsive letters from the IRS about his inquiries and given recent events and his responsibility to constituents mandated that a follow-up letter renewing his concerns be sent because it was both timely and necessary.

“While it is disconcerting to think that Ms. Lerner, who oversees tax-exempt organizations for the IRS, may have disregarded my request for an investigation due to her own political beliefs or those of her staff, in light of the recent revelations about the activities of Ms. Lerner’s office and in the absence of any other explanation from the IRS, many Americans will arrive at this very conclusion. With that in mind, I formally request that you investigate the IRS’ handling of my requests and report back to me in a timely fashion. Anything short of a timely and thorough investigation threatens to undermine the vital work done by rule-abiding non-profit organizations across this nation,” Luetkemeyer wrote in his letter to Lew and Holder.

“If the government entity charged with collecting taxes cannot do so in an unbiased, non-partisan manner, the people of this nation will lose faith in our democracy. To restore the faith and trust of the American people in our government, I urge you to act quickly to resolve these issues and implement proactive policies to prevent such actions from occurring in the future,” Luetkemeyer said in the letter.

Luetkemeyer Votes to Repeal the President’s Health Care Law

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

In an effort to get the government out of American’s pockets and to limit the overreaching scope of the government, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03) today voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and issued the following statement:

“As Vice Chairman of the Small Business Committee, I’ve met with countless constituents who have told me that Obamacare is already devastating our small businesses, their employees, and hard-working American families and that is why I have voted to repeal or defund this legislation in various forms 37 different times. Our efforts to repeal all or part of Obamacare will continue unabated especially in light of new revelations about the gathering of personal information by the Internal Revenue Service which is supposed to serve as the main enforcer for Obamacare. I will continue to ask more questions about the IRS’ involvement in this ongoing scandal and I have to question their competence to oversee as troublesome a program as Obamacare. If Obamacare is not repealed, it means government run health care, higher insurance premiums, a loss of job-based health benefits, and fewer employment opportunities for Missourians. I encourage the Senate to follow the House’s lead and repeal this disastrous law.”

According to an economic report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), seven million people will lose their job-based health insurance; and according to studies released by insurance plans and independent actuaries, Missouri health-care premiums will increase anywhere from 61 to 106 percent. The President has also been quoted saying he would not sign a plan that adds one dime to the deficit, however; the CBO has tagged the cost of the PPACA at $1.88 trillion through 2022, which is nearly twice the original cost.

Luetkemeyer Column- Principles of Faith

Fri, 10 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Recently we observed a National Day of Prayer and I was asked to speak at a gathering that day. My staff thought it would be of interest to many of you if our weekly column would be excerpts from the speech. Hope you enjoy it.

I understand that not everyone I represent in the 3rd Congressional District will agree with me 100 percent of the time, and I am not one to wear my religion on my sleeve. But one of the many great things about our country is that we can agree to disagree with our politicians without fear of retribution. And we are also a nation of religious freedom in which a person can openly discuss his faith, again without fear of retribution.

As a matter of faith, I hold dear certain principles that serve me well as a husband, a father, a grandfather, an elected representative and a Christian. Call them principles of faith. And while I am willing to compromise on the issues in Congress, I am not willing to compromise my principles and values.

I believe that a government that governs least governs best. I believe in an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. I believe in the sanctity of life and marriage, and the importance of family. I believe in the Constitution of the United States. I believe that we are a nation of laws built on Judeo-Christian principles.

When I think about faith, I am reminded of our first president, George Washington. In 1755, a young George Washington survived a vicious battle during the French and Indian War in which his horse was twice shot out from under him and bullets took the lives of most of the officers around him while four bullets pierced his coat but not his body. I also think about Washington kneeling in prayer during the grim winter of 1777 – 1778 at Valley Forge. With that background, it follows that a dozen years later in 1789, in proclaiming the first Thanksgiving, Washington wrote “it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits and humbly implore his protection and favor.” Washington’s simple words of humility serve as an inspiration to me to pray often as the challenges of life bear down on me. We all face our own challenges but I believe God never gives us more than we can handle. And sometimes it helps us all to humble ourselves and ask God for his guidance.

In Congress, there are many of us that attend various prayer and religious services during the course of our week. One of my favorite quotes from those services that I like to share about religion in American comes from President Ronald Reagan: “We need religion as a guide. We need it because we are imperfect and our government needs the church because only those humble enough to admit they’re sinners can bring to democracy the tolerance it requires in order to survive.” He continued: “… without God, democracy will not and cannot endure. If we ever forget that we’re one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.”

As our nation moves forward and we prepare for more challenges, we must defend against those who want to take faith and prayer out of our schools and out of our lives. Let us not forget that the Declaration of Independence mentions God four times and that our Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. As President Dwight D. Eisenhower once said in a warning that seems more appropriate than ever in today’s world: “A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.”

Luetkemeyer Hosting Inaugural 3rd District Veterans’ Benefits Workshop for Claims

Thu, 09 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

As part of his ongoing efforts to better understand and serve those filing for service-related claims with the Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-3) announced today that he will host the inaugural 3rd District Veterans’ Benefits Workshop from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 30, at the Jefferson City Police Training Room inside the Jefferson City Police Station, 401 Monroe Street.

The workshop, a version of which was held late last year in the old 9th District, will provide free advice and guidance for those that need assistance when filing their veterans’ claims applications, completing necessary documents as well as understanding how veterans’ affairs processes claims. More than 50 veterans attended the first workshop held in Washington, Mo.

A variety of veterans’ service organizations will be on-hand including representatives from the American Legion, Missouri Veterans Commission, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Veterans Affairs Columbia Medical Center, and the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office. Luetkemeyer will open the workshop with staff on-hand to provide direct assistance to veterans.

“We work on a range of veterans’ issues and this workshop is an extension of those services to ensure that our veterans have the information and access they need to access the services they deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs,” Luetkemeyer said. “We are looking forward to working with veterans from across the 3rd Congressional District by assisting them with any questions and concerns they might have about veterans’ affairs services.”

Note: Signs will be posted outside the venue directing visitors where to go.

House Passes Luetkemeyer Backed Bill to Hold Congress Accountable on Debt

Thu, 09 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

In an effort to protect millions of Americans in the event the government reaches and does not raise the debt ceiling, the House today passed legislation, co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-3), directing the U.S. Treasury to pay principal and interest due on debt held by the public before making any other payments.

“We have to make it clear to the American people and the global economy that the U.S. will not default on a debt payment. The Full Faith and Credit Act will help ensure against default by requiring the Secretary of the Treasury to prioritize payments on the debt,” Luetkemeyer said. “This legislation requires the federal government to prioritize paying interest and principal costs on the public debt with existing revenue. By doing so, this bill will prevent the United States from defaulting on its debt held by American citizens and pension funds that together own a significant amount of U.S. Treasury securities. Without prioritization of payments, Americans who offered both faith and investment in their government could face catastrophic losses.”

This bill, in the event that the debt ceiling is not raised, would take a United States default off the table by requiring Treasury to pay the debt payments; defines “interest” in a way that requires the Treasury to make the interest payments necessary to ensure that Social Security benefits are paid in full; and requires the Treasury Secretary to provide a weekly accounting to congressional committees of the amount of principle and interest due and amount of debt issued.

Luetkemeyer Nominee Hannah Hughes of Columbia Accepts Appointment to Air Force Academy

Mon, 06 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-3) today announced that his nominee for the United States Air Force Academy, Hannah Hughes of Columbia, Mo., has accepted an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy as part of the 2017 graduating class.

Hughes, a Rock Bridge High School senior, was nominated by Luetkemeyer when the congressman previously served the people of the old 9th Congressional District. Hughes is the daughter of David Hughes and Sharon Skinner of Columbia.

The U.S. Air Force Academy offers a four-year program of instruction and experience designed to provide cadets the knowledge and character essential for leadership, and the motivation to serve as Air Force career officers. Each cadet graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Force.

Education Department Circumvents Congress

Fri, 03 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Like many of you, I have been increasingly frustrated by federal agencies that are determined to circumvent the elected representatives of the American people in Congress and instead impose their will on Americans through rules and regulations. But nothing upsets me more than a federal agency that seeks to impose its will through the power of its purse strings on our children.

So, you can imagine my reaction when it came to my attention that the U.S. Department of Education is using the expiration of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to implement major changes to our education system without the approval or knowledge of Congress. These changes include the collection of federal student data and federal disbursement of funds.

While I believe that education policy is best made at the local level, since the 1960s, Congress has authorized and allocated funding for public K-12 education through the ESEA. This law has been the primary vehicle in which Congress implements education policy and reform. Yet, instead of working with Congress to reauthorize the law, the U.S. Department of Education moved forward with an education policy reform known as Common Core.

In 2009, forty-six governors signed memoranda of understanding with the National Governors Association committing their states to the development and adoption of new education standards within three years. As I understand it, states had the option of adopting Common Core standards or creating their own equivalent standards. At the time, Common Core standards consisted of nothing more than the idea that states would collaborate to create uniform education standards. Details about Common Core were not only unknown to the states, they did not exist. From there, the department offered grants and waivers to states under the condition that each state would implement “college and career ready” standards. The only “college and career ready” standards with the department’s approval were Common Core.

In other words, the Education Department was stacking the deck by seeking to coerce and incentivize states into adopting Common Core.

In one example, Common Core standards will replace state-based standardized testing with nationally-based standardized testing, the creation and initial implementation of which will be funded in full by the federal government. The long-term, annual administering of the exams, the cost of which has not been specified, is to be funded by the states.

The Education Department also is involved in some troubling practices when it comes to personal student information and how the federal government collects and distributes such information. In 2011, the Education Department circumvented Congress by altering definitions within the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) – the law that guarantees parental access to student education records and limits their disclosure to third parties. It also has come to my attention that in order for states to receive the aforementioned grants, they were required to implement a new federal system used to track students by obtaining personally identifiable information. The states need to learn to quit falling for the carrot and stick approach used by the federal government and just say no to the money!

The actions to circumvent Congress with Common Core and changes to student privacy policy are unacceptable. Earlier this week I sent a letter to Education Secretary Arne Duncan requesting that the department explain its actions and make a good faith effort to work with Congress when changing education standards. While I would prefer education policy to be set at the state and local level, Congress has an obligation to serve as a check and balance against the federal Department of Education as it tries to unilaterally implement these initiatives without input from the elected representatives of the American people.

Since states opted into Common Core, relief from these misguided standards must come from the state level. To that end, I have been in touch with state officials and have offered to be of any assistance. Though we are limited on the federal level, there may be some opportunities to prohibit funding for Common Core during the appropriations process. Be assured that I will continue monitoring this situation very closely.

Nothing is more important than the education of our children and it should not be up to federal agencies to act unilaterally without input from those of us who represent families across our great nation.

Luetkemeyer Letter: Education Department Circumvented Congress on New Standards

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Concerned over the U.S. Department of Education’s decision to circumvent Congress with major changes to education and student privacy policies, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-3) today sent a letter to Education Secretary Arne Duncan demanding information regarding the implementation of these new policies and the authority under which the Education Department has acted.

Dating back to the 1960s, Congress has authorized and allocated funding for K-12 education policy through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) – the primary vehicle for education reform on the federal level. Luetkemeyer noted in his letter to Duncan that since ESEA’s most recent expiration, the Education Department has, without any Congressional input, moved forward with Common Core standards by enticing states with grants and waivers to adopt Common Core standards.

“Since the ESEA’s expiration, the Department of Education has moved forward with education policy reform without Congressional input. Such action is, at best, in contravention with precedent,” Luetkemeyer said in the letter signed by 33 of his House colleagues. “We believe that state-based education policies are vital to the successful education of a child. As with most one-size-fits-all policies, Common Core standards fail to address the specific needs of our states.”

Luetkemeyer also raised concerns in his letter about two changes in which the government collects and distributes student data. Luetkemeyer has requested a detailed description of each change to student privacy policy that has been made during Duncan’s tenure and the need and intended purpose for such changes. Of particular concern to Luetkemeyer were regulatory changes made without congressional review regarding parental access to student education records and limiting third party disclosure of that information.

"We also request that you submit to us the authority under which the Department has implemented Common Core and altered polices on student policy …” Luetkemeyer wrote.

Looking Out for Our Small Businesses

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

As vice chairman of the House Small Business Committee, I recently joined my colleagues in a hearing examining the impacts of Obamacare on America’s small businesses. It was an eye-opening and jarring experience.

Under Obamacare, which I have voted to repeal and defund numerous times, any employer with the equivalent of over 50 full-time workers will be required to offer affordable health insurance that meets mandated government standards for all employees who work more than 30 hours per week, or pay a penalty. This will begin in 2014. This fact is having a chilling effect in small businesses who are already positioning themselves for next year by either cutting back their employees’ hours or putting off any plans for expansion.

At a time when we’re trying to create jobs and expand opportunities for our small businesses, there is clear evidence that Obamacare is already driving up health costs and making it harder for small businesses to operate their business and hire more employees. We must not forget that small businesses account for 70 percent of our nation’s jobs and provide an invaluable source of innovation to our economy and so you can imagine the tremendous negative impact Obamacare will have on people’s lives.

Serving on the Small Business Committee has afforded me the opportunity to question and examine the impact of the implementation of the health-care law on small businesses. Time and again, I have witnessed thousands of pages of health regulations being put in place with more coming down the pike every day. In fact, over half the rules, over 700 have yet to be proposed. Small businesses in the 3^rd Congressional District are frustrated and unsure about how to comply with them. And those trying to comply are watching their costs ratchet up by the day which adds to the uncertainty of managing small businesses.

The costs of paperwork alone under Obamacare are mind-boggling. Douglas Holtz-Eakin with The American Action Forum told our committee that the 80 million hours of paperwork being created by Obamacare is the equivalent of 39,822 employees working an entire year. Based on a Bureau of Labor Statistics examination of gross domestic product per hour worked, Obamacare’s red tape alone costs the U.S. approximately $4.9 billion annually. Not shockingly, that figure will grow as the main components of the health-care law are implemented on January 1^st of next year.

Back in 2010, the president said that his health-care law would “cut costs and make coverage more affordable for families and small businesses.” Yet, during testimony before our committee, one Florida small business owner and former Obamacare supporter conceded that the law is not truly addressing the rising costs of health care. This admission, among others I have heard from small business owners of all political persuasions right here in Missouri, continues to cause me even greater concern about where our health-care system is headed.

Our committee will continue to work to protect small businesses and clearly Obamacare poses a serious threat to them and, in turn, our entire economy and the majority of this nation’s workers. I pledge to continue listening to your voices and work accordingly to try and stem the impact of this bad law before it’s too late.