View From the Capitol - Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler's Newsletter for the Week of April 14-18, 2014

Good Day,

It was a cold, blustery, and sometimes snowy “spring” day in Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District as I began an in-district work week with a series of town hall forums in Mexico, Fayette, Moberly, and Boonville. The weather was less than appealing, but the reception the MO4U team received at the various town hall venues was warm and inviting – making up for our travels through the snow.

There was much on the minds of the good citizens who were able to join us along the way. Budget concerns were among the  topics raised at each of our stops, with citizens commenting on Washington’s spending and asking how it could be brought under control. Government overregulation was another hot topic, with some citizens and business owners sharing stories of administrative burdens that are costly and a hindrance to job-creation. There was a good deal of conversation about our national defense in light of the unfolding events in Ukraine and concerns about Russian President Vladimir Putin acting with impunity.

We heard concerns about President Obama’s health care law and the high costs associated with it for everyday Americans who are simply looking for quality health care plans they like and can afford. Other important topics raised during our four-county tour included education funding, transportation dollars from Washington, and moves to trample on our Second Amendment rights.

In Boonville, I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with 12-year-old Grace McDowell, who attended our town hall with her grandfather. It is so inspiring to see young people interested in the future of our country and the direction in which it is headed.

After spending a good deal of time in Washington, it is so refreshing to spend time in our district, meeting with hardworking people and hearing a lot of common sense ideas. I always learn from exchanges with Fourth District citizens and look forward to sharing many of their great ideas with my colleagues when I return to the Nation’s Capital.

On another matter, Americans from coast to coast overcame headaches and rubbed their sleep-deprived eyes this week as the onerous task of complying with a complex and costly tax code wrapped up for another year. Compliance with the nearly 80,000 page tax code is a burden on both families and small businesses. It takes away quality time from families, leaving Dad and Mom with less time to engage in activities with their children. And it hurts job-creating small businesses by forcing them to spend an average of 40 hours each year making sure that tax returns are completed in accordance with Internal Revenue Service rules. This is a waste of time and productivity.

It is time to cut tax rates for all Americans and to end the unnecessarily complex tax code, replacing it with a simplified, fairer tax code that will benefit all Americans. We send enough to Washington. Americans should be able to keep more of their hard-earned money. I will continue to push for tax reform that will save the American people time and money and give all of us the tax relief we desire.

Have a good week and a blessed Easter.

Vicky