Political Blogs
Congressman Jason Smith's Capitol Report - Reining in a Rogue Regime
November 27th 2017 by Dee Loflin
Congressman Smith Capitol Report
Reining in a Rogue Regime
November 24, 2017
The era of strategic patience and capitulation symptomatic of the Obama Administration and their approach to North Korea finally ended this week. President Trump has now formally declared and labeled North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. What does that mean? It’s simple, President Trump is holding North Korea accountable for actions that aim to terrorize and destabilize society - standing up for America and fighting for our interests across the globe.
When President Trump announced his decision to put North Korea on the state sponsor of terrorism list, my thoughts immediately went to the family of American student Otto Warmbier. Otto was on a study abroad trip with his university in 2016 when he was imprisoned and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for allegedly stealing a propaganda poster from his hotel as a keepsake. Even though his parents pleaded, the Obama Administration insisted that it was best to do nothing and wait patiently for North Korea to comply with our appeals to send Otto home. By the time he was returned to his parents in America, the damage done was irreversible. Otto was tortured mentally and physically by the cruel and inhumane North Korean regime. He came back on his death bed, and weeks later, we watched Otto Warmbier’s parents grieve the loss of their son at the hands of North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-un.
Sadly, the loss of Otto is just one of many tragic examples of an innocent person who was tortured and killed at the hands of this brutal dictatorship. In Otto’s memory, I worked with my colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass the Otto Warmbier North Korea Nuclear Sanctions Act. This bill tightens the reins on North Korea’s rogue regime and blocks their access to markets that finance weapons programs. In addition to cutting off North Korea’s access to funding, Congress is shoring up the United States’ critical missile defense system. This year, with the support of President Trump, we approved the National Defense Authorization Act, to invest in our military’s ability to prevent a nuclear weapon from ever reaching our shores by increasing the overall number of ground-based interceptors to counter the growing threat from North Korea’s ballistic missile program.
We simply cannot allow North Korea to threaten and intimidate innocent civilian populations with an arsenal of nuclear weapons. Between the actions of Congress and the Trump Administration, we are sending a strong message to North Korea. In the words of President Trump, “Do not try us.”
President Trump has shown time and again that the United States takes it seriously when other countries cheat on deals. Whether renegotiating failed trade agreements or decertifying Obama’s Iran Nuclear “Deal” to move forward with a new, strong strategy, which no longer puts American families at risk, President Trump is putting the security and safety of our nation first.
Until North Korea ceases all support for international terrorism, recognizes basic human rights and stops their rhetoric of “wiping America off the face of the earth,” we will wage a maximum pressure campaign to isolate and financially starve this murderous regime. In the coming weeks, additional sanctions from the Trump Administration will be rolled out to further isolate North Korea, and President Trump will continue to work and form strategic alliances in Asia to isolate and financially cut off North Korea. Just last month, President Trump was able to convince China to remove and suspend all banking support for North Korea for the first time ever. We are resolved in our commitment to punish Kim Jong-un and his rogue regime with sanctions and, with the support of President Trump, will exhaust all options until we see North Korea cease their aggressive actions towards the United States and our allies and take steps toward lasting stability and peace.
Last Updated on November 27th 2017 by Dee Loflin
https://showmetimes.com/Blogpost/v957/Congressman-Jason-Smiths-Capitol-Report--Reining-in-a-Rogue-Regime
Congressman Jason Smith's Capitol Report - A Time to Be Thankful
November 20th 2017 by Dee Loflin
Congressman Smith Capitol Report
A Time to be Thankful
November 17, 2017
Giving thanks, saying grace, blessing the food. Whatever your household calls it, praying before a meal is something I grew up doing with my family and still do today. In my family, we call it “saying the blessing.” This is a time of fellowship that provides me with reflection, restoration, and gives me hope for the future.
In a few days, folks across Missouri and America will join with their families and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving. As I have done every year since childhood, I will spend this time with my family and loved ones. Our family Thanksgiving was first hosted by my grandmother, and then eventually, by my aunt and mother. For me, Thanksgiving has always been a day filled with eating way too much, playing board games, and simply enjoying the company of family and the sounds of laughter at old stories told throughout the night. If up for it, we may even venture out to the Walmart off Hwy 32 for a few early shopping deals.
This holiday is often seen as the precursor to Christmas, but I hope you will take the time to truly give thanks before the next holiday season takes over. As Americans, we have so much to be thankful for. Our nation is founded on freedom and is full of generosity. For every bad thing we hear or read about happening here at home and around the world, there is so much good going on around us that we often overlook. Shared Blessings Transitional Housing Shelter in Bonne Terre has recruited volunteers to cook and deliver meals from Thanksgiving Day through the weekend that follows. In Farmington, the Help the Hungry Bake Sale will bring in money to assist two food pantries to help those in need in the months to come. These are just a few of the examples of the good nature of folks happening right here. As I see all of the food drives and neighbors finding ways to help neighbors during the holiday season, I am thankful for and humbled by generosity and genuine concern Missourians have for one another.
As we join our families to give thanks for our blessings this year, let us not forget the men and women who are overseas serving our country and away from their families. When you sit down to say grace before Thanksgiving dinner, remember to say a prayer for the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who are celebrating the holiday at their military base in Afghanistan, South Korea, Japan or elsewhere away from home. They are putting their lives on the line to protect the freedoms we enjoy every day.
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect and give thanks. I am grateful to God for his grace and my salvation. I feel blessed to be born in the land of the free and the home of the brave. I am especially thankful for the members of our military who fight so valiantly to preserve our way of life. I also feel fortunate to be from Salem Missouri and honored to represent before the United States Congress the generous and kind Missouri communities that we all call home.
Whether you’re going to hunt in Missouri’s great outdoors, playing flag football in the backyard with your family, volunteering your time and energy to help others, or hosting your whole family for dinner, I pray your day is filled with thanks giving for our multitude of blessings.
Last Updated on November 20th 2017 by Dee Loflin
https://showmetimes.com/Blogpost/v948/Congressman-Jason-Smiths-Capitol-Report--A-Time-to-Be-Thankful
Congressman Jason Smith's Capitol Report - The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
November 14th 2017 by Dee Loflin
Congressman Smith Capitol Report
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
November 10, 2017
“The final and best means of strengthening demand among consumers and business is to reduce the burden on private income and the deterrents to private initiative which are imposed by our present tax system…The purpose of cutting taxes now is not to incur a budget deficit, but to achieve the more prosperous, expanding economy which can bring a budget surplus.”
Most would guess this quote came from President Trump, maybe President Bush, or even President Reagan. While good guesses, they would all be wrong. Those words were delivered in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy in front of the Economic Club of New York. Less than a year later, he would be assassinated. A few months after that, the historic tax cuts he had advocated for became a reality in the Revenue Act of 1964. What succeeded after was the creation of 12 million new jobs over a five-year period.
Delivering tax cuts for American families can and should be a bipartisan effort. Whether it was President Kennedy, President Reagan or President Bush in 2003, the cumulative result of their tax cut efforts was the creation of close to 35 million new jobs. President Trump recognizes this, he knows that merely growing our economy on an average of 3% over the next decade would directly translate into the creation of tens of millions of new jobs and that the surest way to get that growth is through cutting taxes.
President Trump is not alone in that vision. I stand with him ready to deliver that tax cut to the families of south central and southeast Missouri. It’s why I fought to get on the oldest standing Committee in Congress, the Ways and Means Committee – where all tax and revenue measures start. And it is why last week I, along with my Committee Members, introduced the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act. Because I know what the President knows – that legislation like this will result in more jobs, lower taxes and bigger paychecks for the families of Missouri.
This legislation will provide immediate tax relief, will get rid of special interest loopholes, and incentivize more employers to invest, grow and hire here in the United States. We get rid of things like the dreaded ‘death tax’ which makes Missouri families pay an additional tax on the transfers of farms from one generation to the next. The Tax Cuts & Jobs Act rewards hardworking families by expanding the child tax credit and reduces tax rates on family run farms and businesses. These tax cuts will result in the average family of four paying 75% less in taxes and also completely gets rid of federal taxes on the first $24,000 every family earns.
In the lower chamber, we have stood with our President and delivered on our promise to repeal the government takeover of healthcare. We have stood with him to remove thousands of pages of bureaucratic regulations holding back our economy, and we stand with him again now, committed to delivering on historic tax cuts for American families.
Doing so will return the decision about your economic future to YOU, not the federal government. President Trump knows that, President Kennedy knew it in 1962, President Bush knew it in 2003 and President Reagan knew it in 1981 when he delivered these words from the Oval Office in support of reducing taxes, “…join me in this dramatic but responsible plan to reduce the enormous burden of Federal taxation on you and your family…In a few days the Congress will stand at the fork of two roads. One road is all too familiar to us. It leads ultimately to higher taxes. It merely brings us full circle back to the source of our economic problems, where the government decides that it knows better than you what should be done with your earnings and, in fact, how you should conduct your life. The other road promises to renew the American spirit. It's a road of hope and opportunity. It places the direction of your life back in your hands where it belongs.”
Last Updated on November 14th 2017 by Dee Loflin
https://showmetimes.com/Blogpost/v92v/Congressman-Jason-Smiths-Capitol-Report--The-Tax-Cuts-and-Jobs-Act
Herman Morse Elected as the New 151st State Representative
November 08th 2017 by Dee Loflin
Stoddard County, Missouri - Herman Morse was elected as the new 151st State Representative for Stoddard and parts of Scott County, Missouri.
Herman Morse stated, "I am both honored and humbled to be the newly elected 151st State Representative."
His victory came with a total of 71.1% of the votes equalling 1,434 over his opponent Curtis Clark who received 26.33% of the votes or 526 total.
Voter turnout was considered to be low as expected as there were only the two items on the ballot; the 51st State Representative position and the Use Tax Proposition which also passed by a vote of 1,118 to 831.
"Thanks to everyone who voted for me in Tuesday's special election to fill the vacant seat for the 151st Representative District," commented Morse. "A fairly short election cycle and a large geographical area made it impossible to tell each of you that I would appreciate your vote. Even if I didn't meet you in person, your opinion is still important to me. I hope to meet and visit with many more of you in the next few months."
"I pledge to represent the people of Stoddard County and the western part of Scott County to the best of my ability," continued Morse.
"Thanks again for your support and I look forward to serving you!"
Last Updated on November 08th 2017 by Dee Loflin
https://showmetimes.com/Blogpost/v91l/Herman-Morse-Elected-as-the-New-151st-State-Representative
What's on the Ballot for Tuesday, November 7th?
November 06th 2017 by Dee Loflin
Stoddard County, Missouri - A Special Election will be held in Stoddard County on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 as certified by the Honorable John R. Ashcroft, Secretary of State for Missouri.
The ballot for the election shall be the following:
State Representative 151st Legislative District to fill (Unexpired Term) - Running are Curtis Clark, Herman Morse, and Rick Vandeven.
Curtis Clark is running as Democrat, Herman Morse as Republican, and Rick Vandeven as a Libertarian.
Use Tax Proposition on Stoddard County - Shall the County of Stoddard impose a local use tax on out-of-state purchases at the same rate as the total local sales tax rate, currently one percent (1%) provided that if the local sales tax rate is reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate shall also be reduced or raised by the same action? A use tax return shall not be required to be filed by person whose purchases from out-of-state vendors do not in total exceed two thousand dollars in any calendar year. The purpose of the proposal is to eliminate the current sales tax advantage that Non-Missouri vendors have over Missouri vendors.
Approval of this proposition will result in a continuation of local revenue to provide vital services for Stoddard County.
Polls will be open at 6:00 a.m. in the morning and will close at 7:00 p.m. in the evening on Tuesday, November 7, 2017.
Last Updated on November 06th 2017 by Dee Loflin
https://showmetimes.com/Blogpost/v911/Whats-on-the-Ballot-for-Tuesday-November-7th
