Washington D.C. – Rep. Cory Gardner (R-CO) wrote a letter to Pres. Obama in light of last week’s State of the Union speech, citing many areas where the two can work together.
“The American people are frustrated with the continuous partisan bickering and political grandstanding,” Rep. Gardner wrote in the letter. “They are ready for a Congress and a President that listens to their thoughts and ideas. By working together on the following issues, I believe we can accomplish great things for the good of this nation.”
Among the areas where collaboration is possible, Gardner lists: doubling our exports, regulatory reform, streamlining government and creating a balanced energy independence agenda.
Here is the full text of the letter:
Dear Mr. President:
As a newly-elected Member of Congress, I look forward to working with you on many of the issues you confronted during the State of the Union Address. The American people are frustrated with the continuous partisan bickering and political grandstanding. They are ready for a Congress and a President that listens to their thoughts and ideas. By working together on the following issues, I believe we can accomplish great things for the good of this nation.
Aiming to double our exports by 2014 is vital to jumpstarting the economy, and I commend you for expressing that goal. The first step in doing this is to move quickly on all three pending trade agreements. I look forward to finding additional ways to open our markets to other countries because, as you know, trade creates more jobs and opportunities here at home. I am working on several ideas to further trade and would appreciate the opportunity to share these ideas with you.
Your recent Executive Order directing agencies to provide a cost-benefit analysis of regulations is an encouraging step in easing the regulatory burden on businesses. It is critical to ensure the costs of a regulation are not outweighing the benefits. Helping businesses cut through red tape and run more efficiently will free up much needed capital that can be used to create jobs. Your administration has testified that the review will include a "look-back" of burdensome rules. If you could provide a list of regulations you will be reviewing, we may be able to work together to reduce the regulatory burden on taxpayers. Through my seat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I look forward to examining more ways to do this in conjunction with your administration.
As businesses strive to be more efficient and responsible with their money, so too should government. That is why your proposal to freeze annual domestic spending for the next five years is a step in the right direction, but we also have to work on cutting the budget.
With a ballooning federal deficit, government needs to save more and spend less, and I am convinced we can find ways to do this together. Streamlining government by combining or eliminating duplicative programs is important in saving taxpayer dollars, and transferring power away from Washington and back to states and municipalities. Will you support a balanced budget amendment?
Simplifying our tax code is also long overdue and will benefit everyone. Lowering the corporate tax rate, for example, will have an immediate and positive impact on job creation. A simpler tax code will also result in attracting new businesses to the United States and inviting new investment, which are goals we share.
Finally, I look forward to working with you on a balanced energy independence agenda that promotes the use and development of both traditional and renewable energy. Nuclear energy must be part of that equation and I commend you for mentioning it.
Mr. President, I sincerely hope that we are able to work together on these and many other issues to bring about meaningful and positive change. As you said, we are all part of the American family, and we need to come together to act on what is best for this nation. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Congressman Cory Gardner (CO-4)
