| Thank you for subscribing to my email update - a brief summary of some of the more notable events during the last few days. I hope you'll find this useful and informative. You can also follow my regular updates from Florida and Washington via YouTube, Twitter and Facebook .   
Path to Lower Debt Begins with Earmark Ban
I recently voted to suspend Congress' ability to carve out special "earmark" projects through the annual appropriations process. Though earmarks amount to about one percent of overall Federal spending, they encourage lawmakers to approve ever-increasing overall budgets. Over the years, budgets for the individual agencies have seen five, ten and twenty percent increases, and members feel obligated to approve those increases because otherwise, their project would be in jeopardy. A ban on earmarks is the first step toward stopping the growth of government. Since coming to Congress, I have not asked for a single earmark. I spoke on the Senate floor asking my colleagues to support an earmark ban and focus on cutting spending. Click on the picture below to watch my speech. 
We have a responsibility to the American people to rein in spending now to ensure that the burden is not passed on to future generations. I've introduced a bill that will limit federal spending. My 2007 Solution would allow Congress to cap federal spending at 2007 levels. It would balance the budget by 2013 and cut the debt nearly in half by 2020. To read what George Will has to say about my proposal, click here. Raise Taxes During Economic Downturn? Unbelievable as it sounds, some of my colleagues in Congress think now is the time to raise taxes on working Americans. Laws governing billions of dollars in tax relief are set to expire at the end of this year and so far, Congress has failed to renew those provisions. Last Saturday, the Senate was in session and I voted against raising taxes on any American. The Federal government should not raise taxes during an economic downturn. Washington doesn't have a revenue problem; it has a spending problem. If Congress were to raise taxes, it would continue to spend more of our hard-earned money and pay little, if any attention to cutting spending. 
I encourage my colleagues to extend tax relief to all Americans and to do so before the year's end. Providing predictable tax law will help families and job creators make the sort of decisions that will spur job growth. Christian Family Coalition Last Friday, I was honored to speak at the Christian Family Coalition's annual gala dinner. The Christian Family Coalition is an important organization that serves as a voice for the pro-family citizens of Florida. Their focus is to work on pro-family legislation at the state and local levels of government. 
I appreciate the work of the Coalition's members because too often, people have come to rely on our government for the solution to every perceived or real problem. The good intentions of members of Congress to solve every problem, real and perceived, with a government program endangers our Republic. Every new program chips away at what it means to be an American, harms our spirit, and replaces self-discipline with dependency. It is not the government's role to deliver happiness, but rather to stand clear of the path so our people may pursue that God given right. The coalition's annual gala was a great event and I look forward to watching this group continue to take an active role in reducing the size and scope of government. Tyndall AFB to Gain T-38 Detachment Tyndall Air Force Base is one of our nation's premier military training bases and continues to excel. Earlier this year the Air Force announced it was sending a squadron of F-22 Raptors to the base and it was just announced Tyndall will gain a T-38 detachment. These ten T-38s will complement and provide adversary support to the F-22s currently stationed at the base. The T-38 Talon is a twin-engine, high-altitude, supersonic jet trainer used in a variety of roles because of its design, performance and safety record. Air Education and Training Command is the primary user of the T-38 for joint specialized pilot training. The first five begin arriving in April 2011 and will have fully arrived by Sept 2011. A second set will be in place by March 2012. Bringing more planes to the area will also bring more jobs, increasing economic activity throughout North Florida. This move is a testament to the first rate training capabilities of Tyndall and the resources available in Panama City to welcome growth on the base. Military Academy Nominations
I recently announced my nominations to the U.S. Military Academies: Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, United States Military Academy, and Merchant Marine Academy. To make selections, my statewide selection committee interviewed candidates and scored their academic accomplishments, athletic talent, and moral character. Academy nominees are high school, current or recently graduated, and college students applying to these distinguished military academies. I am honored to recommend each and every one of these students to our nation's Military Academies. These students have shown tremendous dedication and put in years of hard work to achieve their goals. The best and brightest are nominated to attend these academies, and their families, teachers, coaches and other mentors should be proud of this achievement. I expect great things from these young men and women and wish them success in the coming years. To view the complete list of nominees, click here. Casework Corner A Floridian and first-time homebuyer purchased a home earlier this year. Using the First-Time Homebuyers Tax Credit, she filed an amended tax return. After waiting several months, the constituent contacted the IRS. The agency told her that her return was still under review. After waiting an additional and extended period of time, she contacted our office for assistance in checking on her tax credit. Our office contacted the IRS for a status update on the Floridian's tax credit. The agency subsequently set up a meeting with a representative from the Taxpayer Advocate Service. The representative assisted her with the process and the constituent received the Credit. Contact Our Office I am grateful for having had the opportunity to represent your interests and our state in the nation's capital as Florida's 34th United States Senator. As you might know, I was sworn in on September 10, 2009 to complete the remainder of Mel Martinez's unexpired Senate term, which ends January 3, 2011. Due to the procedures necessary to close a Senate office, after November 15th, my office will no longer be able to accept new requests for casework services, tours, and flags. Any member of Florida's congressional delegation who is in office after January 3, 2011 is available to receive your requests. If you have a pending question involving a federal agency, please contact our Orlando Regional Office by calling (407) 254-2573 to speak with a member of the Casework Department. The toll-free number for Florida residents is (866) 630-7106 or go to my website at http://LeMieux.Senate.gov for more information. It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your United States Senator and I look forward to hearing from you. If you want to share this newsletter with a friend, sign them up today at http://LeMieux.Senate.gov. | 
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