On Monday we “celebrated” Tax Freedom Day, which means the average American worked every day up until April 21st in order to pay their taxes.President Ronald Reagan hits the nail on the head when he stated, “The American people are not undertaxed, the government in Washington is overfed.” A third of your year shouldn’t belong to the government, and I will continue working in the House to reduce the tax burden on middle class Americans. Other issues we continue to …
Category: Press Release
Butterfield Congratulates Winners of 2014 Congressional Art Competition
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) congratulates Carmen Li of Roanoke Rapids High School, who earned the top honor of “Best in Show” during Saturday’s official awards ceremony for the 2014 Congressional Art Competition themed, An Artistic Discovery. Li, whose charcoal piece entitled “Exhaustion”, was one of 50 students from 14 high schools in North Carolina’s First Congressional District that entered the competition. “It is essential that we nurture and support our youth’s artistic talent to help them …
White House Weekly Address: Congress Needs to Act on Minimum Wage
In this week’s address, the President highlights small business owners across the country acting to raise wages for their workers, and calls on Congress to give America a raise so more hard-working Americans have the opportunity to get ahead. Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that’s happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. This week, the White House celebrated Easter, and the President began a week-long trip to Asia, while the First Lady and Dr. Biden hosted a …
Butterfield’s Job Fair Draws More Than 500 District Residents to Henderson Middle School
WASHINGTON, DC — The Office of Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) announced that more than 500 area residents attended Butterfield’s job fair today. The 1st Annual Jobs & Opportunities Fair featured dozens of employers and professional development experts from federal, state, and local governments, as well as the private and non-profit sectors. Job fair attendees were able to meet one-on-one with prospective employers and receive career-readiness training and tips. Among the employers featured were: Branch Banking & Trust (BB&T), Butner …
Butterfield to Host Job Fair This Week During District Work Period
WASHINGTON, DC — This week, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) will spend much of the district work period focused on education, the arts and job creation, which will include hosting a job fair. Congressman Butterfield’s public schedule begins on Tuesday at a Veterans Benefits for Justice event at Peace Missionary Baptist Church in Durham. Later in the day, Butterfield will attend the North Carolina Justice Center 16th Annual Defender of Justice Awards Ceremony, where he will be honored with …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: A Busy and Beautiful Spring Week in the Second District
I am so glad to be back home enjoying the beauty of the Second District in full bloom. I hope this newsletter finds you and your family rejoicing on this blessed Easter holiday weekend. Last week was the first of two back-to-back work weeks in the district, and I’ve enjoyed having the opportunity to talk with so many constituents about the issues we are working on in Washington. One of these issues – taxes – was on the mind of …
White House Weekly Address: President Obama Offers Easter and Passover Greetings
In this week’s address, the President offers his warmest greetings as millions of Americans celebrate Easter this Sunday and recounts the Passover Seder he hosted at the White House earlier this week, joining Jewish families around the world in their celebration. The President looks forward to taking part with his family in the hope and joy of the Easter season and reminds all Americans, no matter their faith, of the common thread that binds us. Christian leaders from across the …
Rep. Baskerville Statement on Dan River Coal Ash Spill
Henderson, NC – Rep. Nathan Baskerville confirmed Thursday that Kerr Lake was retested and trace amounts of Coal Ash have been discovered. The Division of Water Resources indicated that trace amounts of coal ash have been spotted near the surface, raising concerns that more coal ash may be discovered deeper in the lake. This retesting was prompted by the efforts of Representative Baskerville and local Kerr Lake constituents. Baskerville said “these tests affirm what many Vance County residents already suspected. …
Rep. Baskerville Statement on Dan River Coal Ash Spill
Henderson, NC — North Carolina State Representative Nathan Baskerville released a statement today detailing his growing concerns regarding the February 2, 2014 Dan River Coal Ash spill. “It has come to my attention recently that Vance County residents have seen what they believe to be coal ash in the water at Kerr Lake. My office takes these types of calls from citizens very seriously, because we recognize the vital importance of our Kerr Lake water supply. “ Representative Baskerville has …
Get Your Federal Taxpayer Receipt
In his 2011 State of the Union address, President Obama promised that, for the first time ever, American taxpayers could go online and see exactly how their federal tax dollars are spent. And for the fourth year in a row, he’s keeping that promise. Enter a few pieces of information to get a breakdown of how your tax dollars are spent on priorities like education, veterans benefits, or health care. Calculate your receipt and learn where your tax dollars are …
Legislative Update from Senator Richard Burr
Last week, I joined Chuck Todd on The Daily Rundown to discuss the obstacles facing our nation’s veterans. To watch, click the video above or visit my Youtube page. Last evening, Senator Alexander and I took to the floor to warn that the unionization of college athletes, as permitted by a recent National Labor Relations Board regional decision, would destroy college sports and harm the entire American system of higher education. I am a former scholarship football player for Wake …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: Demanding Accountability
This week, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius resigned after 5 years as head of Department of Health and Human Services. Her resignation transpires six months after the failed rollout of Obamacare, which she was responsible for overseeing. The American people deserve both accountability and answers to the many unanswered questions that remain. Just as I have done in the past, I will continue to ask tough questions of the Obama administration, and I will continue my fight against this failed healthcare law. …
White House Weekly Address: Ensuring Equal Pay for Equal Work
In this week’s address, the President underscored the importance of ensuring equal pay for equal work and highlighted the steps his Administration has taken to expand opportunity and narrow the pay gap that exists between men and women. This week, the President honored Equal Pay Day and signed two executive orders to support efforts to level the playing field for women, pushed for better access to skills-based high school training, hosted the Prime Minister of Tunisia, and traveled with the …
Legislative Update from Senator Richard Burr
Last week, I joined 10 other members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in voting to declassify the Detention and Interrogation Report. Since 2012, I have been deeply concerned about the factual inaccuracies contained within this report, including inaccurate information relating to the details of the interrogation program and other information provided by detainees. I had hoped that the authors of the report would ensure that the American public was provided facts, not fiction. I am extremely disappointed in …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: Congressional Update
While the president celebrated Obamacare enrollment numbers that don’t tell the full story this week, he disregarded the 75 percent of Americans that are living paycheck to paycheck and the 30-hour rule in Obamacare that threatens to slash employees’ wages. House Republicans are working to ease the financial squeeze that all-too many Americans are experiencing. To help in this effort, I voted this week to restore the 40-hour work week by defining a “full-time” employee as one who works 40-hours …
White House Weekly Address: The President’s Budget Ensures Opportunity for All Hardworking Americans
In this week’s address, the President highlighted the important differences between the budget he’s put forward — built on opportunity for all — and the budget House Republicans are advocating for, which stacks the deck against the middle class. While the President is focused on building lasting economic security and ensuring that hardworking Americans have the opportunity to get ahead, Republicans are advancing the same old top-down approach of cutting taxes for the wealthiest Americans and slashing important investments in …
Butterfield Says SCOTUS Ruling on McCutcheon v. FEC is a ‘Cruel April Fool’s Joke’
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) Wednesday expressed grave concern over the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, which strikes down contribution limits for individual campaign donors by claiming that it restricts First Amendment rights. Butterfield said, “The Supreme Court has ruled to drown out the voice of the common man in elections by, again, empowering those with vast monetary resources. Since the Citizens United decision, the massive infusion of corporate financing has dramatically …
White House: 7.1 million Americans
Monday night, the first open enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act came to an end. And Tuesday afternoon, we announced that 7.1 million Americans have now signed up for private insurance plans through the new Health Insurance Marketplaces. 7.1 million. That doesn’t count the more than 3 million young adults who have gained insurance under this law by staying on their families’ plans. It doesn’t count the millions more who have gotten covered through the expansion of Medicaid and …
Legislative Update from Senator Richard Burr
This past Sunday marked the four year anniversary of Obamacare becoming law, a day marked by broken promises, numerous delays, and special exemptions. Just this Tuesday, the President offered the 30th delay to his signature legislative accomplishment. Before and after Obamacare was enacted, the President promised that “if you like your health care plan, you can keep it.” This statement was repeated by the President’s allies in Congress, defended by his allies in the media, and for which he was …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: Latest Obamacare Victims: North Carolina Teachers
Every day we learn of the dangers facing millions of Americans due to Obamacare. This week, we learned that our substitute teachers in North Carolina are losing their hours and income. In one North Carolina county alone, as many as 200 teachers are facing fewer options – all because of Obamacare’s employer mandate. Below you will find my full statement about this latest news of the devastating effects of Obamacare. Also in this newsletter is an excerpt from my op-ed, …