The House and Senate are still in recess. Once again, I recommend that you find the time to see your legislators while they at home and not in Washington, DC. A handy list of public townhall meetings and recommended questions can be found here.

Last month, President Bush submitted to Congress the administration’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2003. The events of last year have placed new strains and burdens on federal priorities, and the new budget again places the budget in deficit. The budget proposal includes increased expenditures on homeland security and the war on terrorism and an overall 6.5 percent increase in discretionary outlays. Despite the increased spending levels and the return to deficits, many in Congress are calling for even greater spending while criticizing President Bush’s tax cuts as being fiscally irresponsible. Yet recent history suggests that it is Congress’s profligate spending habits that need to be curbed.

Remarks prepared for delivery by Jack Kemp, Co-Director, Empower America, to Investor's Business Daily's Second Annual Conference, "2002: A Business and Economic Outlook" at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, February 15, 2002 GREETINGS

Nearly 800 Activists Expected to Lobby Their State Legislators for Less Government, Lower Taxes, and More Freedom

This week, President Bush released his proposed federal budget, which, as expected, signaled a return to deficit spending. Between a sluggish economy and increased spending on defense and “homeland security” the surplus has evaporated. But Washington is not the only government facing an economic crunch. In fact, state governments across the nation are swimming in red ink, and unlike the federal government, most states have laws that require budgets to be balanced. The National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO) projects state shortfalls to total $40 billion for 2002.

Dear Congressman: The annual House Republican Conference retreat offers Members an excellent opportunity to identify the key issues facing the American public and develop strategies to address them during the second session of the 107th Congress. On behalf of the nearly 300,000 members of Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE), I wanted to take this opportunity to inform you of our legislative priorities and to pledge the assistance of our network of dedicated activists to fight for lower taxes, less government, and more freedom.

Dear Senator: The annual Senate Republican Conference retreat offers senators an excellent opportunity to identify the key issues facing the American public and develop strategies to address them during the second session of the 107th Congress. On behalf of the nearly 300,000 members of Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE), I wanted to take this opportunity to inform you of our legislative priorities and to pledge the assistance of our network of dedicated activists to fight for lower taxes, less government, and more freedom.

Soundbite: With our nation our at war and the threat of another terrorist attack at home very real, the importance of the institutions of government responsible for administering justice cannot be overstated. Unfortunately for Americans, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and Senator Patrick Leahy (D- Vt.) are stonewalling on President Bush's judicial nominations. Both Democratic Senators are blocking President Bush's nominees from ever receiving a committee hearing or a vote on the Senate floor. This partisan obstructionism is indefensible and harmful to our legal system. Meanwhile, the U.S. Justice Department has been devoting scarce tax dollars towards a baseless racketeering case against the tobacco industry instead of protecting and defending Americans from future terrorist attacks. Americans deserve a Justice Department that places protecting the nation from terrorist attacks ahead of pursuing frivolous lawsuits against law-abiding companies.