E-News

Statement

Welcome to the July edition of E-News! On July 4, 1776, our great nation was born, and this year we celebrate 235 years of liberty. Each year we mark the Fourth of July with picnics, barbeques, parades, fireworks, patriotic concerts and gatherings with our families and friends. While I look forward to these celebrations each year, I also am very conscious of the price that so many have paid for the freedoms we enjoy. Not only should we wave American flags to show our pride in our country on patriotic holidays, like the Fourth of July, Flag Day, Memorial Day and Veterans Day, but we should demonstrate our love of country all year. Please join me in reflecting on the bravery and sacrifice of men and women of our military. Our dedicated troops are the ones who are the guardians of our way of life and the freedom we hold so dear.

As well celebrate the Fourth of July; it is important to remember that all of us have a role to play in keeping the freedoms we enjoy in this country alive and well. For example, one of the most important things you can do as a private citizen is to keep our elected and unelected government officials accountable for their actions. A few years ago, I shared "The Ten Cannots" by Reverend William J.H. Boetcher in an edition of E-News. This year as we deal with a mounting debt crisis that is a threat to our way of life, an ever encroaching federal government, skyrocketing cost of entitlement programs and federal, state and local governments that are adding literally thousands of new laws and tens of thousands of pages of new regulations every year, I would like to share these wise words with you again; some things bear repeating.

* You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
* You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
* You cannot help little men by tearing down big men.
* You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
* You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
* You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money.
* You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
* You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn.
* You cannot build character and courage by destroying men's initiative and independence.
* And you cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they can and should do for themselves

In today's 24-hour news environment, providing you with timely information on federal efforts and legislation important to Idaho and our country is a top priority for me. This electronic newsletter, along with my website, iTownHall meetings, podcasts, Facebook and YouTube gives me the opportunity to keep you informed on issues important to Idaho, the West and our country. In every edition of E-News, I include a short survey that affords you the chance to weigh in on key issues of the day, and it helps keep me informed of your views.

Reaching as many Idahoans as possible is extremely important to me, and you can use the "Tell a Friend" form on the lower left to pass this along to friends, co-workers and family members. It is my intent that E-News provides you with an interesting and informative resource to help you keep informed on developments in Washington that affect our state, and that you will let me know of anything that I can do to improve E-News and other communications tools.

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