An America that works at home: Easing the squeeze

Pressures from a struggling economy and over-regulated federal government are growing increasingly tight for millions of Americans. This week, House Republicans visited their local communities and discussed how to ease the squeeze on the middle class. Representatives visited alternative energy sources, discussed how to improve environmental regulations, and met with small business owners across the nation to hear their concerns and ideas. Below are some photos of the people they met and the places they visited.

Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) and Woodland community members talked about how EPA regulations are impacting local small businesses. Bills like H.R. 1582, passed by House Republicans, require the EPA to take into consideration the impact and cost of regulations that adversely affect the economy.

Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA) toured Invenergy Wind Farm in Vantage, WA. America is abundant with natural resources, and House Republicans are actively pursuing alternative solutions, like wind energy. These opportunities will directly impact Americans, providing lower energy costs and creating jobs across energy sectors.

In Mart, Texas, Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX), congratulates the Read family of Read’s Food Store on their Texas Treasure Business Award from the Texas State Historical Commission. Small businesses, like Read’s Food Store, are at the foundation of great American communities. House Republicans are dedicated to recruiting new industries and helping existing businesses expand.

Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-AL) met with the Mobile Chamber of Commerce Oil and Gas Task force to discuss the future of energy in Alabama. Increasing Energy Costs are squeezing the middle class in a stagnant economy. House Republicans understand that improving and expanding energy opportunities in America is essential to easing middle class costs.

Many businesses and homeowners in Eastern Ohio are feeling the squeeze from the new FEMA flood plain maps, and are watching their insurance premiums rise. Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH) met with community leaders to discuss solutions and improvements to FEMA that will ease the squeeze on their communities and businesses.

Click here to learn more about what House Republicans are doing to build an America that works.

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An America that works at home: Jobs and economic growth

Over the past week, House Republicans have been busy meeting with folks back in their districts. With a stagnant economy and a crippling health care law, jobs and economic growth continue to be the top concerns for Americans across the country. Below are some examples of what House Republicans are doing back home to build an American that works:

House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Rep. Gregg Harper (R-MS) visited the Puckett Machinery, a manufacturing hub in Meridian, Mississippi. Too many business owners are struggling because of the burdensome regulations and excessive red tape coming out of Washington, DC. House Republicans are working every day to change that.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) visited the Woods Equipment Company in Oregon, Illinois, which employs more than 300 employees. “With the right business climate, success stories like Woods can be repeated all across the Sixteenth District and Illinois,” said Kinzinger.

Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA) toured the Propex Global facility in Ringgold, Georgia. House Republicans believe expanding markets for American-made goods will help lower prices for consumers; create better, higher-paying jobs for workers; and attract new investments in the United States. Learn more here.

Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) visited the Hyundai and Kia supplier DAS North America in Montgomery, Alabama. The company recently opened a 360,000 square-foot facility that is expected to employ at least 440 people.

Click here to learn more about what House Republicans are doing to build an America that works.

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An America that works at home: Health Care

A strong America is a healthy America. This week, House Republicans met with Americans across the country who are being harmed the most Obamacare. We remain dedicated to health care reforms that lowers costs, provides greater access, and ensures high-quality care.

Rep. Larry Buschon (IN-08) sits with one of cancer’s youngest victims while on his Hoosier Healthcare tour. Riley Hospital for Children offers individualized classes for their patients, ensuring the best recovery for each child. Under Obamacare, the choices and opportunities that children and parents have in medicine are limited, and are often decided for them. House Republicans continue to combat this detrimental health care law, to put decision-making back into the hands of those who know best: doctors, patients, and parents.

Patty and Rob Slagle’s pharmacy has been in their family since 1904. This week, House Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) visited Republic Drug Store for a first-hand view of how community pharmacies are essential to accessible health care and creating quality jobs.

Rep. Ron DeSantis (FL-06) discusses Obamacare with seniors at the Westminster Woods Living Facility. Health care costs are increasingly the greatest concern for elderly Americans. House Republicans are dedicated to protecting existing insurance plans, doctor access, and lower health care costs.

Rep. Patrick McHenry (NC-10) toured the 21st Century Oncology center with Dr. Scott Roberts, where he got a firsthand glance at the newest treatments available for cancer patients. Innovation is essential to cure and treat diseases. Unfortunately, Obamacare limits innovation by restricting doctor decisions and patient opportunities.

American Veterans have bravely served our country. House Republicans are dedicated to maintaining the health care veterans deserve and earned. Rep. Keith Rothfus (PA-12) was able to meet with veterans and discuss their health care concerns under Obamacare.

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Perry works to show he's strongest GOP contender (AP)

By PHILIP ELLIOTT and KASIE HUNT, Associated Press Philip Elliott And Kasie Hunt, Associated Press – Sun Sep 25, 3:30 am ET

ORLANDO, Fla. – Texas Gov. Rick Perry worked to convince Florida Republicans Saturday that he is the strongest contender for the GOP nomination despite a shaky debate performance earlier this week that has sparked jitters about his bid.

Perry lost a key test vote in Florida to businessman Herman Cain on Saturday after making a strong effort to win. Perry's second-place finish in the straw poll came just days after he faltered in a debate in Orlando, Fla.

Perry's recent troubles have sparked another round of angst among Republicans about their slate of presidential candidates.

In an interview with the Associated Press Saturday after he had left Florida for a lunchtime speech in Michigan, Perry addressed speculation that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie might reconsider running for president in 2012.

"I see anybody that gets in the race that believes in America and is a small government but efficient government individual, I would welcome into the race. It just strengthens the point that the Republican Party's all about getting our country working again. Whoever that is," Perry said of Christie. "And I'm also a big believer in these governors being freed up to be able to compete against each other. Chris Christie is a great competitor — and I'll be up there, you know, in Jersey, looking for some businesses to move to Texas."

Christie insisted just this Thursday that he does not plan to run for president in 2012. Bill Palatucci, Christie's longtime friend and political adviser, told the AP on Saturday night, "Nothing has changed."

But the more intense discussions of a Christie candidacy are further evidence that Perry's bid could be in trouble.

Activists at the Florida test vote kept bringing Christie up as a possible contender. Merick Lewin, who owns a marketing company in Davie, Fla., said he believes it's a two-person race — unless Christie runs.

"He's tough. He's strong. He could really shake this up, especially if Rick Perry implodes," Lewin said.

Perry, a late entrant into the Republican primary who quickly led national polls, stumbled in recent weeks.

His defense of in-state tuition rates for illegal immigrants put him on the wrong side of the GOP's conservative base. His rivals worked to exploit his opposition to a fence along the U.S.-Mexican border and his support of a mandatory vaccine for girls against a sexually transmitted disease.

Perry left Florida to speak to GOP activists at a gathering on Mackinac Island in Michigan. Romney, the son of a former Michigan governor, also was attending that event.

Cain captured 37.1 percent of the vote at Saturday's Presidency 5 straw poll in Orlando, with Perry coming in second with 15.4 percent. Mitt Romney came in third with14 percent and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania followed with 10.88 percent.

While all declared candidates were on the ballot, the first-tier candidates did not compete. Perry bought hundreds of activists' breakfasts on the sidelines before heading to Michigan. Romney skipped and didn't send representatives to the forum. Romney and U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota both left Florida before the voting began and their campaigns discounted the straw poll's role in the campaign. Bachmann finished eighth with 1.51 percent in the straw poll.

The results were unlikely to shuffle the campaign's standings. Instead, they were mostly a popularity contest among the delegates selected by local party organizations.

Ahead of the test vote, Perry's campaign bought breakfast for hundreds of the party faithful assembled for a three-day conference and debate. Perry said skipping the straw poll was a blunder.

"I think that's a big mistake. I think it's very important," Perry said, citing its history.

Previous straw polls have predicted the GOP nominee.

Ronald Reagan won in 1979, George H.W. Bush in 1987 and Kansas Sen. Bob Dole in 1995. The Republican Party of Florida, however, has not organized the test vote in recent years.

After the vote, Perry released a statement congratulating Cain. His spokesman, Mark Miner, acknowledged his debate performance played a role in the straw poll vote, but insisted the campaign would not change strategy.

"He's the commander in chief, not the debater in chief," Miner said.

Cain's speech Saturday energized the attending activists. "Let's send Washington a message: We the people are still in charge of this country. Not we, the bureaucrats. Not we, the government," Cain told the conference.

Santorum said delegates should stand with "someone who can win the election, someone who is a consistent, authentic conservative ... who has proved they can win in states that we have to win."

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich said he was the one who could best take on Obama.

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Hunt reported from Mackinac Island, Mich. Associated Press reporter Beth DeFalco contributed to this story from New Jersey.

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Mitt Romney Works Hard to Lose Flip-Flop Label (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | Staking out a fairly centrist position on some hot button issues, Republican GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney is now counting on potential voters to forgive and forget his past shifts in philosophy.

Romney campaigned in New Hampshire on Tuesday, stopping at two diners and a McDonald's. Apparently, no one asked him about his dietary "policy," but commentators are beginning to assemble a scorecard on the candidate's being either in-step or not with the "Republican message" that has developed since the run-up to the 2010 elections.

First and foremost, Romney is emphasizing the economy although in casual public appearances he has been less than entirely specific. Confronted Tuesday by a Derry woman whose husband has been working in Saudi Arabia after being laid off at home, the candidate gave this weak answer about how he would bring this worker home: "If I'm president of the United States, there will not be a day that I'm not getting briefed on and thinking about bringing American jobs into America."

However, he will likely continue to brush away "hot" social topics in favor of an expanded economic discussion. He did exactly that in Monday's New Hampshire debate among GOP candidates when asked about possibly rebanning gays in the military, beginning: "We ought to be talking about the economy and jobs." He then criticized killing "Don't ask, don't tell" without directly addressing reinstatement of that policy.

After campaigning in 1994 for the U.S. Senate with a message supportive of gay rights and abortion, Romney famously switched sides on both issues in his 2007-08 campaign for the presidency. Now he seems to be sticking to his (new) guns on these matters, but is clearly uncomfortable discussing them.

On three other divisive issues, however, the former governor is positioning himself to the left of his party in some eyes. First, he is now defending his Massachusetts health care plan (including its requirement to buy health insurance), a scheme striking many Republicans as far too close to President Barack Obama's position. Moreover, he is also making it plain he believes that global warming is aggravated by humans, and that bailing out Chrysler and GM was just fine. Both companies are now profitable, making that a bit easier.

This examination of Romney's "Republicanism" isn't over. "There goes the nomination," said Rush Limbaugh last week, after Romney's defense of his global warming stance. And in a largely ignored recent Reuters/IPSOS poll, Romney actually finished behind Sarah Palin. Both candidates trailed the president badly in that survey.

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