REPRESENTATIVE JOHN BOEHNER NEW HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER

Ohio Congressman John Boehner was elected House Majority Leader today to replace Representative Tom DeLay. Boehner was first elected to the House in 1990 and was a member of the, "gang of seven, " who instituted the, "Contract With American, " which led to Republicans becoming the majority in the House and Senate. Boehner is a conservative Republican who has long been an advocate for true conservative values which include reducing the size and influence of government in our daily lives. He has fought against pork barrel programs and since his election 16 years ago has never been the recipient of pork. Boehner believes that those who accept pork,(also known as earmarks), should be listed in the Congressional record so that their voting tendencies are made public which he believes will help to control excessive spending on needless projects by both parties through accountability. He advocates trimming every bill before it leaves the House to eliminate pork and stop the practice of tagging bills with pet projects included at the last minute in vital spending such as military appropriation bills to prevent excessive spending and growth in order to get necessary funding for vital programs. One of his first actions planned is to begin reducing spending and programs to reduce the size of government. Boehner also plans to attack the problem that both parties have become trapped in with respect to the relationship between elected members and lobbyists. He believes that transparency is the key so that back room dealings will stop and making Congress accountable for their actions giving the House back to the people where it belongs. Though Boehner hads been in the House for several years, to most Americans he is a new face but has been a strong promoter of conservative values and ideas since first elected. His leadership will return those values and ideas and begin the job of getting spending and excess under control. He realizes that the task before him is hard but following true conservatism in government will make the task possible and strengthen the country, the Republican Party and most importantly force the House back to dealing with the people's business as it should be.

Ken Taylor