On January 29 Rep. Foxx, NC-5, introduced the Federal Tax Withholding Act of 2008, otherwise known as "H.R. 5175 To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the withholding of income and social security taxes." Hmmm, and interesting proposal from my Representative. As a small business person I'm thinking "su-weet", but what does this mean? Since I haven't seen diddly squat about it in the local press I'm going to check ye old webosphere. Basically I found a short item on Wilkes News and this letter from National Taxpayers Union and that's about it. There are two reasons that pop to mind why this hasn't garnered a great deal of interest in these parts:
- It's very new legislation.
- It doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell of getting out of the Ways & Means Committee.
This got me wondering what else my Representative has been up to. Here's the most recent bills she's sponsored:
- H.Res.929 Commending the Appalachian State University Mountaineers for winning the 2007 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) title.
- H.Res.769 Congratulating the government and people of Turkey as they celebrate Republic Day, and for other purposes.
- H.R. 248: Robo Calls Off Phones (Robo COP) Act To direct the Federal Trade Commission to revise the regulations regarding the Do-not-call registry to prohibit politically-oriented recorded message telephone calls to telephone numbers listed on that registry.
Below is a sampling of her most recent voting activity (January 08) and doesn't include things like resolutions to congratulate LSU on their national championship in football. BTW, according to GovTrack Rep. Foxx has only missed 8 of 2,440 votes since she's been in Congress. You may not agree with her politics, and believe me I often don't, she's showing up to do her job. Kudos to her for that. Also, according to the GovTrack Ideometer, which is that image you see to the left, she's about as far right as you can get on the political spectrum:
- Voted 'Aye' on H.R.5140 Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 On Agreeing to the Senate Amendment: H R 5140 Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008
- Voted 'Nay' on H.R.4137 College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007 On Passage: H R 4137 To amend and extend the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes
- Voted 'Nay' on H.R.4848 To extend for one year parity in the application of certain limits to mental health benefits, and for other purposes. On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended: H R 4848 To extend for one year parity in the application of certain limits to mental health benefits, and for other purposes.
- Voted 'Nay' on H.R.3963 SCHIP Extension bill Passage, Objections of the President Not Withstanding: H R 3963 Children’s Health Insurance Program Extension and Improvement
- Voted 'Nay' on H.R.3524 HOPE VI Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2007 On Passage: H R 3524 HOPE VI Improvement and Reauthorization Act
- Voted 'Aye' on H.R.4986 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass: H R 4986 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
- Voted 'Nay' on H.R.2768 Supplemental Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2007 On Passage: H R 2768 S-MINER Act
- Voted 'Aye' on H.Res.921 Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2008 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree: H RES 921 Providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendment to H.R. 4253, with an amendment
- Voted 'Nay' on H.Res.918 Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2768) to establish improved mandatory standards to protect miners during emergencies, and for other purposes. On Ordering the Previous Question: H RES 918 Providing for consideration of H.R. 2768, to establish improved mandatory standards to protect miners during emergencies, and for other purposes
Yep, I've gotta say that I'm not going to often agree with my Representative, but I am glad to see she has one of the best records on the Hill for actually showing up to work. Obviously since Rep. Foxx has been elected twice to Congress since I've lived here I'm in the minority in terms of political leanings so until that changes I'm going to have to take what I can get, and if that's someone who I disagree with but fulfills her commitment to her constituents then so be it.
That said come November I'm voting for a fellow named Roy Carter. He may be a Democrat but he's closer to that area on the Ideometer that I reside that's part blue and part red.
