Statement from Larry Bucshon
July 4, 2010
 
Dear Friends,
   
Today, as we celebrate our country’s 234th birthday with parades, fireworks, and cookouts, I am deeply honored to be running for the United States Congress in Indiana.  As I have traveled the 8thCongressional District this weekend, I am reminded of those 56 brave men that declared our nation’s independence and stood up to the tyrannical and oppressing government that sought to control our citizens’ every day lives.  Because of our Founding Fathers’ actions throughout our nation’s struggle for independence, we are all able to share in their most simple beliefs, that all are created equal and we all have the unalienable rights to “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”. 
 
I am running for Congress to be a representative of the people and your voice in Washington, D.C.  I am infuriated by our government’s actions to tax and spend our country down a path that will lead to government control of our every day lives.  Having been a person that has been fortunate enough to live the American Dream, I will fight to ensure all future generations have the opportunity to do the same.  I am making my first run for public office to help diagnose the problems in Washington, D.C. and to provide practical solutions because it’s time we sent a representative to Congress that will listen.
 
Enjoy the holiday!
 
Sincerely,
 
Larry Bucshon

Promise 1 – President Obama promised unemployment would not rise above 8 Percent if the package was passed.  The reality – the unemployment rate in America is 9.7 percent and in Indiana it is 10.0 percent.

Promise 2 – The President also promised his Stimulus Bill would create 3.5 million jobs by the end of 2010.  Well, since the bill passed, America has lost 2.8 million jobs – so we need to create 1 million jobs per month for the rest of the year for that promise to be fulfilled.

Promise 3 — Moreover, the President promised the Stimulus Bill “will create good jobs that pay well and can’t be shipped overseas.” (The White House, “Remarks By The President And The Vice President On The American Recovery And Reinvestment Act,” 4/13/09). But the disturbing reality is that some stimulus dollars have gone to foreign corporations that are creating jobs far away from America.

             “Nearly half of the $2.4 billion in federal grant money awarded Wednesday to stimulate the U.S. economy and boost the production of hybrid and electric vehicles went to six companies with ties to places as far away as Russia, China, South Korea and France. … But because so few American companies have the necessary technology, much of the money will initially go toward manufacturing electric vehicle batteries overseas.” (Jerry Seper, “Obama Sends Stimulus Aid To Foreign Firms,” The Washington Times, 8/6/09)

Promise 4 — We should not be surprised, because the Government Accounting Office (federal watchdog agency) reports that transparency and oversight are lacking when keeping track of the Stimulus bill’s effectiveness, despite the President’s promise he would bring rigorous oversight to this unprecedented spending spree.

             “The Government Accountability Office said in a report that increased transparency and better oversight is needed to track stimulus money being sent to state and local governments. The report noted that keeping track of stimulus money and effectiveness wasn’t necessarily easy under the current methods. ‘Questions remained about how to count jobs and measure performance under Recovery Act-funded programs,’ the report said.” (Rich Edson and Joanna Ossinger, “GAO: More Transparency Needed To Track Stimulus Money,” Fox Business, 7/7/09).

            Hoosiers and regular Americans understood this during the last national campaign, but in the 20 months since that election, more and more Americans have come to understand that the lack of knowledge about the economy and a lack of managerial expertise, combined with a liberal left Congress is deepending rather than solving our problems.  And speaking of Congress, which passes thousands upon thousands of pages of new laws we must live under (health care, financial regulatory “reform,” cap-and-trade, among others) while ignoring one of the most basic laws it must follow (passing a budget each year) is working with this Administration in a way that just keeps driving the economy into a ditch.

            As the federal representative for the Southwestern and Wabash Valley areas of Indiana, I will cut government spending, work to lower taxes, and put our economy on a sound footing so that this generation is paying its bills and meetings its responsibilities rather than saddling our children and grandchildren with the bill for our leadership failures.

President Obama says small businesses will be big winners under health care reform, but some entrepreneurs and the organizations that represent them say the only thing big about the new law will be the problems and taxes that come with it.  “It’s going to create huge uncertainty and the potential for another downtick in the economy fed by that uncertainty,” said the chairman of the National Small Business Association.  Furthermore, the bill will “almost certainly” lead to increased health insurance costs for businesses with more than fifty employees.  The bill will put new pressures on small businesses to both offer and pay for employee health insurance in the early stages of reform.  However, the reforms that contain costs and enable small business to afford this commitment will not be implemented for years –if at all.  The National Federation of Independent Business characterized the bill as “devastating” for small business owners.  I have been able to confirm their worst fears by talking with small business owners from throughout the 8^th district and looking at their financial projections.

Beyond the direct impact on small businesses, this bill has very real and direct consequences for Hoosiers.  A recent analysis by Governor Daniels’ administration indicates that Indiana could have to absorb as much as $3.6 billion in new costs over the next decade if the 1.5 million Hoosiers made eligible for Medicaid sign up.  The Federal Government does not seem to have any intension of providing the money to fund this expansion, leaving Indiana with the burden of covering the additional expense.

As a physician, I have very serious concerns about the intended and unintended consequences of this bill as well as future access to quality medical services in the U.S. We are headed towards a two-tiered system like in many countries that have government run healthcare. This legislation is setting the stage for those who can afford private care while the rest of us will have long waits and experience rationing due to financial concerns of the government. The ongoing physician shortage is likely to continue and may worsen. The quality of physician services is likely to decrease. We need healthcare reform, but not the type of reform which has been put into law.

A more pragmatic solution is the implementation of a nongovernmental commission that will look at Medicare/Medicaid and come up with solutions to strengthen these programs.  Clearly, there are difficult decisions to be made in the future by lawmakers.  Many of the solutions are not politically possible without the input from such a commission.  It will then be up to lawmakers, regardless of party, to make the decisions that need to be made.  The American people need to decide which direction we are going to take.  Quality of and access to healthcare in the U.S. are at stake.  A government run system will almost certainly be a detriment to both.

As we observe today this most solemn of national holidays, I join with all Americans in extending our heartfelt thanks and warmest wishes of well being to America’s veterans — past and present. You keep us free, and now across more than two centuries, you have done more to advance democracy and freedom in the world than any fighting force throughout human history.
 
    America is free because America’s finest sons and daughters have stepped forward over the generations to win our Independence, to reconcile our ideals to the need for the brotherhood of all, and to defeat tyranny in Europe and Communism around the globe.
 
    Today we are engaged in yet another epic struggle against freedom and self-government.  This battle against terrorism and Islamic extremism, sometimes called The Long War, has called forth the best of this generation to defeat America’s foes anew so that freedom’s march continues.
 
    As a former officer in the United States Navy Reserves, I join all American’s of goodwill in offering all our fighting men and women a salute — particularly those who paid the ultimate price of sacrificing their very lives –  and praying for these heroes and their families as they stand in harm’s way for us.
 
    Sincerely,
    Larry Bucshon

 
Thank you for electing me to represent our conservative cause this fall. My wife Kathryn and I are overwhelmed by the generous support we’ve received throughout this campaign.
 
I want to express my respect and admiration for the other seven candidates. As I traveled around the district speaking with folks like Kristi Risk, John Lee Smith, Dan Stockton, Steve Westell, and Bud Bernitt, it was clear that we shared common values and a common goal.
 
Now it is time for all of us to unify behind a common purpose of limited, Constitutional government that operates within its means. We are campaigning on more than just saying “no” to extreme liberal policies. We are offering real change that trims government, protects liberties and restores free market principles.

 
This is my first foray into politics, and I believe our country needs new, fresh perspectives in Congress like mine. As Evan Bayh recently noted, “Congress is not operating as it should…Even at a time of enormous national challenge, the people’s business is not getting done.” I could not agree more.
 
Unfortunately my opponent – Trent VanHaaften – supports the agenda of Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi that Evan Bayh so aptly deplored. VanHaaften is a seasoned political operative who has worked his way up the ranks of Indiana House Democrat leadership by voting with them lock-step. We cannot afford more of this agenda in Congress, but I will need your help to defeat it.
 
The stakes for our country and for Indiana are extremely high.  For that reason I take this victory and nomination very seriously. Please join me in this cause starting today.
 
Thank you again for your support and for making this possible.
 
Sincerely,
Larry Bucshon

 
From the campaign

Concerned Women Political Action Committee has announced its endorsement of Larry Bucshon for Indiana’s 8th Congressional District.
 
Concerned Women PAC, established in 2002, is affiliated with the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization, with more than 500,000 grassroots members nationwide.
 
In endorsing Larry Bucshon, the group of women noted, “A doctor and veteran, Larry Bucshon is also pro-life and pro-family and will work in Congress to get government spending under control.  He is also a friend to homeschoolers and a proponent of charter school, giving the power or education back to the parents.”
 
“Concerned Women Political Action Committee endorses Dr. Larry Bucshon because he will be a voice for traditional family values,” says Mrs. Penny Nance, CEO of Concerned Women Political Action Committee.
 
“Dr. Bucshon’s is a much needed voice in Congress as we repeal the government takeover of health care and seek common sense solutions to the rising cost of health care.”

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2010-04-19-doctors_N.htm

While already having achieved certain benchmarks to place him on the road to victory, Larry Bucshon now faces a new set of rigorous goals that will elevate him to the top level of the Young Guns program and help him build a competitive, effective and winning campaign.