EC from DC - November 30, 2012

Congressman Cleaver joins Congressman Kevin Yoder (R-KS) on Steve Kraske's radio show on NPR.

It was a great pleasure this week to sit down with my colleague and friend, Congressman Kevin Yoder (R-KS), to talk with KCUR's Steve Kraske about the looming fiscal cliff and the need for civility and bipartisanship in working to solve this, and other, major issues facing our country.

As you know, I believe it is in reaching out and finding compromise that we find a way to move forward, keep our economy on the right track, and increase employment for hardworking people in Missouri's Fifth District. I remain committed to the notion that ALL Americans should receive a tax cut on incomes up to $250,000. I also believe Social Security is an earned benefit, not an entitlement and should not be included in any talks of cuts.

According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office – going over the fiscal cliff would raise the unemployment rate from 7.9% to 9.1 % in 2013. We can't let this happen. We have seen 30 consecutive months of steady private sector job growth and our economy is rebounding. Failing to act, and allowing the elimination of jobs and an increase in the unemployment rate is the height of irresponsibility.

Under sequestration, numerous agencies would face dramatic cuts that would not be efficient or strategic. I believe they would result in a loss of jobs, and a loss of ability to serve critical functions necessary to protect us.

There are tough decisions ahead that need to be made by those who have been elected to represent the voters. Constituents believe this is not a time for political games, harsh partisanship, or digging in and refusing to listen to valid ideas brought to the table. The proverbial can cannot be kicked down the road any longer.

The American people, and especially those in the Fifth District, have spoken loud and clear. They want us to get things done. They want us to make responsible decisions that everyone can live with. And they want this country to remain on a positive economic track. I am working toward those goals, as well, for my children and yours.

If you missed the broadcast, you can check it out here.

If you are a small business owner, you have probably been watching these negotiations closely. The end of the year is approaching, and while that brings with it the joyous holiday season, it also brings with it financial planning. Let's face it, taxes can be daunting—and not just preparing and filing them, but understanding them, as well.

These free webinars, put on by the Small Business Majority, will summarize some of the upcoming changes to federal tax policy and how it might affect the small business community.

They will feature the SBM's national experts, as well as presenters from Missouri.

• The Fiscal Cliff: What is it and how might it impact small businesses?
• Federal Tax Reform: What's being done in Congress to reform the tax code for small business?
• Balancing Act: Why is it important for our policymakers to find the right balance between taxation and spending?

Mark your calendars for the Missouri webinar: 12/03/12, 1:00pm CST, and read more about the Small Business Majority here.

For more than two hundred years, America's citizens have witnessed the Inauguration ceremonies of the President and Vice President of the United States. From the first Inauguration of George Washington, in New York City, in 1789, to today, as we prepare for the 57th quadrennial Presidential Inauguration, the swearing-in ceremonies represent both national renewal and continuity of leadership. As each president has offered a vision for America's future, we reflect on the heritage of Inaugurations past.

Many of you are interested in attending the inauguration of the President. It is easy to request tickets, simply click through to my website . I will do my best to accommodate your request; however, please know that there are many who are interested and only a few tickets to be had.

What You Need to Know Before Making Your Request:

• As a Representative for Missouri's Fifth District, my office is only able to distribute tickets to constituents of the Fifth District. If you live outside the Fifth District or in another state, please contact a Senator and/or Representative from your state to request tickets.
• Please do not make your travel plans contingent on receiving tickets. My office will do its best to notify you in a timely manner if you have received tickets in the lottery.
• If we are able to secure a ticket for you, you must be available to pick up the tickets in person in Washington D.C. the day before the ceremony and will be asked to provide a photo ID at the time of ticket pick-up.
• Tickets will most likely be for standing room only areas. Due to crowds, security procedures and the length of the ceremonies, ticket holders should expect to be standing outside in winter weather for several hours.
• All children old enough to walk must have their own ticket. Strollers are not allowed in any ticketed areas. Event organizers discourage bringing young children to the Inaugural ceremonies due to weather conditions, the length of time you will spend standing and limited access to restroom and dining facilities.
• There are many ways to participate in the Inaugural festivities that do not a require ticket. While a ticket may place you physically closer to the swearing-in itself, the majority of people will view the Inaugural ceremonies from the National Mall where tickets are not required.

More information is available at the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies website, here. If you would like to request Inauguration tickets please visit my website. I will do my best to accommodate your request; however, please know that each Congressional office receives a limited number of tickets to the Inauguration. You will receive formal notice of availability of tickets soon after tickets have been distributed to Congressional offices. The deadline to request tickets through my office is December 16, 2012 at 11:59 PM, Eastern Time.

The most pressing question before each Member of Congress is not how shall I vote on some weighty piece of legislation or what can I do or say that can politically impair the other side. The single most important question we must answer is: Do I want to preserve the United States? Members of Congress would, without a doubt, unite instantly to shout, "Yes!" However, "yes" is not enough to do so.

Aesop, in his fluent fable of the Four Oxen and the Lion, tells of four oxen that when attacked by the lion, would make a circle with their bodies, protecting them with their hurtful horns no matter which side he charged. It was, however, internal quarreling that destroyed their impenetrable defenses and sent the oxen in four different directions, ultimately resulting in violent and beastly deaths. Each became a holiday meal for the thankful lion.

Aesop ends the fable with this immortal phrase, "united we stand, divided we fall." National unity is not something that is discussed or appropriately promoted in these hyperpartisan times. In fact, there is little question we are so ideologically divided inside our widely interspaced borders that residents in more than thirty states have filed secession petitions.

But Aesop is not alone in his insight and call for unity. The bible states that, "every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined…" In a speech in 1858, President Abraham Lincoln said the same thing yet another way, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." Any way we say it, we are warned against the dangers of disunity.

We are supposed to be a nation "indivisible," yet we have allowed political quarreling and ideological infighting to badly divide us. We would be wise to mimic the oxen and put our heads together in order to protect ourselves from the lion of terror and fiscal insolvency.

Emanuel Cleaver, II Member of Congress