BUILDING A PROSPEROUS FUTURE FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

Congressman Francis Rooney

Averifiable American economic renaissance has arisen over the last 22 months. Along with a new year, January 2017 ushered in a newfound confidence in our economy. The stock markets began to rise, and retirement accounts began to grow after nearly a decade of stagnation and “financial repression.” By eliminating unnecessary, burdensome regulations which were strangling businesses and by cutting taxes across ALL income levels, we have had a financial and economic rebound over the last 22 months.

This is nowhere felt more than Southwest Florida, home to many small businesses. Reforms we have enacted make it easier for small businesses to provide health insurance to their employees through association health plans and have expanded care options for our veterans. In total, the regulatory rollback of the last 22 months has brought $33 billion of savings to the economy. This is a stark contrast to the $245 billion in regulatory costs that were added by President Obama during his first 22 months in office –demolishing the idea that we need Washington bureaucrats to protect and provide for us.

Each of these regulatory rollbacks pertain solely to the workplace. There are different issues with regulations protecting our
environment. As someone who has fought to clean our waterways and protect our environment, and has successfully obtained $1.1 billion for restoration of the Everglades and the Okeechobee Watershed, I would never support measures that would harm our environment. I have one of the strongest pro-environment records in Congress and will continue to lead in this area.
Along with cutting regulations, Congress has passed tax cuts that have put more money in Americans’ paychecks.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Increases median household income in Florida by $1,945. Nearly doubles the standard exemption – the first $12,000 for individuals and $24,000 for couples is now tax-free. Increases the child tax credit from $1,000 to $1,600 per child. There are 43,634 taxpayers in FL-19 that claim the child tax credit. Significantly reduces taxes for small business owners, impacting 62,041 taxpayers in FL-19 that have small business income.

Since this legislation was enacted, unemployment has fallen to its lowest level since 1969, minority unemployment is at an all time low, job satisfaction is at a 13-year high, 83% of blue collar workers see their lives “heading in the right direction”, 3.9 million Americans no longer apply for food stamps and GDP for the most recent quarter recorded is 4.2%. I have consistently fought to bring fiscal sanity to Washington over my 22 months in office, and I will continue to sponsor and vote for legislation to require a balanced budget.

There is insufficient commitment to cutting spending on all sides in Washington. I believe that our country is heading in the right direction and want to see it continue to work for all Americans. Economic freedom and individual liberty, and lower taxes and less regulation, are leading to greater prosperity for all Americans.

Francis Rooney is the U.S. Representative for Florida’s 19th congressional district. He is the Vice-Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and serves on the Committee on Education and the Workforce. He previously served as U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See under President George W. Bush from 2005 to 2008.

Contact the Congressman at:

Lee County Office
1039 S.E. 9th Place • Suite 308
Cape Coral, FL 33990
Phone: 239.599.6033

Collier County Office
3299 Tamiami Trail East • Suite 105
Naples, FL 34112
Phone: 239.252.6225

Washington, DC Office
120 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202.225.2536