2010 was a challenging year in this country, as American families lived through record high unemployment rates and a lagging economy. And much to their disappointment, their elected officials in Washington seemed more concerned with making government bigger than creating jobs.

During the 50 town hall meetings I held this year, my constituents voiced their discontent with what was happening and I joined them in their frustration at leaders in Washington’s failure to listen to them. Whether the trillion-dollar government takeover of health care, the out-of-control federal spending that has led to a national debt of more than $13.2 trillion, or their attempt to pass the controversial cap-and-tax program, Speaker Pelosi and her leadership team spent much of 2010 ignoring the American people. However, she couldn’t ignore them anymore when Election Day resulted in a clear rejection of her ideals and policies as her party lost their majority in the House.

When Congress returns in January, I will be dedicated to cutting federal spending, paying down the national debt, and creating jobs. I promise to continue to push for more transparency and accountability during the next Congress.

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